Vatsfjorden, early morning
Arendalssnekke in Vatsfjorden, a south coast type.
Hiking from Stokkadalen to Kjort
Uphill - the peak of Kjort is 606 m. above sea level
In the Norwegian fjords you can often climb mountains not far from the shore. One such place is Vatsfjorden. Here many hills and mountains are suitable for hiking. To reach Vats by boat, you must pass Nedstrand, steering north towards Sandeidfjorden. In the wide Krossfjorden, you enter Yrkjesfjorden to the west, finding Vatsfjorden as a branch stretching to the north. The fjord is small but beautiful; although there is an industrial aria near the mouth of the fjord. You can moor in Vats marina, where you can lie free of charge in three days (59. 29.677 N – 05.43.651 E). The marina has four berts for visiting boats. A nice trip is to the mountain Kjort to the east (sometimes written Tjort), 606 meters above sea level. The following is a description of how to get there. A good idea would be to take a taxi as far as possible, ca. 7 km from the guest harbour. Feel free to ask the locals about this and similar hikes.
If arriving by car on the main road (E-134): Leave the road at Knapphus and enter the highway-46 in the direction of Nedre Vats (Lower Vats). Follow the road 5 km (3,1 mi) to Kårhuskrysset where
you take to the right and drive 2.3 km (1,4 mi) down to Åmsosen (by the fjord). Just before you reach the quay at Hatteland, take to the left and then drive further on along the east side of the fjord, and then to the left, uphill towards Stokkadalen. After driving 6.3 km (3,9 mi) from Åmsosen, you reach a small fenced parking lot near Halvard Stokkedal’s farm. See the poster with information. From the parking lot, follow the road that runs between Halvard Stokkedal’s houses. From here you follow a forest road uphill through mixed forest, until Koltveitskaret. From here the trail is mark, and small signs give the name of the places you pass by. The hike is 4 km (2,5 mi) and estimated time is 1,5 hour. You can expect a magnificent sight. From the summit, on a clear day, you can overlook Stavanger (the Ullandhaug tower), Kvitsøy and the Ryfylke fjords, Haugalandet to the west and the brilliant Folgefonna (glacier) inn Hardanger to the north-east. On the summit a cairn is raised, and there is a book where mountaineers are free to put down their names and thoughts. Mountain boots are recommended.
Folgefonna in Hardanger, far off.
The mouth of Vatsfjorden, and Yrkjesfjorden. View towards Stavanger.
On the summit at last - please writ your name and your impressions in the book.
5 hiking routes in Vats
