A fun revisit to the “hardest top” in Volda municipality
| Date | Peak | Height | PF | Location | WCP/FP | MAP |
| 19.07.26 | Tårnet | 1309m | 53m | Volda, Norway | WCP | MAP |
| 19.07.26 | Litle-Eidskyrkja | 1243m | 133m | Volda, Norway | WCP | MAP |
Sunday: I visited Tårnet (“the tower”) – the “most difficult peak in Volda municipality” back in 2010 and while I didn’t remember much of the route, I remembered a crux that I found challenging.
The question was – how would I perceive this crux 16 years later? Had I grown more or less brave? There was only one way to find out.
I drove to Fyrde and took Høydalsvegen westbound. At Høgeset, I took the toll road (NOK 50, – per July 2026) and parked by the Skinnviksætra cabins (385m). I guess this parking is reserved for the cabin owners, but there didn’t seem to be anyone there.
I moved quickly up the path, and I couldn’t wait to get up to Tårnet and see the crux for the first time in 16 years.
Eventually, Tårnet came into view. I was really happy. The weather was nice and I had downloaded lots of great music.
In addition to revisiting the crux, I also wanted to see if there were other ways to get to the top. In 2010, I hiked in fog and didn’t really get a good overview.
When I got to the Litle-Eidskyrkja – Tårnet saddle, I followed the main ridge upwards. I didn’t remember this part at all.
Then I moved to the northwest side, trying to get the overview. I still didn’t understand where the crux was.
But after going back to the main ridge, I could see a vague track which sent me in the only obvious direction. And then I found the crux.
It scared the hell out of me, and I had to tell myself that I’ve climbed this up and down before. A climber would probably not consider this as any particular obstacle, but I am not a climber and my job was simple – get back down in one piece.
What I had forgotten, is that there are some spectacular handholds! And getting back down would just require some orchestration of hands and legs. This was indeed doable. I left the crux to explore other parts of the peak.
I found a cool passage through the mountain, but there was no way up (for me) from the other side.
Once I was convinced that “my crux” was the only way to the top, I went back to the crux and scrambled up to the ridge higher up.
The remaining part looked steep, but I didn’t imagine there would be any further difficulties. The fact that I had been to the top before, had to count for something…
I started scrambling on rocks, but after I broke 3 handholds, I moved over to the grassy ledges further left. They were scarier than the rock route, as I didn’t have much to hold on to, but at least nothing would snap in my hands.
And then I was up. Fantastic!
I spent a minute, trying to figure out if it was possible to continue towards Eidskyrkja. Maybe it is, but not for me.
It was time to get back down, but I would revisit Litle-Eidskyrkja along the way. The ridge over to the west top was not of interest this time, as I went over there in 2010.
The crux went smoother than on my way down in 2010. Maybe I was a slightly better scrambler now, even if I hardly scramble these days.
If you plan to do this hike, then just make a note of passing just below this pointy rock.
Next – Litle Eidskyrkja. A very uncomplicated hike…
A little bit later – a selfie that got taken earlier than I expected…
The views are stunning from this top (also).
This probably concluded my hiking in this part of my local region for this year. It was nice to be back on Tårnet!
Then followed a picture series before I returned (more or less) the way I came up.
It was a fantastic end to a memorable hiking week (after work)!
Trip statistics: 7,3km, 1140 vertical meters, 3h:35m
