Architect-designed gem with views of Kistefjellet

My husband John Arve and I built the cabin with a separate annexe in the spring of 2017-2018. If you're two couples or families, you have access to bedrooms and kitchens in both the main cabin and the annexe.

We bought the land back in 2011 and after countless suggestions and wishes, we contacted architect Bryon Murdock who designed our dream. The cabin is located in an area characterized by large rocks that have been there since the last ice age. There is something infinite and safe about what this long timeline testifies to. Berglyd, where the cabin is located, is also an old Viking site that is written about in a Scandinavian saga, with the Viking Orvar Odd as the main character.

We've chosen to clad the interior of the cabin with oak and larch on the outside to reflect the types of wood in the area, and all the oak in the interior is sanded by hand. The winter oak is exciting with lots of patterns and twigs. There's something eternal and enduring about these woods. Initially, we didn't intend to use so much oak paneling on the walls, but we liked it so much when we started putting it up that one room became all of them, more or less. Even the furniture in the bathroom, bedroom and living room was built in oak by our skilled carpenter. The exception is the loft, where we've used poplar boards.

We love being here, especially on sunny days, when the sun comes out early in the morning and the mountains are dressed in a pink hue in the evening. The starry sky at night is magical, because you're not exposed to any other lights from cabins or houses. Sitting in the hot tub in the evening here just has to be experienced. Being at the cabin is a sensory experience for us. The sea that sparkles or showers white. Sheep bells, bird life, the good sounds of nature. Clean water, clear rivers and streams that tempt you to take a dip all year round. And with countless hiking opportunities right outside the door, there's plenty to do here.

Some of the experiences we value most are the trip to Nesvåghåla, a cave by the sea, the trip to Hådyr, which is a sailing mark from the Viking Age - a high round cliff about 100 meters straight out of the sea that is whitewashed, and generally exploring the geology of Sokndal, with unique rocks, mines and hiking opportunities. Northern Europe's largest motocross track can also be found in Sokndal. In addition, Hauge i Dalane with its shops is only 17 minutes away by car.