The Timber Slide along the Setesdal Line
| Distance: | Duration: | Terrain: | Level: | Type: |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9 km | 2 hours | Other | Medium | Hikes |
Setesdal Line
The timber slide starts at the southern end of the Beihølen dam, about 600 metres south of Beihølen Station on the Setesdal Line. Most of this line is demolished, but eight kilometres have been preserved as a heritage railway between Grovane and Røyknes. So why not take the steam train one way and hike the timber slide on the return? The timber slide follows the track closely several places, so you will get a great view of it from the old teak carriages.
Røyknes
If you want a longer train ride, you take the train all the way up to Røyknes Station. It is strictly forbidden to walk along the track, so follow the road Røyknesveien southward and the gravel road on the other side of the Røyknesfjord to Beihølen. When you reach the end of the lake, turn right and walk 500 metres until you reach the end of the dam, where the timber slide starts.
Vrengen Halt
The slide stays close to the Otra river for the first kilometre. When the river bends sharply to the left, you pass Vrengen, and abandoned halt on the Setesdal Line. You can clearly see the small, red waiting shed on the other side of the river. Now you must enter a one-hundred metre tunnel. It is low and not lit, so be careful.
Kringsjå Power Station
The slide crosses the Otra over a suspension bridge after the tunnel. You are now arriving Kringsjå Halt. Here it's possible to make a detour over the river on the suspension bridge to see the ruins of Kringsjå Power Station. It was opened in 1899 and later replaced by Steinsfossen Power Station. Keep right after you have passed the bridge, and you will soon discover the ruins of the power plant and other buildings.
Paulen Gård
The timber slide continues southwards for two kilometres and crosses the Otra over another suspension bridge before ending at Steinsfossen. You could make another detour after 400 metres by following the path up to Paulen Gård. Here you will find benches and a shelter. The red building on this farm was a former railway guard house.
Steinsfossen
When you arrive Steinsfossen you must follow the road Steinfossvegen until it meets Venneslavegen. Here you can take the bus towards Kristiansand or walk another ten minutes to Grovane Station, where you started the journey on the Setesdal Line.
How do I get there?
Bus 31 runs between Kristiansand and Grovane station every hour. This also passes Vennesla station where the trains on the Sørlandet Lines are stopping. The heritage trains from Grovane to Røyknes on the Setesdal Line are running in the weekends in the summer months. Please check the timetable for details. By car exit E18 towards Birkeland at the Storemyr Crossroads. Take Rv. 4 towards Kristiansand when you arrive Birkeland. After 2.5 kilometres turn right towards Oggevatn and then follow the signposted road to Vennesla. If you are driving from Stavanger, exit E39 and follow Rv. 9 towards Evje when you are approaching Kristiansand. Then follow the signposted road to Vennesla. Grovane station is located 3.5 kilometres north of Vennesla. You can park at Grovane station and at Steinsfoss Power Plant free of charge.