Stiklestad – Trondheim (the inner trail)

Walk from Stiklestad, where Olav Haraldsson died in 1030, to Trondheim, where he was canonized in 1031. St.Olavsleden goes through fertile Trønder villages and deep quiet forests. On the walk you will come to monasteries, medieval churches and homesteads. Accommodation can be found both in storehouses, church halls and on traditional family farms.

After Ersgard Farm Hotel and Pilgrim Accommodation in Stjørdal, hikers can chose between the Original Trail for St. Olavsleden along cultural landscape, forests, valleys and rivers in Malvik or an Alternativ Trail for St. Olavsleden which mainly goes along the coast through all Malvik area. 

1. The Original Trail vil after Lånke follow a steep path passing Gjevilåsen, then through a beautiful but varied and demanding landscape. This trail can be recommended for experienced and trained hikers  with hiking boots and camping gears, but there is in addition to gap hooks,  two simple accommodations along the Trail :

-Torshaugen Farm Pilgrim Cabins -  most convenient for bikers (using the Biking Trail), but about 3 km from St. Olavsleden by Folla Brigde (near Folden).

-Furubu Cabin - about 1,5 km to hike from St. Olavsleden by Engan/Haset to Brannlivegen 5.

2. The new Alternative Trail after Lånke which mainly follow the pedestrian and biking path along the Main Road along the coast, trough Hell amd Muruvika to Hommelvik and further to Vikhammer via Saksvikkorsen og then to Nidaros. This Alternative Trail Offers four good accommodations: 

- Millers Road 3 and Grønberg Fram i Hommelvik Area

- Storsand Farm Camping (also cabins) and Malvik Pilgrim Home in  Vikhammer Area.

There is also possible to combine this two Trails, see Day 5.

For more information about the Trail where pilgrims may hike or bike towards NIdaros, se Day/Stage 5, 6 og 7. For more information and assistance, contact Stiklestad Pilegrim Center pilegrimssenter@stiklestad.no  (+47 957 10 130) or Nordic Pilgrim info@nordicpilgrim.com 
 

• Take the train to Verdal station and then walk the path ( i.e. the cycle path) in an easterly direction for 4 km along Fylkesvei 757 (Stiklestad alle) to Stiklestad cultural center (Leksdalsvegen 1).
• Also possible to start from Verdal station where the trail passes close by.
• Provisions: There are grocery stores and pharmacies in the center of Verdal. Remember to shop for what you need for the next 3 days, if you need more than the food you buy when staying overnight in Munkeby, Markabygda and Borås.

The walk starts by walking west along Stiklestad allé for a short distance before that path turns south into Bjartnesveien down to Verdalselva, and follows it to the bridge over the river in the center of Verdal. A few kilometers are on asphalt, the rest of the day's stage follows dirt roads and forest paths. Halfway on today's stage is Halle churchyard with a fantastic view over Verdalen and the Trondheimsfjord. There was a church here until 1815. After walking through forest and fertile farmland as well as a beautiful stretch along the Levangerelva with architectural wooden bridges and nice bathing pools, beautiful monastery ruins emerge surrounded by forest. The monastery ruins are from the 12th century, have an exciting history and are located 600 meters from Munkeby Herberge. Munkeby Herberge offers accommodation and local, short-distance food and Munkeby beer on the farm with houses from the 17th century. Here you can also taste the cheese that the monks at the new Maria monastery make, and you can visit them (10 min walk), while participation in tide prayer must be arranged via Munkeby Herberge.

The hike continues through a beautiful cultural landscape and adventurous forest. A considerable climb leads up to Tomtvatnet with a cozy rest area on the way. The trail continues upwards to the resorts Reistadbustaden , Tomtvasslia and Hegglivollen with a great view of the Frolfjelle mountains. At Reistadbustaden there are open seats during the school holidays. The path then enters the forest and at Vinkjerran the view opens up towards beautiful Markabygda where you will find Troset Gård and Markabygda church hall, which are self-catering accommodation options. Visits to Markabygda church can be arranged with the host in Markabygda Kirkestue. Completion of a chapel at Troset Gård is planned for the summer of 2023.

