Alternative: Combine with a hike to the Dansarsteinen.

First you follow the Rv 37 (paved road) about 3 km to the hamlet of Austbø, where you pass Øvre and Nedre Mo farms. Turn off at Austbø on to road no. 801 to Høydalsmo and Øyfjell.

After about another 5-6 km, you come to Fundlidbekken stream, where there is an upright, running saw from 1826 about 100 m below the road. This saw was still in use right up until the 1950s and is the only saw of its kind in Norway to have been preserved - and wich is still even at its original site.

Just past Fundlidbekken stream is Lognvik. Turn off here on to the so-called Fjellvegen mountainroad across Kvambekkheia moor, a toll road where you cycle up a steep stretch of the road up to the mountains. About 2 km further on, you come to a marvellous vantage point, well worth a stop. You have a view here over Lognvikvatn lake and Sud-Øygarden farm.

If you want to combine your cycle trip with a hike, it's only about a kilometre from the lookout point to the path leading to the Dansarsteinen (The Dance Stone), an interesting natural rock formation and cultural monument. The car park is on the right-hand side of the road and a sign on the other side of the road show you where to find the 1,5 km long path up to the Dansarsteinen. It's quite easy terrain for most of the way, but gets a little steeper as you approach the stone. The Dansarsteinen is a stone that is so large, flat and smooth that it was good to dance on. Dairymaids and shepherds used to meet here for dances in the old days.

You can also just turn round here and cycle back to Rauland or perhaps cycle on along the Fjellvegen towards Åmotsdal. It's about 7 km, mostly down hill, from the Dansarsteinen to Lonestaul. At Lonestaul you turn right along road no. 503 to Straume - 10 km. You will have to pedal quite hard here as this stretch of the road starts with a steep hill, but don't give up! The road flattens out after a while! You will meet road no. 801 at Straume bridge and then you turn right in the direction of Rauland.

After about 5 km (about 0,5 km before you get to Lognvikvatn lake and just off the road on your left) you will see a steep mountainside with a cave looking like a door. Legend has it that an entire bridal procession came past here on their way to church. The door in the mountain was wide open and a little gnome, dressed in grey, came out with a bowl of ale and everyone in the procession just followed him willy-nilly into the cave. The door swung shut and the story goes that no one was ever seen again. This is why the mountain is called Bride Mountain (Brureberget). From here, it's about 2 km to Lognvik, where you previously turned off on the Fjellvegen. It's 8 km to cycle back to Rauland centre.

The cycle ride to the hike start to the Dansarsteinen is about 12 km and takes approx. 80 minutes (45 minutes back). The complete trip is 42,5 km long and takes between 3,5 and 4 hours an an easy pace without stopping. This is a challenging tripp. If you follow the tour suggestion and hop off your bike a bit and walk up to see the Dansarsteinen, you can enjoy the fabulous views and truly breathtaking scenery.

From Rauland Tourist Office, you cycle along the cycle and footpath towards Haukeli/Arabygdi. Turn off at the top of the hill to Rauland Academy (Raulandsakademiet).

There are many cultural institutions here. First is Rauland Kunstmuseum, housing collections by the famous Norwegian sculptors, Dyre Vaa, Tor Vaa and Knut Skinnarland and also the graphic artist, Svallaug Svalastoga. After that you come to Raulandsakademiet, whice received a monumental extention in 1999. The academy is a department of the Høgskolen i Telemark, the Institute of Folk Culture, with courses in folk art, folk music, restoration skills and product development. There is also a Telemark collection of farm buildings (Telemarkstunet), which are reproductions of old, log buildings from around the district. There is also a stone monument to the legendary folk fiddler, Jørgen Tjønnstaul, with a relief by Knut Skinnarland.

If you follow the road on a bit, you come to the hamlet of Nesland. This is where the sculptor, Sveinung Aanondson Vasshus (1854-1919), was born. There are several of Sveinung's original, carved pillars on farm buildings on the Svalastoga farm. Reidar Kolbrek, an artist, lives on neighbouring Rofshus farm, where he has a gallery. Open by arrangement, tel +47 35 07 34 37.

Cycle further along the road until you get on to the Rv 37, where you take the turning back to Rauland. A nice way to round off your trip is a visit to the Rauland Exhibition (Raulandsutstillinga) in Rauland Centre (open every summer in July).

The trip is 8,5 km long and takes about 40 minutes at an easy pace, without stopping. This is an ideal trip for families with children who want to cycle themselves.

Alternative: Cycling and hiking.

First you cycle along the cycle and footpath from the centre of Rauland, where you get on to the Rv 362 from Rauland to Haukeli/Arabygdi. You see the hamlet of Haddland as soon as you get up the first hill. Rauland's old municipal hall "Tingvoll", from the days when Rauland was a separate municipality, is situated just by the signpost to the "Attføringssenter". Here is the "Draumkvedsalen" room, decorated by Sveinung Svalastoga with motifs from the famous medieval poem. You can visit the room when the old municipal hall is open.

There are many well-preserved old farm buildings and storehouses in Haddland. The "Gardsjordstoga" cottage is above the road in the western part of the hamlet, one of the most famous "svalastoger" (raised cottage with an external gallery) in Telemark.

When you are in Raulandsgrend, you ought to make a detour and visit Rauland church (Rauland kyrkje), a wooden, cruciform church, built in 1803. The church was restored in 1953 and decorated by the painter, Kr. Kildal. "Hestedokki" lies just by the church, where there is a monument to the legendary "Førnesbrunen" horse beside it, made by the sculptor, Tor Vaa.

Cycle on until you come to the Rv 362 and carry on west towards Haukeli/Arabygdi. After about 2 km, you will see a sign to Raulandsfjell and Skardsnuten on your right. Park your bike here and walk up the path which winds steeply up the side of the mountain. The path is easy to find in the terrain. After about a 45-minute walk, you come to the "Tehytta" (Tea Cabin), with breathtaking views over Rauland and Lake Totak. There is another path down that ends at the tennis court on Neset farm. This farm has been developed to a high-standards holiday complex. Follow the path down back to your bikes and cycle the 7 km back to Rauland village centre.

This trip is around 15 km long and takes about 1 hour at an easy pace without stopping.