Steinsdalsfossen – Hardanger

Steinsdalsfossen falls 46 metres (the main drop is 20 metres) at Øvsthus, about 2 km west of Norheimsund on the Hardangerfjord. It is far from Norway’s highest waterfall, but it is special: a path climbs the slope and leads right behind the cascade, so you stand in the roar of the water and stay (almost) dry. It is a rest area on the National Tourist Route Hardanger; the tourist office is in the unusual building by the car park and is open all summer.

When to come: the water is at its fullest in May and June, when the snow melts. Emperor Wilhelm II of Germany came here almost every summer from 1889 to 1914. Parts of the area, among them the path behind the waterfall, are closed in winter.

Tips for campers: plan 30–45 minutes. The rock and steps by the fall are wet and slippery – wear shoes with grip, not smooth trainers, and keep a cloth for the camera lens. The toilets are open from early May to late October; emptying the toilet of a motorhome or caravan is not allowed here. The area is partly wheelchair accessible. Coming from Bergen, it is a good first stop of the day on the way into Hardanger.