The Blåfjell Line and the Rocking Stone
| Distance: | Duration: | Terrain: | Level: | Type: |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 km | 2 hours | Gravel road | Easy | Hikes |
From 1870 to 1875 iron ore was transported on the Blåfjell Line to Rekefjord in Sokndal. The railway corridor has been replaced by a rail trail between Linepollen and the Blåfjell mines pass the famous Ruggesteinen — Northern Europe's largest rocking stone.
Blåfjell Line. Photo: Erlend Garåsen
Content advertising
Linepollen
Even though the most spectacular part is between Linepollen and the mine area, you may of course start from the centre of Hauge i Dalane and follow the cycle and footpath eastwards. This route is called Malmbanen and is easy to find. If you start at Linepollen, which is a popular bathing spot, you will find a parking lot nearby.
Ruggesteinen
You will follow a long and straight gravel road, so it isn't hard to imagine that you are walking along an old railway line. The rail trail keeps close to the river once you have passed the first railway bridge. After a kilometre you will pass the famous Ruggesteinen — Northern Europe's largest rocking stone, a movable boulder weighing almost 80 tons.
Blåfjell mines
Continue along Refsvatnet for a kilometre until you see the impressive embankment beneath the road. You will get a good view of it if you climb down the bank from the sharp bend. The rail trail continues through a deep cutting before it passes two stone platforms after one kilometre. You have now arrived Blåfjell mines, and here you will find tourist information boards and benches. The mine entrances are normally closed, but it's possible to book a guided tour of Magma Geopark in advance.
Guddalskyrja or the Sandbekk Line
If you want a longer walk, continue eastwards along Blåfjellvegen until it reaches the Guddalsvatnet lake. From here you follow the path to Guddal, a legendary place where Catholic priests sought refugee after the Reformation and held illegal masses in Guddalskyrja – a "church" consisting of three boulders. This trip is eight kilometres long and goes through a hilly terrain. Another suggestion is to follow the red-marked trail to Knudknuten and continue along the Sandbekk Line corridor. This rail trail keeps close to the Ålgårdselva river and passes a short railway tunnel.
How do I get there?
Bus 89 from Egersund to Hauge i Dalane. Follow the cycle path Malmbanen to Linepollen. If you arrive by car, you can park at Linepollen bathing spot.