Blue idyll

About

BLUE IDYLL
Length: 32.8 km
Duration: 2 hours
Level: Medium
Suitable for: Adult / Senior

Starting Point
The cycle route is signposted and described from First Camp Norsjø and Norsjø hotel, but can also be started from Notodden. First Camp Norsjø is a great starting point for families.

Blue idyll is a medium easy trip that gives you many opportunities to enjoy the beautiful canal landscape. The cycle route takes you through landscapes with small and beautiful Telemark Farms, takes you from Norsjø to Heddal and to the Norwegian blues capital Notodden. We've selected a few points for you in this mini-guide:

Lystang Camping
Natural Campsite located right down to the canal. Lystang camping offer activities like kayak / canoe rentals, birdwatch tower, boat hire and have also good information for cyclists.

Canal Piers
Along the canal you can see the remnants of the old channel piers and testify activity on the water. You can find 7 of the piers between Akkerhaugen and Notodden: Akkerhaugen pier, Kola house (The coal house), Sanden, Gvannes, Simones, Gyving and Notodden.

Kola House
In the Kola house it was produced coal to the railway construction and there was added a separate railway track from Kola house to Nordagutu to transport coal. It grew up a separate little community here, the "rallers". Channel pier is still in use by private owners.

Notodden Airport
The first plans to build an airport in Notodden was launched on 23 April 1955. Already on 11 December the same year the Braathens SAFE with DH Heron 55 landed on the airport. Today Notodden Airport offer flights between Notodden - Bergen and Notodden - Stavanger - Florø. Although the cycle route goes right across the landing strip, you are at a safe distance from the planes.

Bluestown
Notodden is known as Norway's Blues capital, are there are arranged blues festival every year the first week of August. The festival attracts around 30,000 visitors. Here you will also Book & Blues house which is well worth a visit. Notodden is also known as a great cyclist town.

Enjoy!