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 principle of first come, first sit down.  Many have wonderful views of the Oslo fjord right into Oslo or down to the islands in the south, but others might be sited at the top of a hill or beside one of the many little lakes where it is fun to watch the bird life.   Finding your favourite bench and maybe enjoying a take-away sandwich or other picnic food from REMA, is the Norwegian way to eat out at a table with a wonderful view at a moderate cost.
Walking in the forests, along the coastal path or in the hills, is a necessity for Norwegians – there are even some benches placed in beautiful but secluded places and called “Tenkebenk”   The idea is that it is healthy to slow down now and then and simply allow thoughts to gather and mature.

Free Beach Library

You will find a bookshelf at the beach just beyond the Oslo fjord boat museum.  Here you can open the glass doors and browse for a book to read on the beach or take home with you.  It is hoped that you will return the book or leave another favourite in its place.

The bookshelf is administered by our Asker municipal library who have placed several of these outdoor cupboards at local beaches and even at some bus-stops.

Enjoy!!

View to the Marina

Watch lake bird-life beside Arnestad school

Just below REMA with views to Oslo

Several picnic tables below Café Oscar

At the top of Plommedalsveien

On Rabben at Selvikbukta

Looking at the ferry landing place

On the outer breakwater at Selvikbukta

On Selvikbukta breakwater, view to Oslo

At the alpaca farm

Bench for contemplation at Rabben

Rest before/after diving in

Shady bench on Rabben

One of the picnic benches at Arnestad school

An all-year place for grilling at Selvikbukta

The beach at the Oslo Fjord Boat Museum

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 complete beginners and all those whose skill lies in-between!  I have some frisbees for SheepsInn guests who would like to try so just ask me if you’d like to borrow them.

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 our region can hire cycles at Viking Biking or to join one of their organised bike tours.  Click on the link for many exciting suggestions and prices.

For those who have their own bike, the forests surrounding the city offer amazing off-road tracks and of course the forests are for everyone to enjoy, whether by bicycle or on foot.

Looking down on Oslo city

Biking in the Oslo forests in December

As you can see from the picture, it is possible to rent off-road bikes at Oslo sommer park at Tryvann.  Oslo Sommerpark is at the top of the Holmenkollen hill.  In winter this is where you find many slalom/snowboard tracks while in summer it is a great starting place for cycling in the forests above Oslo.  This is also where you find the beautifully situated Climbing Park with one of Scandinavia’s biggest and best rope courses

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.  Filtvet is an important lighthouse at the entrance to the narrowest part of the Oslo fjord.  The restaurant, Villa Malla, is right beside the lighthouse and commands an amazing view of the fjord and the passing ships and boats of all sizes.  Visitors can enjoy Mediterranean style lunch or dinner buffets or just buy icecream. At lunch time, you can have a sustaining bowl of soup of the day while watching for some of the world’s largest cruise ships to pass by – or just a few sailboats.  If planning on having dinner, check http://villamalla.no/info/ to ensure that the restaurant is not closed for a special event such as a wedding.
Right beside the restaurant you might like to visit the art gallery, Galleri Malla, sunbathe on the sandy beach or have a swim in the fjord. The most adventurous might like to book a water scooter for speed on the fjord

After visiting Filtvet, you might like to return to Sheeps Inn by driving up the west side of the peninsula, perhaps visiting the picturesque village of Holmsbu.  Alternatively you could return along the Oslo fjord coast, through the villages of Sætre, Båtstø, Nærsnes and Slemmestad.

Children’s playgrounds and training apparatus for all ages

Children’s playgrounds and training apparatus for all ages

Every school and kindergarten in Norway has an outdoor playground.  During school hours these are for the use of the children attending that place.  However after 17:00 on weekdays, at weekends and during national or school holidays, most of these may be used by all children.  There are several in and around Vollen.  By walking down to the village and across towards Arnestad school, you will find five fun outdoor playgrounds and also outdoor training apparatus for older children and adults.
New in 2019, is a kilometer long track around the school grounds for roller skiing. Children can also practise cycling skills there. The track is, of course, also used for cross country ski practice in the snowy months of the year. 

The pictures below are from May 2018 and as well as showing some of the playgrounds at Arnestad school, they also show one of the tee-offs  and a hole at the new Frisbeegolf.  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 complete beginners and all those whose skill lies in-between!  I have some frisbees for SheepsInn guests who would like to try so just ask me if you’d like to borrow them.

Below are a couple of photos from April, as the snow was finally melting in Vollen.  Maybe not as pretty as in spring and summer, but still a great place for children to enjoy.

Magic Ice, Oslo

Magic Ice, Oslo

Magic Ice is found in four towns in Norway (and also in Anchorage, Alaska, Copenhagen, Denmark and Reykjavik, Iceland) The photos here were taken in Svolvær, in Lofoten in the North of Norway but the concept is much the same at each location.  On entry you are given a warm robe and gloves as the temperature is several degrees below zero Celsius.  Then a drink at the Ice Bar and afterwards you have fun wandering round the ice-blue rooms filled with ice statues.
The Oslo Magic Ice is right in the centre of Oslo.

Opening times:
Monday – Thursday and Sunday from 11:00 to 23:00
Friday and Saturday till midnight.

Admission price is NOK 195,- which includes a welcome drink served in an ice glass and a winter poncho to wear in the exhibition hall. Children pay 50% and there are discounted prices for families and students