Hesla Farm

I am trying to understand the many positive reviews posted for this site, they seem to be describing something unlike our experience. Hesla Farm is a hodgepodge of older farm buildings packed together with what seem to be cast-off yard items and more (the exercise "room" is under an open tent, includes an electric treadmill without electricity and some sort of stair stepper, and a fly-covered golf bag.) I note that there are no reviews since December 2024 and it is now August 2025. We had a confirmed reservation and after arriving (and finding no one around) looked for the owner/manager, who informed us that she didn't want us to stay in the unit we had booked, she said it was available, but "not right for us" whatever that meant. (Two older friends traveling together?) She insisted we move to another building (she called it an upgrade) but told us we use only two of the rooms, even thought it was a large house with kitchen, dining, and living space. The dishwasher was filled with dirty dishes. There was a washer-dryer in the bathroom, which we were scolded for wanting to use. How this change was an "upgrade" is a mystery. The rooms are furnished with older thrift shop pieces, hand built tables, and a variety of things that are supposed to represent a "farm house" look. Now for "breakfast." It was served at 9 am. We booked two simple breakfasts. Somehow, that morphed into a breakfast buffet, beginning at 9 am after a bell was rung, and NOT before, not even coffee. Serving was outdoor, eating could be outside or inside and when we asked for coffee, we were told to wait until the host could serve it. Coffee happened at the end of the meal. We were immediately asked "breakfast was wonderful, yes?" No. Chickens everywhere and flies gallore. This could be a charming place if the host were more considerate, held to reservations, was less rigid about meal service, and cleaned up the grounds so that broken-down lawn furniture and exercise items aren't everywhere. The property is on a busy highway so that traffic noise is fairly constant. There are two horses and many chickens on the property -- the rooster crowed around 0430. No need for a wake up from the desk!

Hesla Farm was a great experience and Ligia, the hostess, really makes you feel at home. It was like staying in an open museum, with a great display of old tools and memorabilia from the last two centuries. Breakfast, served in the old milking barn, was delicious!

I was so looking forward to the stay. I wished we had never gone. The most unorganized and possibly deceitful owner. I don’t know what the problem was. This place has so much potential! We were quoted 8000NOK ($746.14UD) with breakfast for a family of 12. When we arrived we had to move stacks of painted gutters and such to park the car. The house was surrounded by scaffolding and workers showed up early to work on the house the next morning. Then we were told they wouldn’t include breakfast. The owner complained the rate was too low to include breakfast. When I showed her the email she sent me she relented to include but told us we couldn’t have breakfast until 10am. We ended up getting our own breakfast because we couldn’t leave so late. A special place that wasn’t so special. The good news is that every other part of our experiences in Norway have been spectacular from hotels to restaurants and sightseeing.

The property had no record or a reservation for us. Fortunately, they did have a room, just not one of the picturesque stabburs.