The Nesttun—Os Line along Lake Hetleflot
| Distance: | Duration: | Terrain: | Level: | Type: |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 km | 1 hour | Path | Easy | Hikes |
You can follow the Nesttun—Os Line as a forest trail from Søfteland along a lake in a deserted area. You will cross two railway bridges on this short trip towards Osøyro.
Nesttun—Os Line. Photo: Erlend Garåsen
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The most preserved part of the Nesttun–Os Line is undoubtedly the cycle path between Nesttun and Kalandseid. But there is a hidden gem between Søfteland og Ulven. Here you can follow the corridor as a forest trail along the lakes Gåssandvatnet and Hetleflotvatnet.
Lovely avenue
Start about 200 metres north of Bergstø road bridge. Here you can access the rail trail via Bergstøvegen, the lovely avenue which is situated between Søfteland school and the bridge. Keep right when you walk along Bergstøvegen, and you will discover that the rail trail continues where the road ends.
Cultural monuments
After a couple of hundred metres you will pass over a wooden bridge. An eight-metre railway bridge used to cross the river here, and actually it was the longest on the Nesttun–Os Line.
Hetleflotvatnet lake
The rail trail will make a sharp bend over an embankment and pass over a short railway bridge. After one hundred metres you will pass the remains of a siding. This was constructed in 1918 to transport wood that was floated on the Gåssandvatnet lake. The corridor continues into a dense forest and follows the lake closely. This is undoubtedly the most beautiful part of the trail. You will pass through several rock cuts until the path ends at a field after a kilometre. If you turn right you will get back to the main road. If you want a longer trip, you can follow the cycle and footpath southwards to Osøyro where you will find the terminal station. You will also pass Ulven station on your way.
How do I get there?
The closest bus stop is Søfteland skole. Follow the cycle path southwards and then along Bergstøvegen after 250 metres. Bus 600 is running every 30 minutes from Bergen and Osøyro.