Romsdalen - 10 Things to Know Before Visiting

Romsdalen is one of the most beautiful valleys in Norway. Driving through the scenic E136, you could enjoy the views of the mountains on both sides and of the Rauma river with its clear waters. There are a lot of spots near the parking spots on the road that has access to the river bed. You can go down and have a picnic in one of those spots.

The road is quite serpentine and runs pretty much always near the river. In one of the hairpin bends, a waterfall splashes down the road. You can also enjoy the scenic views using Rauma Line by taking a train between Åndalsnes and Dobbs.

When you are visiting the valley, make sure to not only just drive through it but also visit the many waterfalls and mountain peaks that are accessible from the valley. Some of Norway's and the world's tallest waterfalls are located in the valley.

Waterfalls in Romsdalen

1. Vermafossen at 380 meters in height
2. Døntefossen at 700 meters in height
3. Mongefossen at 773 meters in height
4. Ølmåafossen at 720 meters in height

Summits around Romsdalen

1. Romsdalshornet, at 1,550 metres
2. Store Trolltind, at 1,788 metres
3. Trollryggen, at 1,740 metres
4. Trollveggen
5. Breitind, at 1,797 metres
6. Kalskråtinden, at 1,803 metres
7. Romsdalseggen
8. Tua (Rauma)
9. Rangåhøgda

The road through Romsdalen was historically an important access to the ocean for farmers and miners in the eastern uplands. Since 1500 years, the annual market near Åndalsnes was the largest marketplace outside Bergen and Trondheim. The road was originally only for riding and walking.

Battle of Kringen

In 1612, a group of some 300 Scottish mercenaries landed near Åndalsnes and marched through the valley towards Sweden. The group was later massacred at the Battle of Kringen- an ambush by Norwegian peasant militia on Scottish mercenary soldiers who were on their way to enlist in the Swedish army for the Kalmar War.

Connections to the German invasion

After the German invasion of Norway on April 9, 1940, British troops landed at Åndalsnes and Namsos in an attempt to liberate Trondheim through a large pincer movement. British vanguard force arrived at Åndalsnes on 12 April. The main landing of British troops, consisting primarily of the British 148th Infantry Brigade and commanded by Major General Bernard Paget, occurred on 17 April.

On the day of the invasion, German troops immediately took control of Oslo, Stavanger, Bergen and Trondheim, while Åndalsnes and the towns of Møre og Romsdal remained free. Åndalsnes was the only free port with a railway connection south of Trondheim. The first British troops travelled from Åndalsnes to Dombås, a key road and railway junction, on April 19.

Activities in the 19th century

Tourism and angling in the Rauma river became an important business during the 19th century, wealthy Englishmen were the most important visitors. General William Bromley-Davenport purchased Fiva farm in 1849 and the 12 best kilometres of the river. Norway's first golf course was laid out in 1905 at Hølgenes hotel (later named Park hotel) by the English owner.

The Romsdalen valley and the Romsdalen Alps are one of the most important climbing venues in Norway and Northern Europe. The steep and demanding Trollveggen is a classic in Norwegian rock face climbing. William Cecil Slingsby, the well-known English mountain climber visited Romsdalen in 1875 and later. Arne Randers Heen was a local climber with several first ascents in the summits near the valley.

The impending rock slide

Romsdalen is overlooked by Mannen, an unstable rock above the valley. The rock is expected to someday slide into the valley floor and block the river. If the river breaks through the dam created by the rockslide, there will be a devastating flood downstream. Around Remmem and Flatmark, the valley is littered with huge rocks that have fallen from the high mountains surrounding the valley.

The best time to visit Romsdalen is in the summer months. Greenery fills the area and offers a lot of stunning views. The summits will also be easily accessible for hikers during this period.

1. Do visit some of the summits that surround the Romsdalen and the waterfalls. The drive through the valley is very scenic but it is worth very much to take a hike or visit one of the many tall waterfalls.
2. Just bring some hiking gear as well even though you are only visiting the valley. The view of the summits might make you want to go for one of the hikes.
3. There are campsites within the valley if you are looking for affordable accommodation options.

1. Rauma river which runs through Romsdalen, was once popular for Salmon fishing. But since an infection with Gyrodactylus salaris only 5 to 10% of the original stock survives. After a successful revitalisation project, the numbers are now recovering.
2. The road through Romsdalen was historically an important access to the ocean for farmers and miners in the eastern uplands.
3. Møre og Romsdal county is partly named after the Romsdal district, which in turn got its name from the valley. The county was previously called Romsdals amt (Romsdal's county).
4. The fictional detective Harry Hole is mentioned as being originally from Åndalsnes in the Romsdalen valley. The series' writer Jo Nesbø is actually from Molde in the same region.
5. In the 1995 survival horror video game Clock Tower: The First Fear, the primary setting for the game - the Barrows Mansion is situated in the mountains of Romsdalen.
6. When the German invasion began in the 1940s the national gold holding was evacuated from Oslo through Romsdalen to Åndalsnes and Molde, and then by ship to Tromsø.

Visitors should spend at least 1 to 2 hours driving through Romsdalen and checking out the river bed. It is highly recomended to spend a day exploring some of its summits and the waterfalls. And since there are many of them in the area, it is also recommended to visit multiple times as each time you could have a different adventure.

From Åndalsnes city, you can drive to and through Romsdalen by taking the main road E136. You can also take a train ticket between Åndalsnes and Dombs that runs through Romsdalen.

There is no fee to enter Romsdalen.

As there is a main road going throug Romsdalen, it is open 24 hours daily.