Strand
Municipality · Rogaland
About Strand
Preikestolen, the Pulpit Rock, 604 metres above the Lysefjord, reached on a classic half-day hike from Preikestolen Fjellstue.
What to do and where to stay in Strand
Places to stay are run locally, with no hotel or campsite chain behind them.
1Preikestolen (Pulpit Rock)Hike
A flat-topped rock plateau 604 m above the Lysefjord, reached by a marked trail of about 3.8 km each way from the car park at Preikestolen Fjellstue.
Above the Lysefjord, south-east of Jørpeland · 3–4 h return (about 7.6 km) · Summer is easiest; snow and ice from late autumn to spring
2Lysefjord Panorama Trail to FantapyttenHike
A red-graded path above the Lysefjord from Høllesli past the Seiajuvet, Hatten and Fantagjuvet viewpoints; the rock pool Fantapytten sits about 4.5 km in.
Høllesli (The Bolder) to Preikestolen BaseCamp · Full day one way (18 km listed); Fantapytten and back about 9 km · May–October
3Høllesli viewpointViewpoint
A rest stop on the Ryfylke National Scenic Route with a view along the Lysefjord, close to the bridge over to Forsand.
Fv523 near the Lysefjord bridge · 10–15 min · All year
4Solbakk rock carvingsHistory & culture
Nearly 30 ship figures and eight sun rings carved on the shore rock around 500 BC, found in 1923 and painted red so they can be seen.
Shore at Solbakk, between Jørpeland and Tau · 20–30 min · All year
5Solspeilet on KlungholmenLocal oddity
An 8-metre pyramid on an islet off Jørpeland, decorated with runes and Oseberg-ship motifs and ringed by 12 standing stones, built by local artist Stian H. Skjæveland.
Klungholmen, just off Jørpeland · 10 min from the road, or on the Jørpelandsholmen walk · All year
6JørpelandsholmenNature
A small island in Jørpelandsvågen, reached on the Staalverksbrua bridge, with a level loop path, bathing pier, a lean-to and a 12-hole frisbee golf course.
Jørpelandsvågen, Jørpeland centre · 30–45 min loop · All year
7Mølleparken and the Old Tou MillHistory & culture
Three old wooden mill buildings on the Tau seafront beside a park with the 1859 Villa Tou; the Brugsløa barn opens on summer Sundays with an art café.
Tau seafront · 30–45 min · Park all year; Brugsløa on Sundays in the summer half-year
8Strand Gård farm shopFood & drink
A self-service farm shop at Tau selling sausages and bacon from the farm's Mangalitsa pigs, chocolate quail eggs and goods from other local producers.
Kyrkjebakken 45, Tau · 15–20 min · All year, daily 09:00–21:00
9TunglandsfjelletHike
A blue-graded walk of about 7 km from Jørpeland quay, on gravel roads and then a path, to a top looking over the town, the islets and on clear days the North Sea.
Above Jørpeland · About 3 h (7–7.8 km return, 386–430 m ascent) · Spring to autumn
10Street art in JørpelandLocal oddity
Large murals around the town, among them the blacksmith 'Krokhølsmeden' in Rådhusgaten and a girl whose backpack is shaped like Preikestolen on a wall by Fv523.
Rådhusgaten 10 and Ryfylkevegen 890, Jørpeland · 20–30 min walk · All year