A step in the right direction

A fjord cruise has always been the best way to view the tall green mountains and the sparkling blue seas of Norway. The Norwegians have known this for centuries and now it is your turn to learn that the only real way to experience nature is up close.

In the midst of one of the world’s most picturesque surroundings lies 29|2 Aurland. The farm and the land have been there for generations, inhabited ever since Viking times, right by the southernmost arms of the infamous Sognefjord. To say that the views are remarkable would be an understatement. It is four years since Tone and Bjørn Rønning Vike decided to leave the city for what can only be described as a bold adventure.

Bjørn inherited a farm in Aurland and there was no way his wife was going to let him turn it down. “There is nothing like Aurland in the spring,” she says. “When the flowers bloom, little white lambs are everywhere and the water rushes down the hill side, there is no better place to be.” Their little farm has grown large and is now attracting visitors from around the world. In June, they are unveiling their latest refurbishment, bringing the total of rooms to nine, ranging from superior single rooms to luxurious suites. The love is in the little details, the beautifully decorated rooms and the unwavering commitment to look after this world heritage site for future generations.

Even in such staggering surroundings, there is little time to waste. Bjørn and a local team of enthusiastic fishermen are working hard to get the century-long tradition of fly fishing back to its former glory. The honourable British Buxton family is returning to the Aurland River this summer, the place where their ancestors came to fish over a hundred years ago. Tone is no less busy, organising Aurland’s first walking festival from 7 to 9 August.

The Aurlandsdalen Valley is known as the Norwegian Grand Canyon and has some of the most spectacular walking tracks in the country. “The idea is for visitors to take time to appreciate the fantastic surroundings while making sure they leave no trace behind,” she explains. Prominent Norwegian musicians, artists and authors are set to attend and Tone can promise that these walks will be nothing like your average stroll. There is no doubt that their Aurland adventure is only just beginning.

By Stine Wannebo, published in Scan Magazine issue 76 | Photo: www.montag.no