Two gentle hikes to Fossen Bratte and Steinsdalsfossen
Last week, I walked two beautiful trails near Bergen, each leading to a breathtaking waterfall. First was Fossen Bratte, a stunning fall that appears suddenly from the cliffs, tumbling down with both grace and strength.
The sound of the water, falling naturally, following its own path, was overwhelming. It looked incredible — powerful yet peaceful. I stood still and just listened, as if the water had captured its own moment in time. It was impossible not to be moved.
Later, I visited Steinsdalsfossen, one of the few waterfalls you can walk behind. Being so close to that immense flow of water — watching it pour down in front of me while standing on a safe distance — was both humbling and comforting.
Standing there, with the sound of water surrounding me, I felt calm settle in.
These waterfalls aren’t just sights to admire — they’re experiences. Moments of reconnection.
There’s also a quiet wisdom in how the water moves. It doesn’t resist the downward path — it follows it. It flows where it needs to go, carving its own way through stone and soil, finding its place again and again.
Walking in Nature
This is what I love about Walk and Talk coaching – especially in natural surroundings. It offers space to explore thoughts and emotions without pressure. Away from your laptop or smartphone. You just walk. You move. You begin to notice what’s present — both outside and within.
And when you’re walking in a place like this — surrounded by trees, breathing in fresh mountain air, hearing water crash and trickle and flow — something softens. Something opens.
Water as a Coach
There’s something about water that always relaxes me.
Whether I’m walking beside it, paddling on my SUP, or simply listening to it… water calms my mind. I feel more grounded. My confidence rises, and insecurities seem to flow away — just like the water.
I’ve always loved being near water. But in places like Hawaii or Norway, that connection becomes even deeper. Here, surrounded by mountains and forests, the water feels alive in a different way — wild, untamed, and deeply grounding.
And unlike in the Netherlands, where I’m originally from, you’ll find real, roaring, cascading waterfalls here.
I’m overwhelmed every time I see one — surprised by its beauty, impressed by its freedom, and sometimes almost startled by the intensity of the sound.
And yet, the crashing water is like music to my ears.
Especially for someone like me, coming from a flat country where waterfalls like these simply don’t exist, their presence feels magical.
