Gaustatoppen

Gaustatoppen stands alone above the Telemark plateau, which is why the view from the top is so wide: on a genuinely clear day it is said to take in about a sixth of the Norwegian mainland, from the North Sea coast to Jotunheimen, though such days are rare. The walk from Stavsro takes about two hours up over boulder and scree, a steady climb with no technical difficulty but rough footing throughout. Inside the mountain runs the Gaustabanen, a funicular built in the 1950s for a military installation and opened to the public in 2010: a tram through a horizontal tunnel and then a cable car up a shaft, emerging just below the summit. A stone tourist lodge sits on the top.

What you actually see

• The summit panorama - a claimed view over a sixth of Norway.
• The boulder path - a two-hour climb over rough scree from Stavsro.
• The Gaustabanen - a railway running inside the mountain to near the top.
• The stone lodge - a hut on the summit serving refreshments in season.

When to go

June to September for walking, when the path is clear; the railway operates on a seasonal schedule. Truly clear days are uncommon, so flexibility helps. Winter ascents need full equipment.

Honest expectations

The path is entirely on loose boulders and is hard on ankles both up and down. Cloud sits on the summit frequently and removes the view. The mountain railway is expensive and its schedule limited, and it can queue in season.

Nearby

Rjukan, on the UNESCO industrial heritage list, lies below; Hardangervidda spreads north.