Hike to Melderskin "Queen of the Sunnhordland mountains"

The Melderskin hike starts from the center in Rosendal, in Kvinnherad. The hike up takes about 4 hours and from the 1426 meter high summit you have a fantastic view of the sea, the fjord, the surrounding mountain landscape and parts of the Folgefonn Glacier.

Location
Rosendal.

Tour description
From the parking lot, 300 meters along the road is without marking before the path turns up towards Skardshaug.
The path goes first through outlying fields and mixed forest. Above the tree-line, the path follows small ridges and valleys called Rindane. The first top, Skardshaug, is halfway to Melderskin. The view here is excellent. The valley towards the southeast is the Hattebergsdalen Valley, an important entrance to the Hatteberg Water Way and Folgefonna National Park. The surface then turns into more rocks and less vegetation. The ”moss carpet” and the fresh spring water in Holo are unexpected surprises. Here you may find snow all summer long.
The cairn on the flat top plateau was built by the Norwegian Geographical Survey Department in 1913. There is a magnificent view towards the ocean, fjords and mountains, and the Folgefonna Glacier.
Melderskin is often called ”The Queen Among The Hordaland Mountains”.

Map
Map of Folgefonna National Park
Rosendal Turgruppe’s route map.

Start and stop point
Kletta

Parking
Drive towards the Baroniet, but turn left to Kletta at the intersection before the tree-lined avenue up to the Baroniet.
There is a parking lot by the stop sign at Kletta.

Marking
Information Board by the parking lot. From here, 300 meters along the road is without marking before the path turns up towards Skardshaug. T markings, signs and cairns.

Grading
Black
Challenging hike, four boots according to the DNT system.

Difference in altitude
160 - 1426m MASL

Time used
4 hours up, slightly less down

Recommended advice
Bring plenty to drink.