Klepp: Sand Dunes, Birdlife and Cultural History

Jæren Between Farmland and Sand Dunes

Klepp lies in the middle of Jæren, 25 km south of Stavanger. Its rolling agricultural landscape, shallow lakes, long sandy beaches and mild coastal climate define the area. This offers different ways to plan your trip: you can focus on the open coastal landscape, explore wetlands and birdlife, or discover Klepp’s history. If you are looking for a holiday apartment, consider what you want your trip to focus on: the landscape, nature watching or cultural history?

Sandy Beaches and Wetlands

Borestranda is a protected landscape and one of the country’s longest sandy dune beaches. Its dunes make the beach a distinctive part of Klepp’s natural character. If you are especially interested in the coast, it offers a clear starting point for planning your trip.

Orrevatnet offers a different perspective on nature. The lake is a nature reserve in Klepp and part of the Jæren Wetland System, Ramsar Site 309. Orrevatnet is internationally important for wetland birds: it serves as a staging, wintering and breeding area. This also makes the lake interesting for visitors who would rather spend their time watching nature than having a day at the beach.

The Revtangen Ornithological Station offers another perspective on birdlife. Founded in 1937, it is operated by the Stavanger Museum and is considered the oldest bird station in the Nordic countries. Around 6,000 to 10,000 birds are caught and ringed there each year. The station thus combines a long history with ongoing work involving birds; the approximate annual figure also gives an idea of the scale of the ringing.

There is a car park and information boards at Helleberget. This is a practical point of reference if you would like to find out more about the area.

Hiking and Views

The Kleppevarden rundt circular hike passes through the western parts of Klepp. In clear weather, the summit offers views over most of the municipality. The route therefore combines a walk through this part of Klepp with a viewpoint whose panorama depends on visibility. If you would like to plan your trip around a hike, the route and the views are the key features of this walk.

School History and Places of Remembrance

The old Jæren house at Haugabakka is Klepp’s local heritage museum. The building was constructed in 1852/1853 as a schoolroom and teacher’s residence, and was the first schoolhouse in Klepp. The house’s former purpose gives the collection a specific historical context: here you can see numerous interesting tools and other objects from farming society more than a hundred years ago.

Haugabakka also includes Folgehuset and the local history collection in the old schoolhouse. Folgehuset is used for art exhibitions, meetings and cultural evenings, among other things. At Haugabakka, historical everyday objects and a venue for a variety of cultural activities sit side by side.

Krosshaug also tells stories of different periods. During the Migration Period, it was one of the largest and richest burial grounds on Jæren. A stone cross was erected there around the year 1000. For those interested in early history, Krosshaug offers two notable historical connections from different periods.

The old church at Orre dates from the mid-13th century. This medieval brick-and-timber church is the oldest building in the area. It is closed, but can be opened for visits by prior arrangement. Keep this in mind if you would like to visit the church.

Planning Your Trip

At Kleppe, county road 510 branches off county road 44 to the northwest, in the direction of Sola and Stavanger. This road connection provides a straightforward reference point for planning your journey. When choosing a holiday apartment in Klepp, you can first decide which side of the area best matches your interests: the protected sand dune landscape, the wetlands and birdlife, a hike or the historic sites.

You can also visit Vågan, Klepp, Voll, Orre and Kleppe for more local pages.

For the broader travel overview: Rogaland.

More Destinations

More places within the same destination:

Sandnes, Strand, Time.