"Like a royal farm in a fairytale, the Pulpit Rock Cabin is situated on a south-facing slope at Vatne, sorrounded by mountains, forrested slopes and grassy hills with Lake Refsvatnet's glittering surface just a stone's throw below it"

From STF's special newsletter for 1949

Preikestolen Mountain Lodge and Preikestolhytta/Pulpit Rock Youth hostel (closed during the winter season)

We can offer accomodation in three different buildings; the Mountain Lodge, the Youth hostel Preikestolhytta and the dormitory building Vatnegården. Preikestolhytta and Vatnegården are closed during the winter season, but the mountain lodge is open all year round.

Preikestolhytta was built to make it easier for walkers to conquer this famous overhang. Previously, walkers had to spend the night at the trackless mountain farms of Refsvatnet, Vatne and Torsnes. Building such a large cabin in this remote area was a very demanding project for the "Stavanger Turistforening". Everything was carried up from the Lyse-fjord. A motorised lift was built from the fjord up the stiff cliffs to Refsvatnet lake. People and materials were then carried across the lake by motorboat.

The timber came from the estate and a saw-mill was built down by the lake. In 1961 came the motor-road, making Pulpit Rock accessible on a day-trip, and changing the pattern of usage for the lodge. Vatne has been inhabited since the 18th century.

The Preikestolhytta is situated on the old mountain farm Vatne. The old farmhouse is still standing and you can also see house-sites, stone walls and clearanco cairns. These give an idea of the labour involved in making a living out of this mountainous area.

We don't know when the first settlers came to Vatne. The old farm house probably dates back to 18th century, but the farm is first recorded in 1846. In the 1875 census, 8 people lived here, in addition to 8 cows, 128 sheep, 35 goats and 1 pig.

Forfatter: Kjell Helle Olsen