SPA at Holmen Fjordhotell

A few minutes bus-ride from Vollen is Holmen Fjordhotell which has a lovely swimming pool and training centre, with sauna, steam-bath, cold pool, pool and big whirlpool. There are lockers available. In the Fitness centre there is a large variety of training apparatus and a solarium. You can buy a day ticket to the SPA for NOK 385,- which includes loan of bathrobe, towel and slippers. You can enjoy the salad buffet as well as help yourself to juice and coffee.

From Monday to Friday it is also possible to buy the day ticket which, as well as the above, includes a 50 minute massage treatment.

You can drive to Holmen Fjordhotell where there is plenty of parking, or take the local bus which takes about 15 minutes. As you can see from the map, the hotel is right by the sea and has its own little harbour.

Other attractions at this hotel are the owner’s collection of vintage cars and also the various ship’s bow figureheads and model ships found around the hotel.

Opening hours:
Monday 07 – 20.30
Tuesday – Friday 6:30 – 20:30
Weekends 9 – 19:00

Age limit is 20 years

Risenga ice-skating rink (kunstisbane)

Risenga ice-skating rink is about 6 km from Vollen and is prepared daily during the winter season from the beginning of November. The opening hours are given here but in general the rink is open from 09:00 – 22:30 daily.

Korketrekkeren – Oslo Corkscrew sleigh track

A run down the Corkscrew track takes about 8 – 10 minutes – it’s 2700 meters long with a fall of 255 meters. You get to the start by taking the 13 minute long Metro (T-banen) from Midstuen to Frognerseteren. Alternatively you can drive up to Frognerseteren or take the 35 minute Metro from Nationaltheatret in Oslo centre to Frognerseteren.
You can either use your own sleigh or rent one at Akeforeningen or Skiservice. Rent of a wooden sleigh costs about NOK 100,- with half price for children under 18. Remember to wear a helmet – if you don’t have one, you can rent that too.
In season the track is open: Monday – Friday 10:00 – 20:30, Saturday 10:00 – 20:00, Sunday 10:00 – 18:00.

When you are up at Frognersæteren to enjoy sleighing, you should take the opportunity to visit the famous Frognersæteren Restaurant just 50 meters down the road from the sleigh rental house. This restaurant is in the best Norwegian tradition for excellent food and a wonderful atmosphere – and view!

Oslo Winter Park – Alpine sports

The best place to enjoy good alpine skiing in the Oslo district is at Oslo Winter Park which is just 20 minutes up from the centre of the city. The season usually begins in December and continues to early April, depending on weather conditions.

Golf

We are members at Kjekstad golf club, a 15 minute drive from Vollen. – Kjekstad has several practice putting greens, a large driving range, pitching and sand practice areas, a café and shop. The picture above was taken on 9th May 2016 when the temperature was a wonderful 24 degrees Celsius! The club has two courses – the 18 hole which is fairly demanding and also provides an amazing nature experience as you move round the forest, even glimpsing Oslo in the far distance from the highest point. The 9 hole course is my favourite – it’s a par 3 course but provides a lot of challenge. Hole 6 is shown on the introduction photo – where a few times in a season I might get a birdie and there’s always the hope of that elusive hole in one…

There are quite a number of golf clubs in the Oslo region. Depending on the weather conditions and how early or late the snow melted, the season begins in late April and ends in October.

I usually drive up Vollenveien to Heggedal and then take road 167 to join road 165. Perhaps take one route there and the other home?

The physical map shows both the 9 hole, 3-par course to the west of the Clubhouse at Kjekstad Golf Club and also the 18 hole course to the north. I’d like to mention Hole 10, which is the most northerly and has a spectacular tee-off over the lake.

Walking/jogging/skiing in the forests and on the coastal paths

There are many trails and paths in the forests and along the fjords all over Norway. In Vollen we have some very beautiful ones. Many of the most popular trails are marked at intervals with a blue stripe on a tree or stone (see the photo below)
From July until the frost arrives in October, you can enjoy picking edible wild berries such as raspberries, strawberries, blueberries, cranberries, and also edible mushrooms. Some mushrooms are unmistakable, but you MUST be absolutely certain they are not poisonous. I have included a picture of one of the best loved below – the golden chanterelle.
You can enjoy rambling at all seasons of the year – perhaps using the Scandinavian spiked soles which can be fastened to boots if the ground is icy – and of course on cross-country skis in snowy conditions.

On top of Skaugum hill looking down on Asker county

The blue line on the map below shows our local coastal paths. Apart from the lovely walks around Vollen, where you will notice especially many “good bathing places” flags, there are other walks of especial interest. The trip around Løkeneshalvøya (Løkenes peninsula) is beautiful and you will pass one of the famous “ice-lakes” where, in the 19th century, ice was cut and exported to England – even to Queen Victoria!! The sail ships which raced across the North Sea with the frozen cargo, came into Spire bay just south of Spire Lake.
Konglungen island used to be the home of local fishermen. It is now an extremely fashionable area with many multi million villas.

Another notable walk is round Brønnøya island. This is a protected area with no vehicle access. On fine evenings all summer, and especially on the Eve of St Hans in June, the sound between Brønnøya and the next island to the east, Langåra, is a very popular place to enjoy dinner on board at an anchorage out of the wind. In fact the sound is popularly known as Middagsbukta (Dinner Bay)