Select cultural landscape Suldal

The scheme of Selected Cultural Landscapes in Agriculture (UKL) was established in 2009 through a collaboration between agricultural, environmental authorities, the National Antiquities Authority, and landowners. As of 2022, a total of 49 areas have been designated as Selected Cultural Landscapes at the national level. Suldal municipality received its UKL status in 2018.

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These areas are central to our cultural history. Individually and collectively, they represent extremely unique and valuable biological diversity and cultural heritage. The goal of this initiative is to preserve these values through active management, restoration, and maintenance of natural and cultural assets. The selected cultural landscape in Suldal includes the hamlets of Hamrabø, Klungtveit, and Mokleiv.

Well-preserved older farmsteads and buildings situated on the slopes rising from Suldalsvatnet lake, with summer mountain pastures above, showcase the highland and mountain farm environments in Western Norway. The operations in Hamrabø are diverse and partly very extensive, involving dairy production, sheep, sows, piglets, combined with small hydropower plants and tourism.

At Klungtveit and Mokleiv, large areas are dedicated to sheep grazing. Steep slopes have been cultivated over time with stone walls, paddocks, stone fences, paths, stairs, and clearance cairns. The landscape is characterized by diverse hay meadows, garden fields, mown fields, and harvested woodlands managed according to tradition. The thousands of harvested trees - "kydlestuvar" - are particularly vibrant. The area offers pilgrim walks, farm tourism, the Ryfylke National Tourist Route, and hiking trails into the Suldal Mountains.

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You can find trail maps for the areas below.

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