Autumn in Skåbu | Golden colours in the mountains and cosy evenings by the fire

Why does the Norwegian mountain landscape turn so colourful in autumn?

The mountains are ablaze. The birch forests have turned golden, the heather is deep red and the air is so crisp and clear you can almost taste it.

Did you know that the colours have been there all summer? The yellows and oranges hide behind the green chlorophyll. As the days grow shorter, the green breaks down and the hidden colours emerge. The red, however, is made fresh each autumn and is at its most vivid after cold, clear nights. The mountain is dressing up for winter.

Generations ago, autumn was known as haustonna, the busiest working season of the year. Animals were slaughtered, crops were gathered and firewood was stacked before winter set in. Today, we have more time to simply enjoy this warm and beautiful season.

Autumn cosiness in the mountains, wool socks, a crackling fire and a warm blanket

Autumn is peak hygge season. We Norwegians love being outdoors. (Or at least the idea of being outdoors.) But what we love even more is coming back inside, and after a day in crisp autumn colours with the wind on your cheeks, nothing beats warm wool socks, a crackling fire, a wool blanket and a mug of hot cocoa. That is the feeling I love most about this time of year.

In Norway, we are lucky enough to have four distinct seasons, each with its own atmosphere. Light summer nights, golden autumn days, white winters and spring, bringing everything back to life. But autumn is the season that stirs the most feeling: the quiet of the mountains, the warmth of the fire and the joy of coming inside.