Mountain Hikes 2: Fløyen

Mount Fløyen is one of the first Bergen mountains I went up. Usually I take the floibanen mountain tram up to the top, early morning, enjoy morning on the mountain, before hiking back down. There are plenty of things to do from skiing, snowshoeing in winter, to picnicing, roasting hotdogs, swimming, playing with the kids on the playground areas. We´ve gone up with one of the åpenbarnehagens, to use the huge open fields and woods, blowing & chasing bubbles, climbing the many wooden playground areas over streams, chasing the ball, grilling out over open fires. N,E,n enjoyed playing with all the other kids, and all the parents had a good time too!

(Reminder to me: photos)

After enjoying the morning, with or without our kids, then we head back home. Hiking down any of the top trails randomly back down usually through Sandviken to the end of Sandviken, then either directly down to the sea walking back to city centre, or back across Sandviken to city centre. Sandviken, the old part of Bergen, is very lovely, with endless charming, traditional wooden houses, often painted in tradition colours of red, mustard, white, black, blue, green with red trim, yellow with white trim, black with red trim, etc. Rooftops are pale grey stone tile (not the exact word I am looking for), red or black ceramic tiles, or a few other colours/materials. It´s very pretty, and most yards, though usually tiny, are full of beautiful flowers, gardens, pretty wood furniture, with unique shapes of yards and interesting features. Some driveways are a slab of concrete thick enough for a tiny car´s weight, with the slab directly over a crookedy cobblestone path to another entrance door below. Some yards are eeked out of the tiniest scrap of land, made into a charming triangle of grass, flowers, a bench with tiny table, coffee cup left sitting out. Curious, quiet, still cats are found in the oddest place, if you look closely enough. A slightly-above street level black ceramic rooftop, on the edge of the cobbled sidewalk, a plump cat almost napping, sitting curled up, just watching quietly as people walk past.

(find photo)

In winter, the barnehages and schools directly off Mount Fløyen often take the kids out for skiing out and in directly from the school yard. Often when I´ve walked or hiked in winter, the kids are out skiing around their barnehages.

Along the walk/hike are numerous lekeplass (play areas), all unique, all with different fun things to do, or play on. On the weekend all the barnehages along the way are also open for kids to play in if they like, each again unique and charming.

(find photos of a few)

Yes, you can walk up Fløyen also. It is about an hour hike up. Hike, walk, whatever you like. It´s about an hour. More with kids. We take the fløibanen up, then walk down. It´s easier on the kids, and the adults,)

It´s a fantastic walk down, with many paths around, and down the mountain. Many lekeplass and barnehages along the way, both across the walk down, and back down through Sandviken to the sea. We could spend the day from early morning til nearly suppertime doing just that: walking, hiking, stopping to explore or play at the lekeplass and playgrounds, all of which are different with different playground equipment. Some with toilet facilities, most not. Some with water fountains, most not. Most are fenced in, some are not, or not entirely. All are free, and safe, and lots of fun.

TRY TO FIND A FEW PHOTOS