Partially the area of what is considered in the 7 Mountains is in Hordaland area directly within the general Bergen area, including some from the local surrounding islands, which I have hiked/walked around.
Specifically, part of what is considered Bergen´s 7 Mountain Hikes includes Rundemanen, Blåmanen, Sandviksfjellet, Lyderhorn, Damsgårdsfjellet, Fløyen, Løvstakken, Ulriken, and some of the surrounding local islands in the Hordaland area near Bergen, Norway. And of course, there are many mountains other than these to also choose from! BergenTur, AskøyTur and other local Hiking associations have maps, info, and hikes to various mountains during the year. Or, obviously anyone can organize their own hikes anytime they would like. It´s free to hike/walk/use the mountain areas of course. To join the Hiking/Walking groups is a yearly fee. Many of the ski areas are free to use, such as on Fløyen and Totland (Totlandsvegen*). It´s very popular to ski, snowboard, snowshoe, and sled, or other winter sports and outdoor activities here! During winter it is common to see all ages carrying skiis or whatever to head up the mountains to take advantage of the snow.
* to get to Totlandsvegen, you can drive, or take the current correct number bus 71 (this could change) to Totland. For me, I would get the local bus to Bergen bus station, then switch either to the Bybanen or a bus til Nesttun, then catch a number 71 from there to Totland, last stop. Then you walk about 20 minutes, til you get to the ski area. It´s free. There are no rental anything, you bring whatever you need. On the weekends and weekdays, the hytte (cabins) are open, and free to use. The local ski clubs have volunteers on the weekends only, at the hyttes, to provide hot drinks, usually cocoa, coffee, sometimes gløgg, and maybe pancakes/waffles for a small fee/donation. Ski area is fine for kids too, though with the 20 minute walk out thru the snow, the kids might have had enough quite quickly!,) The bus goes out much less (maybe only once in each direction) on the weekend! If you use the bus for this, imho it´s best to use it during the week when there are buses out often beginning in early morning til late. (This should be moved when time to ski info post! then elaborate)
* to get to Totlandsvegen, you can drive, or take the current correct number bus 71 (this could change) to Totland. For me, I would get the local bus to Bergen bus station, then switch either to the Bybanen or a bus til Nesttun, then catch a number 71 from there to Totland, last stop. Then you walk about 20 minutes, til you get to the ski area. It´s free. There are no rental anything, you bring whatever you need. On the weekends and weekdays, the hytte (cabins) are open, and free to use. The local ski clubs have volunteers on the weekends only, at the hyttes, to provide hot drinks, usually cocoa, coffee, sometimes gløgg, and maybe pancakes/waffles for a small fee/donation. Ski area is fine for kids too, though with the 20 minute walk out thru the snow, the kids might have had enough quite quickly!,) The bus goes out much less (maybe only once in each direction) on the weekend! If you use the bus for this, imho it´s best to use it during the week when there are buses out often beginning in early morning til late. (This should be moved when time to ski info post! then elaborate)
The Askøyfjellet is a bit more difficult to get to, usually by bus or car is easiest way to reach the mountain trail start. Ditto for various other surrounding local islands such as Øygarden, Sotra, Mathopen, Herdla. Some have flatter, more rounded off, low, lichen-and-heather-covered mountains, which seem slightly above the road, til you reach the other side, with a large drop-off down to the sea. Often you can find hidden trails down to the sea, or sand and/or pebble and boulder beach area or swimming area. Must be strictly careful during winter, as the sea swells can carry one out to sea, as happens some years with too-enthusiastic tourists/non-locals, who get way too close to the sea waves. Last year a few tourists died, after being swept out to sea. There isn´t any rescue squad to call this far out, and they would never arrive in time anyway. Beautiful, spectacular, breathtaking ...yes....but dangerous too if you are not careful. In winter the water is also often cold enough to kill you very quickly from simply the temperature, even if you can manage to swim/float. My favourite place to swim in the sea is summer time in a beach area where the land slowly goes out to the sea. I do not like the places where the land drops off immediately into the sea---that still is a bit scary to me! And I grew up swimming in the ocean from a child, albeit warm waters, but with the difference that often one could walk out for miles before the land dropped off anywhere enough for the water to actually cover you completely! Sharks, dolphins, eels, horse shoe crabs....alligators (with due caution of course) don´t scare me....but swimming in the sea with absolutely no chance to touch bottom, scares the heck out of me! Very creepy!,) So far that is something I will do here. Almost once, but then ended up just taking photos. It was very beautiful, but not enough for me to get in the water:).
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