Once we found out about Norwegian apple cider, it was compulsory to visit the “Cider Route” in Ulvik. Ulvik is a small, idyllic town at the end of one of the Hardangerfjord fingers. The Hardangerfjord area is the “fruit orchard of Norway” which produces apples, cherries, and more. There are three apple cider farms along one street in Ulvik, where you can walk from one to another and purchase a glass of cider at each one.
Visiting in late September, it is apple harvesting time! We visited two of the three farms and watched the initial stages of cider production. The apple farmers couldn’t harvest apples fast enough in September and they were falling off the trees and into the neat rows. Each farm has a little sitting area, where you can enjoy a glass of cider with a view of the fjord. I cannot recommend the experience enough.
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Visiting Ulvik
It takes about 45 minutes to get from Eidfjord, where we were staying, to Ulvik. The drive itself is stunning as it follows the main vein of the Hardangerfjord down one side and up the other. As you come into Ulvik, you’ll see signs for cherries and the rows of apple trees on the hills. By September 30th, nearly the entire town was shut down, but the tourist office was open, where we got a map of the cider route. We walked some of the streets in search of coffee and a snack, without much luck. Finally, we stopped into the Strand Fjordhotel, where we had a cup of coffee out on the patio. This is where we plotted our route.
There were some dramatic clouds in the distance and puddles around, but the water in the fjord was as calm as can be. With the lack of harsh winds, flat land, and long summer days, I can see why the apples are happy to grow in this region. We decided to drive to the farms instead of walk because we were not sure if they would even be open. I had emailed all three farms before leaving from the trip and got one response to stop by anytime. Off we went.
At a Glance:
- Rating: 4 (out of 4) stars – would do it again in a heartbeat!
- Intensity: Driving Clothes, warm layers
- Location: Flåm, Norway
- Cost: Price of a glass of cider
- Restrooms: At each of the stores
- Timing: 1 – 3 hrs
Highlights:
- Support family-owned cider farms
- Enjoy a cold glass of cider with a view of the fjord
- Watch the production of cider, based on the
Visiting the Farms
To start the cider route, make a left past the Strand Fjordhotel onto Prestabrekka. Head uphill as it turns into Apalvegen. Apalvegan is the main street that all three cider farms are on. It is about one kilometer from Strand Fjordhotel to the first cider farm: Ulvik Frukt & Cideri. We pulled into this first cider farm and it was closed. We later found out that the owner was selling apples or cider elsewhere that day and had closed his shop. Just like the Ciderhuset in Balestrand, all three of the farms are family-owned and are small scale. In Ulvik, we only saw four people working on the farms in total – two in the shops and two moving/hauling apples.
With the first cider producer closed, we were nervous about whether the others would be open. We continued on Apalvegen to the next farm, Syse Gard. The view on Apalvega is stunning. You are looking down the rows of trees laden with apples down to the calm waters of the fjord. Apples were falling off the trees and into the rows and even onto the street. Truly apple season!
Syse Gard Fruit Farm, Cafe, and Meat Smoker
Syse Gard was open! We chatted with the shopkeeper/owner about the products and cider. She reminded us that “tasting” does not exist the way it does in the States for individuals. Instead, she offered us a glass of cider and suggested we each get a different kind to sip out on the patio. We also bought dried apple chips to have with our cider. There was a formal education room upstairs where groups on tours can learn about the farm.
The patio had a couple of outdoor metal tables with chairs, large trees, and an uninterrupted view of the apple orchard over the fjord. It was the most serene glass of apple cider that I ever experienced. Then, to top it off, the farm cat came a visited us while drinking the cider. We chose two ciders that were more on the dry side as both my mom and I prefer cider that is less sweet. They had a bright, earthy flavor that was far less sweet than the mass-produced ciders. We tried our best to fully soak up the moment before moving onto the next farm.
Syse Gard was the first place we encountered a full crate of apples. Walking toward the crate was like hitting a wall of fragrance. The sweet apple smell was delightful and strong. So incredible.
Hardanger Juice and Cider Factory
The third farm on the Ulvik Cider Route is the Hardanger Juice and Cider Factory. To get here, continue on Apalvegen and follow the signs up the road. The parking lot was full of apple crates, so we pulled forward to park a little closer to the buildings. With a parking lot and multiple buildings, this seemed like a larger cider production than the previous farms. We went into the banquet room/restaurant, where another friendly host had a selection of about 8 ciders to choose from. Again, we decided on a couple of their dry ciders and enjoyed them out on their large patio. In the high season, this farm has a restaurant and the ability to have events on the property. There was a large table set up for a group of 12 or so that were due to come in a little later.
