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Burkelandsfjellet, Iseggene and Orratuva (right) seen from Vedafjellet |
On the summit plateau, you will find two high points. Those who live on the Horsås side of the mountain, will refer to the western high point (363m) as Horsåsfjellet. The eastern high point (365m) is named Burkelandsfjellet, and not surprisingly, you will find the place Burkeland on this side of the mountain.
Accessing the mountain/hill is easy, at least from the Burkeland side, which is the route that is described in this document. Great views all around, and particular towards Valestrand and Stemmeseggi (572m).
Primary Factor
Burkelandsfjellet has a primary factor of 207m, towards the higher Iseggene (374m). The "saddle" is in Røskelandsdalen. The last adjacent 5m contour lines on the high route are 160m, giving an interpolated saddle height of 158m.
Note: Class ratings are in reference to YDS (Yosemite Decimal System).
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Småland - Burkelandsfjellet (summer/autumn)
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Access
From Bergen, follow E16 towards Oslo. Not too far after the Arnanipa tunnel (approx. 30min from Bergen), exit right towards Osterøy. Cross the bridge and pay the toll fare (currently NOK 40,-)
From the tool booth, drive towards the Tirsås tunnel (2020m), and follow highway 567 until you arrive a roundabout (10Km from the toll booth) where you take the road to Valestrand. Drive approx. 2Km until you have a Hydro/Texaco gas station on your right hand side. Find parking on the gas station without blocking for any pumps. Notify the people inside the gas station that you are leaving your car there.
The route
Locate a narrow road at the NW end of the gas station. Follow this road upwards (ignore a private road going off to the right) to a barn and a house. This is the road end. By the barn, you will see a sign saying "Folkesti" (people's path). Follow this path and cross a stone fence just after the barn. A small ladder takes you easy across the fence.
The trail is well traveled, and is easy to follow up to Smålandsskaret pass. The trail to Burkelandsfjellet runs up to the left and heads into the forest for a short stretch, before you gain the ridge that leads all the way to the summit. The ridge trail isn't all that wide, so after rain, you are bound to get wet legs.
You arrive the summit in "no time", and see the Horsåsfjellet high point across the summit plateau. Horsåsfjellet is 2m lower than Burkelandsfjellet, in case you wonder if you've reached the top. I assume a trail will take you to Horsås, in case you would like to make a round-trip. If you take the same route back, then take a look at a small "jettegryte" (cauldron) near Smålandsskaret pass. When you come down to the pass, go left for approx. 50m, and you will arrive the pothole. There is also a sign pointing towards it.
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It was raining in Bergen, and I decided to stay in the lowlands in case the weather would turn to the worse. I decided to go to Osterøy and "clean up" the south-west side, where I'd never been before. Troll looked like he was improving from his back problems, and I decided it was safe to let him ride the backpack. I decided to start with Burkelandsfjellet and finish off with Iseggene. It was raining light when I left the trailhead by the gas station, but more important, visibility was good as there were no clouds hanging low on the hills. I left the gas station at 12:05PM and arrived the summit 12:50PM, after hiking in a normal pace up the hill. I was very pleased with the man-made trail cutting through the juniper jungle on the ridge. I had been fighting some bush-wars on some recent hikes, and still needles were pinning my body. On top, I noticed another hill further north, and the map revealed that this mountain - Orratuva - was above 300m, AND had a primary factor of more than 100m. I had missed this mountain on my map research, and it looked that I was in for a busy day. Troll seemed happy with the backpack ride, and was allowed to stretch out on the summit. I was back at the car 12:55PM, and drove on towards Iseggene.
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Some of the thumbnails may have been cropped to fit the format.
Pictures are presented in the order they were taken.
Other hordaland mountains
Other Osterøy K. mountains
Other Vaksdal K. mountains
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