The Old Jæren Railway

A unique trip on foot or by bike, with good fishing spots by the sea, idyllic swimming and fishing lakes, cliffs and mountains with great views of the coast and much more.

For you who want to explore and combine multiple activities, you should take a train ride to Hellvik and cycling along The Old Jærbanen. Have you not own a bicycle, you can rent one from the tourist office. Train tickets from Egersund to Hellvik be purchased at Kolumbus or Go-Ahead (Jærbanen). Get off at Hellvik Station and find a sign that says "to Den Gamle Jærbanen", and cycle all the way back to Egersund. Along the way you will find many nice rest areas, stops and detours. Feel free to take a trip up to Launesfjellet what a great view. If you want to get more out of your trip and at the same time learn something new about the environment around you, you can download the Magma Geopark app and find a Treasure Hunt called Geobike Egersund – Hellvik. If you want to stay overnight, you can do so in the caretaker's accommodation at the old one Maurholen drive. You will also find many nice places to pitch a tent. The trip is part of both the Dalane Coastal Trail and Coastal pilgrimage site.

Culture and history

During the period from 1874 to 1878, the Jæren Railway between Stavanger and Egersund was constructed. Through the rugged terrain between Hellvik and Egersund, the narrow-gauge railway wound its way between cliffs and small lakes until it was rerouted in connection with the establishment of the Sørland Line. Transitioning to standard gauge and stricter requirements for railway curves necessitated the construction of an entirely new line between Hellvik and Launessundet. After the Sørland Line opened in 1944, almost the entire old railway route remained unused and fell into disrepair for over 40 years.

In 1997, after many years of planning and feasibility studies, Eigersund municipality finally commenced construction towards a continuous hiking and biking trail that largely followed the path of the old Jæren Railway from Hellvik to Egersund.

Today, the old Jæren Railway between Hellvik and Egersund is one of the region's finest and most scenic hiking and biking trails. As a hiker or cyclist, you can enjoy magnificent viewpoints, transitions between open heathlands, sheltered woodlands, and beautiful coastal scenery. The trail also features tall rock cuttings, impressive stone embankments, and numerous remnants of the area's railway history.

Along Den gamle Jærbanen you will find Maurholen Station. Today, the venue is rented out for accommodation or private events. This is a perfect place for summer and garden parties with family activities and barbecues. Read more here.

Geology and nature

The primary rock formation in Magma Geopark is the same as the lighter areas seen on the surface of the moon – anorthosite. The anorthosite in the geopark crystallized in large magma chambers approximately 930 million years ago. It formed in the root zone of a mountain chain similar to the modern Himalayas. As the ice retreated for the last time, the anorthosite was left exposed and bare in the landscape.

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Active, Egersund, Geopark, Magma Geopark Sites, Top 20, Suggestions