Romsdal, Norway

Orientation

Romsdal covers a broad stretch of western Norway; its most concentrated mountain-and-railway landscape is Romsdalen, the Rauma River valley leading down to Åndalsnes. Use Åndalsnes, beside the Romsdalsfjord, as the practical base for the lower valley. The E136 and the railway trace the same broad route inland, making this a landscape that works well without treating every stop as a separate expedition.

The valley is at its most dramatic around Trollveggen and Romsdalshorn, where the Rauma runs below steep mountain faces. For a compact introduction, travel through it rather than trying to cover the whole region by road in a day.

Ride the Rauma Railway

The Rauma Railway runs between Åndalsnes and Dombås, where it connects with the Dovre Railway for Oslo and Trondheim. The full rail journey takes roughly 1 hour 20 minutes, moving from fjord-level Åndalsnes through Romsdalen towards the high country.

Look out for:

• Kylling Bridge at Verma: a hand-hewn stone railway bridge, 60 metres above the riverbed.
• Vermafossen: a waterfall dropping from the mountain edge near the bridge.
• Trollveggen: the vast rock wall visible farther down the valley.

At Verma, a marked path from below the local shop leads to a viewpoint for Kylling Bridge. It is a roadside viewpoint, not access to the railway: stay clear of the tracks.

Mountain views from Åndalsnes

Åndalsnes is the place to add height to the valley view. The Romsdal Gondola rises to Nesaksla, 708 metres above sea level, with short paths at the top. Rampestreken, below the summit, looks over the town, fjord and valley.

For a full-day undertaking, Romsdalseggen starts in Vengedalen and finishes at Åndalsnes. The ridge route is about 10 kilometres, climbs 970 metres and typically takes seven to eight hours. It is an exposed mountain hike rather than a casual viewpoint walk.

Timing and practical access

Summer is the main season for Romsdalseggen, generally July to September. Mountain weather changes quickly; avoid the ridge in strong wind, heavy rain or fog, and use a guide if you are not experienced on exposed terrain.

Arrive by rail for the valley itself. By road, E136 links Åndalsnes with the interior. Åndalsnes also has bus connections to regional centres, while the railway is the clearest public-transport route through Romsdalen.