The hike goes along the road through the cultural landscape in Markabygda. The trail then follows the dirt road through forest terrain. The road runs along the beautiful Bulandsvatnet, where there is a nice rest area and a water source for filling travel bottles. The large Ausetvatnet which comes just after also has a nice rest area and here it is possible to buy a fishing license. Borås Gård has spacious accommodation in Stabburet and offers self-catering and catering.

The hike begins through the villages in Skjelstadmarka. The Hike goes via Okkelberg chapel, several rest areas and a very nice gap hut by Monaplassen, which also has a toilet. The trail then goes through forest terrain by Koksåsen. Towards the end of the day's stage, the trail reaches Værnes church from 1100. This is Norway's oldest preserved stone building. It is possible to borrow a key to the medieval church in the vicarage cafe near the church.

The day's stage ends at Ersgard (or one of the other accommodations in Stjørdal), - a family farm with buildings from the 18th century, where they offer a farm hotel with rooms and apartments as well as houses for self-catering. They rent out salmon fishing and can offer information about it and the farm's long and unique history, including that one of the emissaries from this farm participated in the constitutional work at Eidsvoll in 1814.

Accommodation at Stjørdal / Værnes:

• Stabbur in Stjørdal
• Peonhagen
• Ersgard
• Øfsti Middle

The hike continues along the Stjørdal river through the village of Lånke and past the beautiful Lånke Church.

Then the hiking can continue along two alternatives:

1)  The Original trail through beautiful nature and cultural landscapes, with wilder nature containing hills, walleys, riwers and lakes, and therefore a more demanding and wet trail, and simple accomodations.

2) The new Alternativ Trail along the coast for hikers that wants easy and dry trails/roads . Cultivated landscape with houses, museum, shops and good accommodations along the trail,

The Original Trail demands that you from Lånke hike up towards Gjevingåsen and enter the forest and enjoy the view from the picnic area at Furan Gård/Farm. Almost two km after this will you see the potholes in Gammelåsdalen. Also use the bench in Høybydalen, which offers a good place to rest before starting the hike up Slåttmyrdalen, and also use the butcher's shed in Slåttmyrdalen, which offers a shelter from the weather and a welcome rest area at the top of a very long and steep hill. Along the trail, you pass the Nygårdsvollen memorial and the Homla nature reserve with the mighty Storfossen in the river Homla. See also description of the combination of the Original Trail and Alternativ Trail under.

Today's stage takes you through forests and marsh to The Gap Hook by the river Homla and the Brigde "Follabrua". The Gap Hook has sleeping mats, an outdoor grill with coals and a can with drinking water. It also is possible to hike about 3 km to accommodation at Torshaugen Farm, where two simple cabins are available. It is more easy if you are biking "the biking trail" because it is nearby. Here also the St.Olavsleden runs together with the Romboleden , which comes from the east; Selbu, Tydal, Sweden. 

The new Alternativ Trail runs mainly along the pedestrial and biking path along the main Road along the coast in the Malvik Area. cultivated The first part after passing Lånke Church is the little area called "Hell" in Stjørdal where there is a sign with the name "Hell" at the hill near by and also the Train Station in Hell is marked "Gods Expedition" which in Norwegian only means "freight transport". Then you hike the path on the southern part of Gevingåsen, which is a bit long and steep, but much easier than the original trail on the northern part. The trail continues to the little villages near the sea called Muruvika and then along The Malvik Trail (Malvikstien) – a former railway-track now made as a very good pedestrian and bicycle trail,- and you will have a rest from the asphalt and traffic along the main road. "The Malvik Trail" ends in center/ city of Hommelvik where you can visit small shops, local museums and cafe's and find an accommodation, Miller Road 3, Airbnb or use Grønberg Gård (Farm). Grønberg Gård is about 2 km south of Hommelvik Station and 12 km from Ersgard Pilgrim Hostel.  Se also Day 6.

