Utåker: Church History, Protected Areas and Ulvanosa

Utåker combines distinctive natural scenery with a rich church history. The old Holmedal churchyard lies in Kyrkjedalen in Holmedal on Utåker and offers panoramic views over the Skåneviksfjord. There are also two nature reserves and the hike to Ulvanosa, with different route options along the way. If you’re looking for a holiday rental in Utåker, you can plan your stay around whether you’re most interested in nature, hiking or the history of Holmedal.

Nature Reserves and Views

Holmedalsberget Nature Reserve is in Utåker. It was established on 23 November 1984 and covers 2,363 dekar. Tveitabotn Nature Reserve is also in Utåker; it was established on 13 October 2000 and covers 468 dekar. The names, dates and areas give each reserve a clear and distinct connection to the place.

Another striking view awaits you at the summit of Ulvanosa: from the hike starting in Utåker, you can see the mountains of Etne and Kvinnherad, Folgefonna, the Hardangerfjord and the mountain landscape towards Bergen. At the old Holmedal churchyard, by contrast, the panorama looks out over the Skåneviksfjord. In this way, you’ll encounter different views at specific locations, rather than one general impression of the landscape.

Church History in Holmedal and Utåker

The first known stave church in Holmedal is mentioned in a land register from the 14th century. A later change of church location moved it from Holmedal to Utåker: the majority of the parish members decided on the move, and a new Holmedal Church was built in Utåker in 1881–1882. The plans were drawn up by Lensmann F. Øvrevik in Skånevik.

An old church path is also associated with Holmedal. At “Gamaldags kyrkjesundag” at the old Holmedal churchyard, participants walked from the landing place at Holmedalstranda along this path to the churchyard during the event’s sixth year. The path and the history of the church’s relocation give the place a cultural focus that clearly differs from the nature and hiking themes.

Hiking to Ulvanosa

The hike to Ulvanosa starts and ends at Ternebu in the Tveitedalen ski centre. At first, a 1.2-kilometre illuminated path follows Bakkastølsvatnet; the route then follows the river to an inner bridge. At around 800 metres above sea level, you can choose between the direct route to the summit and the T-marked route around Øktaredalsnuten. This route offers views of the Matersfjorden, while the summit opens up wide views across the mountains, fjords and Folgefonna.

An information board at the car park provides directions. After the forest road or illuminated ski trail, the path is T-marked and signposted. The hike also passes the restored Dyrrindo cabin. It is open to everyone and makes a suitable place to take a break. If you’re planning a day around Ulvanosa, you can take these details about route choices, directions and a place to rest into account without confusing the summit route with the alternative around Øktaredalsnuten.

More Activities and Choosing Accommodation

In spring, people ski from Tveitedalen to Ulvanosa. Nearby Utåker, the steep mountain slopes towards Uskedalen also have climbing areas with routes of all difficulty levels on solid granite. These offer clearly different nature and activity options in addition to hiking.

When looking for a holiday apartment or holiday home in Utåker, it helps to decide in advance what you’d like to focus on: will the Ulvanosa hike be the highlight of your stay, or are you particularly interested in Holmedal’s church history and the nature reserves? To reach the hike, leave the main road at the turn-off for Holmedal before the ferry landing in Utåker. At a later junction, the road branches off 2.5 kilometres north to the ski centre. You can take these directions into account when planning if Tveitedalen and the hike are an important part of your stay.

More destinations: Ænes, Høylandsbygd, Sæbøvik, Hatlestrand, Fjelberg, Herøysund, Sandvoll, Holmedal.

For the broader travel overview: Kvinnherad.