Tone, Bjørn, the children and grandparents moved from Bergen to Aurland in 2012, full of dreams. Tone is a journalist with a background in the national press, while Bjørn is a master builder who specialises in building projects in the mountains and in restoring old wooden houses. Few people know the mountains of Western Norway better than Bjørn. He quite simply has a ‘top’ job, high above the treeline and has built icons such as the new Skålatårnet tower and Fanaråkhytta cabin. He is also a tree surgeon, has restored old vicarages and the wooden houses typical of Bergen, and he helps preserve the cultural heritage of the World Heritage area. His bible is a book about old Norwegian buildings ‘Gamle, norske trehus’. But with a twist, which is evident at 29|2.

Tone has travelled the length and breadth of Norway as a journalist for many years, and has written about sustainable tourism, architecture and rural development. A documentary about pollution in Fjord Norway led to their vision to become ‘The green heart’, which they have brought to life in Aurland. They are both environmentally and socially-minded, and have invested a great deal of time in environmental issues, such as wild fish, free running water and World Heritage. In Aurland, you’re close to nature and you get a strong sense of the importance of taking care of it when you see the challenges it faces. Climate change may mean that we no longer hear the thundering waterfalls or enjoy the view of these white lifelines right outside our door.

The farm is called Tokvam, and so is the neighbouring farm, which is why we call ourselves 29|2 Aurland, after the farm's land and title number. People have lived in this area since the Stone Age. There are a number of Viking burial mounds along the Aurlandsvegen road, which was the main seat of King Sverre on his mother’s side. The buildings on the farm are not that old, of course, but the building we call 'the Fisherman’s Cabin' is one of the oldest buildings in Aurland, dating from the early 18th century.

The most important thoroughfare between Western and Eastern Norway passed this way. For centuries, cattle and horses were driven up the Aurlandsdalen valley on their way to the markets in Eastern Norway. The initials of old drovers heading east are carved into the old timber walls of the Fisherman’s Cabin, alongside how many marks of butter they bought.

The scientific revolution in the 18th century, the ensuing voyages of discovery and 19th century European imperialism led to more and more people travelling all over the world. The British Empire led the way, and the British upper class, which combined great wealth with a highly developed interest in sport and outdoor pursuits, sought excitement and discovery under distant skies. The British upper class ranked the Aurlandselva river as one of the best in the world for sea trout. The British came with their fly rods and made angling an art. We were most interested in putting food on the table.

What made the biggest impression on our friend Bridget Buxton from Horsey in Norfolk on her honeymoon in Aurland (apart from her new husband, John Buxton, driving up the incredibly steep hairpin bends to Myrdal station in a Land Rover) was how the local people fed their dogs on smoked salmon. ‘Such a delicacy – for the dogs!’ John Buxton’s grandfather came to Aurland for the first time in the late 18th century to hunt bears. We are delighted that Bridget and John’s grandchildren have also stayed here on the farm.