The combination of Original and Alternativ Trail can be achieved by hiking the Original Trail to Høybydalen, and there hikers at "Bench i Høybydalen" or at "Nygardsvollen" can hike two different short marked alternativ trails to Hommelvik center/city, where they can visit shops, museums, cafes and have accommodations like Millers Road 3 or Grønberg Farm or hike further for accommodations at Storsand Gård Camping or Malvik Pilgrim Home.  Look at the map about the Original Trail.

The Original Trail starts through the cultural landscape by the river Folla and the brigde "Follabrua", or at the accommmodation at Torstjønna Farm Pilgrim Cabin, and then goes into the forest along Fisktjønna. The walk then follows on a path passing Kvilstein on Skaråskjøle, the Gap Hook on Erikbu and to a rest area by Nyvatnet .

If you have booked at the accoommodation "Furubu Cabin", you must leave the trail when passing Haset and follow Hasetveien near Engan. Follow Hasetveien in north direction unntil Brannliveien, and follow to Brannliveien nr 5 where "Furubu Cabin" is located. This is not far from Storsand Farm Camping, but Furubu Cabin is much nearer the original trail, and will avoid a dangerous crossing of the highway down to the coast and Storsand Farm Camping.

The hike then passes Fjølstadtrøa, an old homestead that is now a museum. The trail continues to a viewpoint on the Saksvik Cross , which is the first place the pilgrims can see Trondheim. In the Middle Ages, a large cross was rised here. Today, benches, a new cross and a bell tower have been set up, and the forest has been cleared so that one can once again enjoy the view of the city. The hike then descends towards Vikhammer past the Leistad crossing and further down to Vikhammer.

The new Alternativ Trail (along the coast) is mainly following the pedestrian and bicycle path along the main road from Hell(Stjørdal) to Ranheim(Trondheim), but there is two exceptions:

1. The Midtsandan Outdoor Recreation Area,- there is a pedestrian brigde crossing the railway trail ,- and you will get acess to a beautiful area for rest,  having av bath, visit the the cafe (incl. toilet) and also allowed camp for one night in the area. Here it is also a connection to Storsand Farm Camping which also offers cabins and a Farm Hotel.
2. Access to Saksvikkorsen, from Saksvikbukta (the Saksvik Bay), through the path in Elvdalen (the River Valley) and through some rural areas to the road passing Saksvikkorsen.

From the Vikhammer area The hiking follows nice walkways past Ranheim church and a unique opportunity for a view of the fjord is to visit Flipper cafe in Grilstad . The walk then goes on the beautiful prepared hiking path (Ladestien) by the fjord until Lade, where the Ringve Museum and Botanical Garden should be visited. Here the walk then passes several churches such as Lade church (1190), Lademoen church (1905) and Bakke church (1715) at Kristiansten fortress (1684), before finally reaching Nidaros Cathedral and the zero stone which shows that the goal of the pilgrimage has been reached . Then it's time for a visit to Nidaros Pilgrimsgård for registration, to receive an Olav letter or diploma and a delicious pilgrim meal to celebrate a completed pilgrimage.

Accommodation options in Trondheim:

• Nidaros pilgrimage center ( pilgrim center - and reception)
• Trondheim Hostel - Hostel
• P-Hotels Brattøra

Arrival:

• Flight: Trondheim Airport Værnes
• Train: From Trondheim/Værnes to Verdal station
• Taxi: From Verdal station (check departures flexible transport for bus fares at AtB.no)
• Stay: Reserve accommodation well in advance at either the Stiklestad hotel (pilgrim discount), the Gjesteloftet at Vikinghuset " Stiklestadir ", Stiklestad Prestegård with a simple pilgrim reception (order via email stiklestad@pilegrimssenter.no ), Stiklestad Camping or Soria Moria Camping