Dollsteinhola is probably the largest and most legendary mountain cave in Norway. Located on the south side of Dollsteinen, a distinctive peak on the western tip of Sandsøya, the cave sits about 60 metres above sea level. It stretches 180 metres into the mountain and contains five separate rooms connected by long, narrow passages.
The cave has accumulated an extraordinary collection of legends over the centuries. It is said that King Arthur buried treasures here during the 6th century, including the Holy Grail. Earl Ragnvald Kale of the Orkneys reportedly visited in the early 12th century and, according to saga accounts, swam across the underground water inside. Another legend claims a passage runs under the ocean floor all the way to Scotland. The cave was mentioned in the Encyclopedia Britannica before 1800, and archaeological excavations have confirmed that people did indeed inhabit it at some point in history.
Exploring the cave requires a torch and sturdy footwear. The passages between rooms are tight in places, and the cave floor can be slippery. It is not a guided tourist attraction but an authentic, unmodified natural cave.
The cave has accumulated an extraordinary collection of legends over the centuries. It is said that King Arthur buried treasures here during the 6th century, including the Holy Grail. Earl Ragnvald Kale of the Orkneys reportedly visited in the early 12th century and, according to saga accounts, swam across the underground water inside. Another legend claims a passage runs under the ocean floor all the way to Scotland. The cave was mentioned in the Encyclopedia Britannica before 1800, and archaeological excavations have confirmed that people did indeed inhabit it at some point in history.
Exploring the cave requires a torch and sturdy footwear. The passages between rooms are tight in places, and the cave floor can be slippery. It is not a guided tourist attraction but an authentic, unmodified natural cave.