While sipping our ciders, my mom and I decided to walk down to the apple crate-filled parking lot. Once again, the fruity sweet apple fragrance surrounded us like a hug. There were over 20 crates filled with apples. I had fun taking photos with my glass and crates of apples. As you might imagine, I was beginning to feel the effects of all the cider. Back at the restaurant building, our host encouraged us to visit their store, which had bottled and canned cider. We bought a few of their canned ciders, which we thoroughly enjoyed in Bergen a few days later.
Cider Production at Hardanger Juice and Cider Factory
After sipping and shopping, our host invited us to watch the production around the corner, while she tended to the group that arrived. Around the corner, there was a single guy taking the apple crates and tipping them over into a giant juicing machine. The machine washed the apples on one side, then they went around to the juicing side, where we saw the apple pulp get turned over a couple of times into an apple pulp crate. We didn’t want to interrupt the guy’s workflow to ask questions, but he seemed excited that we showed interest.
After a few minutes, we broke our trance in watching the apple-juicing machine and headed out. The clouds were fully coming in and it was getting a bit chilly. We ate a packed lunch fjord-side before making the drive back to Eidfjord.
Tips for Visiting the Apple Cider Farms in Ulvik
- Bring a picnic lunch to eat after a glass or two of cider
- Reach out directly to the farms ahead of time to ensure they are open during that time of year
- Harvest season is a busy time for them, so you might not be able to get a tour of the farms, but seeing the crates of apples is very special
- Another great season to visit is in the spring when the apple trees are in bloom – this can be tricky catch as is a little different each year
- Walking the cider route is completely possible and would be wonderful in good weather. Perhaps park at Hardanger Juice and Cider Factory, then hike the longest distance to the first farm?
WHAT TO PACK TO FOR CIDER TASTING IN NORWAY
It was surprisingly calm and pleasant in Ulvik when we went cider tasting. While I had a jacket with me, I really didn’t wear it the entire time. The weather in Norway is variable, especially so in autumn. I ended up bringing many light layers so I could adjust to the various weather conditions. Here are a few items that came in handy:
- Rain Jacket — while I didn’t wear this during our visit, it was in the car in case it started raining.
- Puffy mid-layer that packs up small like the Patagonia nano-puff jacket. Or, for something a little more casual looking, I’m trying out the Patagonia pack-in jacket. The wouldn’t recommend the maroon jacket I’m wearing in some of the photos because it didn’t block the wind very well, and I was chilly!
- Wool layering long sleeve, like this one from Smartwool. Or consider a tank top to wear UNDER your cute sweaters for extra warmth.
- Extra large scarf or scarves! H&M typically has some cute chunky scarves each fall.
- Boots that you can comfortably walk in but also keep your feet warm. The ones you see in the photos look good but were not warm enough! Consider some cute but functional boots from Clarks or Sorel.
- A handy dandy refillable water bottle is ALWAYS a good thing to bring with you.
Overall Thoughts: Apple Cider in Ulvik
Visiting the apple cider farms on the apple cider route in Ulvik was our most lovely and relaxing day in Norway. The view of the fjord was photo-worthy, the cider farms were cute and welcoming, and the apples were delicious. Before I went to Norway, I didn’t think that much about the fact that we were visiting in the shoulder season. But it was VERY apparent when we visited Ulvik with most of the town closed down for the season. With the beautiful scenery, apples, and cider, it shocked both my mom and me how few people we saw. It was as if we had the place to ourselves. Also, seeing the apples fully ripe on the trees and crates full of apples was a special experience. I am so glad we went!
I wish we spent more time in the Hardangerfjord area. We stayed in Eidfjord and I have a post dedicated to the things we did in the area. Check it out here! Or if you are looking for more places to try Norwegian Cider, I have another post about the Ciderhuset in Balestrand.
Do you know of anywhere else in the world that has cider tasting?? There is barely a time that I am not in the mood for an ice-cold cider, so I’d love to learn more about the process via cider tastings. Oregon? New Zealand? Add suggestions to the comments below!
Happy Travels,
Hanna
