Patchellhytta
No cell service, no problems
The main house seen
from the second building
Patchellhytta is a cabin located beautifully by the end of the mountain Slogen, the best known mountain peak in “Sunnmørsalpene”. The hike to the cabin itself is a beautiful day trip, but it can also be the beginning of a trip up to Slogen or other mountains nearby.
The hytta actually consists of three different cabins, and has plenty of room for hikers. Charles Watson Patchell put up the cabin in the 1920s, and used the cabin as a vacation retreat for many years. The cabin has since been restored a couple of times, with the newest additions being added in 2014. DNT (Den Norske Turistforening) owns the cabin, and some of the rooms need to be pre-booked on their website. Other rooms are always available.
You can not do this hike directly from Volda, but public transportation can take you far. You can either start the hike from Stranda, and walk around 6,5km from the parking lot up to the cabin. Or you hike up from Urke and walk around 7,5km to the cabin. Both of these routes are marked blue in Norwegian hiking guides, which equals medium difficulty. The two other options for this hike are red routes, and it is recommended that you have some hiking experience before you embark on these trips. The first of the more difficult hikes up is the hike from Øye, a steep 4km long hike. The other option is from Brunstad in Sykkylven, and you can hike up Brunstaddalen. The bus stops at Brunstad several times a day, making this hike easily accessible without a car.
Remember to stay safe, and follow the Norwegian mountain code. Don’t be ashamed to turn around!
The Norwegian mountain code
Plan Your Trip Well
Choose Routes Suited to Abilities
Monitor Weather and Avalanche Warnings
Be Prepared for Harsh Weather
Bring Essential Equipment
Avoid Hazardous Terrain
Use a Map and Compass
Turn Back When Necessary
Conserve Energy and Seek Shelter Early
Video field report from September 2024
Hey, my name is Capucine, I am an international student from France and have spent the last couple of months in Volda, Norway as part of my international semester with Erasmus – Today, I'm taking you to a remote and really magical place: Patchelhytta, a cabin nestled in the Norwegian mountains, the nearest town being Stranda. For a weekend, I shared this experience with a group of international students, all members of "Natura", a student organization at Høgskulen i Volda. Imagine this: three days without a phone signal – disconnected from the internet and connected to nature and simple moments with friends, sounds lovely right??
The program of these three days included hikes, shared meals, board games and a cozy atmosphere. This weekend was a real escape, and I'm taking you with me to discover this adventure. Follow along in the Vlog I made below!
The hike in detail: Patchelhytta