Hordaland Mountains - Route Descriptions

Orretuva, 336m
Vardafjellet, 336m

Mountain area :	Kaland-Totland, Bergen
Fylke/Kommune :	Hordaland/Bergen
Maps :	1115-I Bergen (Statens Kartverk, Norge 1:50 000)
Primary Factor:	113m
Hiked :	Dec 2002
See Also :

Orretuva/Vardafjellet (right), south of Riple

Introduction

Orretuva/Vardafjellet is a forest plateau with great views, located just north of Kalandseidvatnet between Bergen and Fana. The view towards Bergen is excellent, and the area attracts skiers in winter. Orretuva and Vardafjellet are two different tops, both 336m high. I have nominated Orretuva as the high point, as a proper cairn is located here. On Orretuva, the high point (red/white marker) is located in the forest, a few meters from the summit cairn.

On Vardafjellet, the red/white marker is located on the south side of the summit ridge. The high point (assumed to be 2-3 meters higher) is unmarked.

Primary factor:

Orretuva (M711: 336m, Ø.K.: highest contour is 335mm) has a primary factor of 113m towards the higher Livarden (683m) The saddle is found above Hedlo. Ref. Økonomisk Kartverk (5m contours), you cross the 225m contours on the high route, but not 220m. The saddle height has been interpolated to 223m.

Trail descriptions:

Note: Class ratings are in reference to YDS (Yosemite Decimal System).

The route described below is a class 1 hike from Hedno.

Hedno - Orretuva - Vardafjellet (all seasons)

Difficulty : Class 1

Comments : See description above

Distance :

Time : 30-45 minutes to Vardafjellet

Starting Elev.: Approx. 220m (Hedno)

Map of the area

Access

From Bergen, follow E39 south towards Stavanger. At the NE side of lake Kalandsvatnet, exit left towards Bontveit. Follow the Bontveit road for approx. 2Km and exit left onto Hednevegen road. Find parking in this area.

The route

Follow the Hednevegen upwards (go left in the immediate Y junction) for 1Km. Near the top of the road (Hedno), you have a garage and a house on your left hand side. The trail begins in between and heads into the forest on a narrow, but visible trail.

The first opening in the forest is close to Orretuva. You arrive a small pass (coming up on your right hand side). Cross this pass on the east side, and immediately after getting up on the other side, locate a narrow trail on your right, that runs directly up to Orretuva summit cairn. The summit marker (red/white) is a few meters further, inbetween some trees.

Return to the main trail and follow it down into a new pass between Orretuva and Vardafjellet. The trail continues southbound with Vardafjellet ridge to your right. You may wonder if you're heading in the wrong direction, but the trail eventually turns right and you arrive the Vardafjellet summit marker (red/white). The true high point is unmarked, a few meters further northbound on the ridge. Return the same way you came.

Pictures from the Dec 26 2002 hike:

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Pictures are presented in the order they were taken.