On Wild Country Roads in Magma Geopark

A round trip in the lunar landscape

If you drive on the national tourist road, FV44, northwards from Jæren, the landscape suddenly changes from the flat Jærlandscape, and you enter the lunar landscape when you pass Ogna.

The characteristic lunar landscape is due to a rare rock - anorthosite. Few people can travel to the moon, but nowhere on earth can you get closer than in the Magma UNESCO Global Geopark. The bright areas on the moon are precisely the same rock as in the Magma Geopark.

From Ogna, you follow the coast past Hellvik and down the bends in the beautiful oak forest on Tengs. Before continuing on the national tourist route along the coast, a detour up to Byrkjedal and Gloppedalsura is recommended. Turn off towards Tengesdal at Tengs, and drive towards Vikeså where you enter Byrkjedal on the GPS. Here is Gloppedalsura, which is Northern Europe's largest rock pile and is 100 meters deep. It consists of landslide blocks from a large landslide 10,000 years ago, which lie on top of an end moraine. Charming Byrkjedalstunet is a cozy stop for a bite to eat and a trip to the light foundry. Once you are in this area, it is also worth taking a trip to the hidden gem Ørsdalen, which was not connected by road until the 1970s. When you come through the tunnel, it's just like stepping into Narnia, a whole new world with green and lush nature against the steep rock walls and the blue water. Here there is an eldorado of hiking opportunities, and remains from mining and the Ra moraine. 

Back to the coast 

After the detour to Byrkjedal and Gloppedalsura, the road returns to the coast again through the beautiful and quiet agricultural landscape of Tengesdal. Here you will also find the salmon river Bjerkreimselva and Fotlandsfossen. It then leads onto the national tourist road again towards Egersund, one of Norway's best-preserved wooden buildings and a pleasant place for a bite to eat and a stroll. Drive south along the Lygrefjorden. Eventually you will find a couple of detours all the way to the sea with fantastic views. Just off the coast is a so-called Amphidromic point, which is a form of zero point in the sea where the tide balances itself. Idylliske Lædre is an old fishing and farming community. There is a great rest area here, where you can go out onto the rock and into the lunar landscape. The water here is clear and nice.

On roads that make the blood rush 

Drive on towards Birkeland and take county road 33. The road is narrow and winding, and a fantastic experience on the bike seat, motorbike or by car. You get a sense of speed without going fast, and it's a favorite place for car enthusiasts. Note! This stretch is not possible to drive with motorhomes or larger cars. Along the sea you will find Nesvåg, an idyllic little place with a boat museum and old fine sea stalls. The road goes over bridges and islets, and no one can go here without being impressed. The trip continues towards Rekefjord, where you turn right through old buildings and onto FV44 again. Here you can also stop by the sailing town of Sogndalstrand, a journey back in time 200 years.   

You drive through the town of Hauge in Dalane and out onto FV44. At the river Sokna, turn left and drive towards Moi. After a few kilometers you reach the old mining community of Sandbekk. Then it goes up into the countryside, which offers many good hiking experiences. When you get over the top you will have a panoramic view of Lundevatnet, one of the deepest lakes in Norway. Here you will also find the Gursligruvene. Then the trip goes to Moi, which boasts a top-class pizza restaurant. Now you are going out on the E39 and a few km to Tronviken. Here you drive into the rest area where the sign says Magma Geopark. Between 1 May and 1 September, you can drive the old road over Tronåsen. This is a spectacular road that opened in 1844. It is steep and winding with a great view of Lundevatnet. Note! You cannot drive over Tronåsen with a motorhome or larger vehicle. The road over Tronåsen ends at the protected Bakke Bru, Norway's oldest suspension bridge. Here it is recommended to drop off any passengers, while the driver crosses the river further up and parks the car on the opposite side and then goes out onto the bridge to meet the others.

Out on the national tourist road again 

Now the trip continues to Flekkefjord, the Dutch town with a treasure chest full of cultural relics. From Flekkefjord you drive north towards Egersund onto the national tourist road again, a typical west country road with climbs and bends. You pass the exit to the island of Hidra, which is a nice detour from Abelnes, and follow the road to Åna Sira. An idyllic little place located in two municipalities and two counties, where the river Sira forms the border. If you want to go on a trip to the famous Brufjellhålen, you are in the right place. After Åna Sira there are steep climbs and hairpin bends. On the right after a few kilometers you will see the large dam which dams up the sand from the Titania quarry. Then comes the descent to wild Jøssingfjord, with the Jøssingfjord Science Museum and the Houses under Helleren as obvious places to visit. Here is the Via Ferrata and a number of great hikes, as well as the viewing platform at Tunnelstuo. Tunnelstuo is a disused tunnel with open panoramic windows facing the fjord. Here you can sleep in a rented hammock.

After a visit to the tunnel with all the hammocks, the trip continues through Hauge in Dalane before you turn off to the right at Rekeland where the Rossland god was found. Of pass Barstad and come to Eia prayer house, where you turn left down to the farms. Follow the road through a lush and beautiful landscape. This area consists of nutrient-rich rocks, which provides a good basis for farming. When you get to Helleland you drive out onto the E39 and continue to Krossmoone. Drive towards Egersund and follow FV44 north to Jæren again. On the road, you can take it with you Tengsbakkane, with one of the largest old oak forests in Norway.