"Close to the river, half a mile up from the head of the fjord, there is a croft called Kroken. [...] A little further away, there is only forest and pastures on all sides, except down towards the river" (Løland, 1892, p. 1).
This is an excerpt from Løland's first children's book "Paa sjølvstyr". The description of the croft could almost sound like a typical Suldal farm, and in Hylsfjorden, one can see these farms on both the right and left sides up the hillsides.
Many have interpreted Løland's description of the farms, the fjord, the mountains, and the nature in "Det store nashornet" as the nature around his home region in Løland: "The fjord and all the farms lay deep below, and they looked far out and in. There were large coves and white headlands and many farms whose names they didn't even know. The mountains on the other side of the fjord were so high and majestic, and far to the east, they saw blue-tinged snow-capped mountains." (Løland, 1960, p. 19).
Visit the small, idyllic fjord village of Vanvik. Here you can swim at Sandvikjå beach and play beach volleyball, or you can fish for trout and other good catches in the fjord. On the Løland farm lies "Rosebuå" - a structure hand-painted with traditional Norwegian rose painting from floor to ceiling. Book a guided tour of Rosebuå at Ryfylkemuseet.
A short drive away is the farm shop of Fattnes Vestre. The farm has been involved in forestry, agriculture, and fruit cultivation since the 17th century. Here you can buy fresh weekend pastries, or products from their own cows and sheep. You can also order timber from their sawmill. Perhaps they even have other treasures in store?
Helgøy Fjordcruise offers boat trips on Hylsfjorden in the summer. Here you can see Løland on the left side of the fjord, and Litunet on the right side. The boat trip is close to nature; you can even get a shower in Lingvongfossen waterfall! Hylen was historically an important trade route between east and west, and today, Suldalshonning offers guided tours of the historical hiking trail – from Hylen, through Hylsskardet, and all the way to their farm in Vaage where they produce Suldalshonning.
The area around Løland and Vanvik offers several great hikes in forests and mountains. Under "hiking" you can download free hiking maps, or pick up hiking maps at the reception at Suldal Tourist Information. The hike to both Lølandsnuten and Fattnesnuten offers fantastic views inwards over Saudafjorden and Hylsfjorden, as well as outwards over Sandsfjorden.
Author Løland himself has several tips on how to liven up a trip for little feet: "Here one could sail with bark boats in the currents, build houses on the islets, and invent all sorts of things. [...] They would be wild horses and race, and from tussock to tussock they went, splashing as they ran." (Løland, 1892, p. 62-71). In "Paa sjølvstyr", the boys Kristian and Robert play along streams and have the best time! Perhaps you want to race or make a bark boat on a trip into Slettedalen?
In "Det store nashornet", we follow four boys, Gunnar, Pål, Andres, and Kolbein, and all the mischief they get up to. Among other things, they see sea serpents, rhinoceroses, and crocodiles in the forest and waters around their farms. It eventually turns out that the animals are logs and large stones, but in the twilight, everything can be a little extra magical. Perhaps you too will find a tree trunk that resembles a sea serpent along the hiking trail?
Rasmus Løland's perhaps most famous children's book is "Kvitebjørnen" and is about four boys who, one winter day, build a large white bear out of snow. They sit inside the bear and tell each other the adventures the white bear has experienced. It almost feels as if the bear is starting to move...
"They fell silent and sensed, and then they all clearly felt that the white bear was moving. [...] The white bear traveled further and further north over all the highest mountains that existed, and it eventually went like a wind from ridge to ridge." (Løland, 2007, pp. 8-9).
The White Bear travels to the North Pole, and there he meets both trolls and maidens, and the North Wind himself. At Nesasjøhuset in Sand, you can experience the White Bear's adventures in their exhibition. Here you can dress up, and rumors say there are white bears, trolls, and a king's crown here!
In "Paa sjølvstyr" we read about how the country boy Kristian meets the city man who comes to the village to fish for salmon. He lives in a beautiful, large, red house and "[...] around the entire house and garden ran a high, white-painted fence. Inside there were trees and bushes and large flowers, and up the entire side of the house were large, gleaming windows [...]" (Løland, 1892, p. 25). If you take a look at the salmon castle Lindum in Suldalsosen, it almost sounds as if Løland is describing precisely this salmon castle and the salmon lords in all their prosperity. The garden could well be the magnificent garden of the salmon lady Alice Archer at Rophaug in Sand.
Not much is written about the salmon caught in "Paa sjølvstyr", but as for the record salmon in Suldalslågen - yes, it took the bait at the river mouth in Sand and dragged both fisherman and boat all the way into Hylsfjorden, before it finally gave in after a full 12 hours and was reeled in. And its weight? It was 34 kg! Suldalslågen is known for its large salmon, and every year salmon weighing around 20 kg are caught. Perhaps it's your turn to try this year? Buy fishing permits from each individual landowner.
If you'd rather experience salmon in other ways, we can recommend a visit to Laksestudio in Sandsfossen, a salmon safari, or a river expedition at Mo Laksegard.
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Gata 22, 4230 Sand (Summer season)
Sandsvegen 134, 4230 Sand (All year)
Tel: (+47) 995 63 001
E-mail: suldal@visitsuldal.no
