Røldal is a village high in the mountains of Vestland, near the border with Rogaland, and it sits in a bowl of peaks beside a lake. The landscape is the high fell, with snowfields on the surrounding mountains even in summer, and the road that leads in from either side climbs through tunnels, hairpins and open plateau. The village is small, with a population of a few hundred, and its main attraction is a stave church built in the thirteenth century, one of the oldest in Norway, which housed a miraculous crucifix that was said to sweat on Midsummer Eve. People came on pilgrimage in the Middle Ages, and the tradition continues. Odda and Sauda, about thirty kilometres away, are the nearest towns.
Røldal is a good place for a rest at the end of the Ryfylke route. The mountains around are popular for hiking and for winter sport, with a ski resort on the slopes above the village, and the lake, Røldalsvatnet, is calm and deep. Skiers go to the nearby Røldal Skisenter even in early summer, because snow often lasts into June. The pass above the village, the Haukelifjell, is one of the main routes between east and west Norway, and the road is kept open in winter as far as possible, though it can close in storms.
The riding is excellent. The road climbs through a series of bends and tunnels, with views of waterfalls, lakes and bare rock, and the gradient is moderate. The surface is generally very good, as this is a main road, and trucks and tourists share it in summer. Weather is the great variable: even in July, you can meet fog, rain and near-zero temperatures on the plateau, so carry warm layers. In autumn and winter, snow and ice are likely.
Fuel is available in Røldal, though prices are high, and there are cafes and a hotel. Local food includes waffles, cured meats and trout from the lake. The air is cold and clean, and in the evening, the light on the snow is a delight. After the long ride through Ryfylke, the village makes a good place to sit and watch the mountains turn blue.