#røldalsfjellring
Inspired by Johannes Einemo at Lærdalsøren Hotel's Lærdalsørenring routes, this round trip was named Røldalsfjellring during Club Alfa Romeo Norway's Pinsetreff in 2019.
That time with both the Nord- and Südschleife. The main tour or Südschleife is a round trip along the fv520 and rv13.
Depending on where you're coming from on the road, you can start in Røldal, in Ryfylke or the most common start and stop in Sauda. The route runs along rv520, and fv13 on what is Nasjonal Turistveg Ryfylke.
In the description of Ryfylkevegen, it says that this is a journey of contrasts. "Here you will encounter bare high mountains, green lush meadows, steep mountainsides and deep fjords. Saudafjellet has a distinctive nature. It's gnarled, raw and stubborn, and you can't help but wonder what on earth made someone lay a road right here."
The round trip is 165 km, but can be extended with recommended detours along the way. For example, from Mo up to Gullingen and across to the Jøsenfjord, and a detour on the Fv681 to Hebnes ferry quay and back. Along the way, you'll experience one of Norway's most spectacular mountain areas, you'll be able to let the car stretch along the winding rv13 down Suldal, and you'll pass idyllic Suldalsvatnet and Nesflaten before reaching the small village of Sand.
If you've chosen the detour at Mo, however, you'll turn off the Rv13 before Sand and make your way up the winding roads to Gullingen, and across to the beautiful Jøsenfjord. Because who doesn't like an extra mountain pass? After you finish Jøsenfjorden, you drive towards Sand again, passing Erfjord on the way.
At Sand, it's usually good to grab a bite to eat, and we recommend Kulp, which focuses on good local produce.
From Sand, the trip goes a little out into the fjord before crossing Sandsbroen, where the roadway at its highest point is 73 meters above the water surface, making it Norway's highest bridge over a sailing route.
A short distance after the bridge, you have the opportunity to take a second detour. Take the Fv681 in the direction of Hebnes. Along this road you get even more bends and a great view of Ryfylke. Stretch your legs when you've reached the ferry quay before turning around and taking the same route back. Continue along the road towards Ropeid. Here you turn off towards Sauda on the 520, or Dollarvegen as it has been called since it was built with American money in the early 1930s. Enjoy the view of the mighty mountains surrounding the Sauda fjord on your way in. Stop at Svandalsfossen, this massive waterfall has been built up with steel stairs that can take you up the mountainside for even better views. In the fall and winter, Sauda is sometimes blocked off when the flow of water in the waterfall becomes so great that it is impossible to drive through safely.
If you fancy a break in Sauda, there are several good places to eat. If you're here on a Sunday, we recommend visiting Anna's Kafè at Tinghaug. Here, the ladies serve home-baked cakes on real porcelain among the art of Samuel Tveit. Open 12-15 every Sunday from the end of April
From Sauda you turn further up towards the inner fillet, Røldalsfjellet. This road was also financed by the industrial development and the American owners of the smelter in Sauda. The start of the road was made in the 1920s for the power development, but the road from Hellandsbygd over to Røldal was completed in 1960. At the highest point of the road is a commemorative plaque for Knut Vesthassel, director of Saudefaldene at the time and one of the driving forces behind the road.
Here, the view is excellent and it's only a short way down to Svartavatn and the dam that has been photographed so often.
Enjoy the road as it winds its way between the rocky outcrops before you come across the mound at Ekkjeskaret and look down the steep mountainsides to Røldal.
