Angers klev – hiking

Angers Kleiv near Holmestrand is a historic walking route along one of Vestfold's old travel routes. Discover ancient hollow ways and remains of the former Royal Road, which climbed the steep hillside between Bogen by the fjord and Kleivan on the plateau. Information boards explain how people and animals travelled through this demanding landscape before modern roads were built.

A royal road with a challenging history
Angers Kleiv was once an important route through Vestfold. The slopes were so steep that many travellers preferred to dismount and continue on foot rather than remain on horseback or in their carriages. In 1733, King Christian VI and Queen Sophie Magdalene travelled through the pass during their visit to Norway. An officer and 30 soldiers helped the royal party negotiate the difficult section. The story offers a glimpse of how challenging travel along the coast could be before modern roads.

Discover ancient hollow ways
The oldest traces of travel in Angers Kleiv are hollow ways – sunken tracks formed by centuries of people and animals passing through the landscape. Botne Historical Society, in cooperation with Vestfold County Council, has installed information boards explaining the ancient tracks and the former Royal Road. In May and June, the lower part of the hillside is often covered in wild garlic, creating a green carpet across the woodland floor.

A historic hike through steep terrain
The route passes through woodland and follows old tracks, with significant changes in elevation and some steep, rocky sections. Wear sturdy walking shoes and take extra care in wet or slippery conditions. Angers Kleiv connects with the Sande–Holmestrand Coastal Path, which partly follows a former railway line along the fjord and offers gentler walking terrain with coastal views.

Plan your walk
Angers Kleiv lies north of Holmestrand and can be reached from Kleivan on the plateau or Bogen beside the fjord.

From Kleivan: Turn off County Road 315 onto Rambergveien, then take Kleivanveien. Follow the signs to Angers Kleiv. Parking and an information board with a map are available at the end of the road.

From Bogen: Park at the rest area beside County Road 313 and follow the signs towards Angers Kleiv via Smørstein. Allow approximately 1.5 hours for the return walk, depending on your pace and breaks. The route is best suited to walkers comfortable with steep and uneven ground.

Important: The continuation of the old Royal Road further north has sections with a serious risk of rockfall. The published route description also mentions crossing railway tracks. Do not attempt this section without up-to-date information confirming that access is safe and permitted.

See the route description and access information from Holmestrand Municipality.