Telemark offers experiences for everyone

In Telemark, you will find many activity and accommodation places that focus on facilitating guests with some form of disability.

Skien fritidspark is very well adapted for active leisure, and large parts of the park are universally designed. Accessibility is crucial to ensure everyone has the opportunity to participate. In Skien fritidspark, the water park, hiking trails, picnic areas, and activities are well adapted. Free handicapped parking and easy access everywhere. The water park, which is the main attraction in the park, is equipped with accessible dressing rooms, pools, and saunas. The therapy pool has a wheelchair ramp. The wave pool is universally designed so you can roll out onto the "beach" and enjoy swimming. The park's hotel, idyllically located in the middle of the park, received the accessibility award in 2018 and 2020. The hotel has 34 universally designed rooms and can welcome everyone regardless of physical challenges.

Bø Sommarland does not have a universally designed park but they are working to accommodate everyone as much as possible. For instance, they have wheelchairs for rent, including a wheelchair that can be used in the water. They support the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower. You can also bring your dog, but it must be kept on a leash and away from the water. Good paved walkways throughout the park make it easy to get around.

At Høyt & Lavt in Bø, activities are adapted for guests with disabilities and other special needs. You are asked to contact them in advance.

Hamaren in Fyresdal is a universally designed activity park. Here you can get around on universally designed trails with many activity offerings. The park has become a very popular meeting place for all age groups.

Project "Inclusive Tourism in Telemark"

The businesses in Mid-Telemark had recognized the need for better accessibility for guests with disabilities for some time but lacked knowledge about the best way to do it. Consequently, the project "Inclusive Tourism in Telemark" was initiated, where 15 tourism businesses in Mid-Telemark collaborated to improve travel and experience offerings for guests with disabilities.

None of the participating businesses have the capacity to become fully universally accessible, but they are all working towards making accommodations to the extent possible.

A common element for all participants in the project is the use of the Sunflower Symbol. The Sunflower Symbol is a discreet way to indicate to those around you that you have an invisible disability and may require additional assistance, help, or simply some extra time. By wearing this symbol/band, employees can easily ask if you need help and how they can assist you. The Sunflower Symbol is intended for both adults and children.

Skien Leisure Park offers "Good Experiences for everyone"

At Skien Leisure Park, they adhere to the vision of "Good Experiences for All!"

The park aims to ensure that individuals with disabilities who visit the park have equal opportunities to participate in the numerous activities it offers.

Skien Leisure Park and the Skien Leisure Park Hotel are located 3 km from downtown Skien in a peaceful area with large green spaces and excellent hiking opportunities in forests and fields. Here, you can enjoy good experiences regardless of your disability, whether it be limited mobility, visual impairment, hearing impairment, allergies, or asthma.

A significant portion of the park is universally accessible, and they have made extensive efforts to accommodate individuals with disabilities. The water park, hiking trails, and some of the outdoor activities are well-suited for those with special needs who seek an active leisure time.

In 2018, Skien Leisure Park Hotel received the municipality's accessibility award for the renovation of the restaurant and meeting room facilities. Among other improvements, they installed loop systems and ceiling lifts in the rooms. In the summer of 2022, the hotel will offer an additional 24 new accessible rooms for various needs in addition to the rooms they currently have.

The park has collaborated with several organizations, including the Norwegian Association of Disabled (Funksjonshemmedes Fellesorganisasjon), the Municipal Council for People with Disabilities (Det kommunale Rådet for mennesker med nedsatt funksjonsevne), the Norwegian Association of Disabled (Norges Handikapforbund), and the Muscular Dystrophy Association (Foreningen for muskelsyke). Additionally, the Asthma and Allergy Association (Astma- og allergiforeningen) and the Association of the Hearing Impaired (Hørselshemmedes Landsforbund) provide valuable input in their work. The kitchen, menus, and dining hall all reflect these efforts.

Adapted Hiking Areas

In Telemark, you will find both fully and partially adapted hiking trails.

One of the best universally designed trails is in Hamaren by Lake Fyresvatn. The activity park features a well-adapted 3,5 km long trail that winds along Fyresvatn over bridges and gravel paths and leads to an universally designed tree topp walk that ends in an observation cirkel with fantastic views over lake Fyresvatn. In addition to that route, you will find many intersecting paths, a nature trail, meeting places, a dedicated barbecue hut, picnic areas, and shelters. If you like cycling, you can try the bike trail. It is suitable for everyone, but remember to follow the signs. During the summer months, there are also many great spots for swimming.

The park has received two awards: the International Design Award and the Innovation Award for Universal Design. The park received the International Design Award in January 2022 for excellent user involvement and beautiful, universal design. The Innovation Award for Universal Design, in the landscape architecture category, was awarded in 2017.

Skien fritidspark is located 3 km outside the city center and is surrounded by forest with tall, beautiful pine trees. Here you will find well-lit wheelchair paths of 1, 2.5, and 5 km. The 5 km lighted trail is steep in some places, and it is not recommended to do it alone. The lights turn off at 10:00 PM. If you bring a packed lunch and a thermos, you can enjoy it at one of the park’s four adapted picnic areas.

The Skotfoss path in Skien is a 3.7 km cultural trail that runs through scenic surroundings at Skotfoss. You start at the Løveid locks, and then it continues through beautiful nature in forest areas and along the waterway. The trail has good accessibility; the gravel path is flat and wide, making it easy to navigate, even with a wheelchair.

The Water Adventure (Vasseventyret) is located by E134 at Haukelifjell. This is an interactive experience trail/loop of 1.3 km, adapted with activities for both young and old. The first part of the trail, up to the fishing spot and viewpoint, is suitable for wheelchair users.

The Moland Cultural Heritage Trail in Fyresdal is an idyllic 3 km round trip where you wander through charming small streets, farmyards, and gardens in Folkestadbyen, in the center of Fyresdal. Among other things, you will get to know the village museum Øyskogen, with its 18 burial mounds and old log houses. The walk is easy, and large parts of the round trip are accessible for wheelchairs. If it is warm, it is nice to take a break down by Lake Fyresvatn.

In Rjukan, a family-friendly and charming city walk is offered on a relatively flat path, with gravel and asphalt. The trail runs along the Måna River and through the city streets. It is suitable for those who have some mobility impairments.