The Lyse Road in Norway was constructed as a service route for a hydro-electricity station, but that bland description reveals nothing of the experience the road has to offer.
The Lyse Road in Norway twists and sweeps, clinging precariously to the side of a mountain that rises out of one of Norway’s most beautiful fjords, making it the ultimate challenge to your driving skills and rush like no other.
The Lyse Road in Norway
Built in the 1980s, the 44-km (27-mil) long Lyse Road stands as the critical test for those who have a zest for driving on mountain roads. All along the magnificent mountains on one side and the shimmering darkness of Lysefjord on the other, this really is like a scene from a car advertisement.
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Viewed from above it would seem as if someone had thrown a giant sidewinder onto the edge of a mountain. With 27 hairpin bends, the Lyse is the ultimate brake-tester. The views are always amazing, if at times a little disorienting, and the relative shallowness of parts of the fjord produces the most wonderful light.
Stop and enjoy the views
There are a few places where you can stop and it is advised to do so, if only for the sake of the driver, who should be concentrating in the road that he/she will have a little chance to enjoy the stunning scenery.
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Consideration for other users of the road must be a priority on this often single-lane highway, but this is a top rate scuttle if you get a clear run. The drive takes one to two hours. The road is closed in winter, roughly between November and April.
Highlights
The hike to Pulpit Rock, with its views high above the fjord is one of the highlights. Another is the view of the road from Øygardsstølen. Don’t miss the Tjordal hydroelectric power station, the reason for the road’s existence or the charming little town of Lysebotn.
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Speed limits are rigorously enforced in Norway, so if you are tempted to speed, don’t. This road demands the utmost respect and fines can be as steep as the road itself.
The Lyse Road in Norway, written by Tor Kjolberg