What’s special about July?

July is usually one of the warmest months of the year.  At Vollen you will see people swimming by the beaches and of course there is lots of activity in the boat harbours and out on the fjord.  This is when it’s great to take a boat ride round the islands of the Inner Oslo fjord or visit the fort at Oscarsborg near Drøbak.

It’s also when there is lots of life at Vito’s Italian Restaurant on the waterfront at Vollen Marina.  On a fine afternoon or evening it is definitely advisable to book a table for Vito’s is extremely popular and the food good!

This photo was taken on July 4th just after 10 p.m. at one of the Vollen boat harbours.  The evening sun was still lighting up Oslo in the distance and it remained light until after midnight.

But apart from fun by the sea, this is also a wonderful time to enjoy walking in the forests – you’ll find wild raspberries, tiny strawberries, masses of blueberries, perhaps some cloudberries and of course wild edible mushrooms.  These last are excellent but you MUST be sure of which to pick as some are lethal.

The little girl in the picture is enjoying picking off the blueberries from a small branch.  If you’d like to pick enough for dessert when you get back to Sheep’s Inn, do ask me to lend you a specially designed blueberry picker.  With the forests full of berries, it’s amazing how many you can pick in just an hour or so!  The picture underneath show orange cloudberries.

Places especially worth going to in July

Oslo Summer Park

Oslo Summer Park

Oslo Summer Park is the biggest climbing park in Oslo and very popular with locals and visitors alike.  There is climbing for everyone, regardless of age or skill. There are over 150 elements among the trees, across 9 different routes of varying...

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Drammen Spiral tunnel (Spiralen Drammen)

Drammen Spiral tunnel (Spiralen Drammen)

Please note: in 2020 the tunnel was upgraded.  The spiral tunnel in the city of Drammen is a unique experience and in fact has been ranged by CNN Travel as one of the world's most special tunnels.  You enter from the town and drive up 1650 meters in six and a half...

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Kongen’s Utsikt – The King’s Viewing Platform

Kongen’s Utsikt – The King’s Viewing Platform

The King's Viewing Platform is 484 meters above the Tyrifjorden and Steinsfjorden lakes.  You can either start at Sundvolden and hike the 1300 meters up to Kleivstua or you can drive up to Kleivstua parking area beside the hotel (this is a toll road and...

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Gaustatoppen

Gaustatoppen

Gaustatoppen is a spectacular mountain top - at 1883 meters and in clear weather it is possible to see approximately 60,000 sq.m., one sixth of Norway's mainland. However a visit to Gausta also offers amazing nature experiences throughout the year -...

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Picnic benches & rest benches around Vollen

Picnic benches & rest benches around Vollen

In and around Vollen village you will find lots of places for having a picnic or just a rest to enjoy the view.  The people of the village have contributed to setting out the picnic tables and benches - and they are all for locals and visitors' use, on the...

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Frisbeegolf course

Frisbeegolf course

There is a beautiful, and very varied frisbee golf course at Vollen.  The whole course is found throughout the forest and down to the seaside at Vollen.  This frisbeegolf course attracts keen adult experts who are amazing to watch in action, and also...

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Bicycles: on- and off-road

Bicycles: on- and off-road

Exploring the Oslo region and city is especially great by bicycle.  There are lots of cycle tracks in and around the city and throughout the region.  Norway has been enthusiastic in encouraging people to cycle to work or free time activities.  Tourists to...

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Visit a Lighthouse

Visit a Lighthouse

A pleasant drive of about three quarters of an hour takes you to Filtvet lighthouse (Filtvet fyr). It is also possible to take the 250 bus going south from Vollen and change to the 85 bus.  This bus trip takes about an hour but check on the bus planner. ...

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