Driving To & In Norway
Discussion
I fancy going on holiday to Norway in September next year, but I want to drive as I think it'll be quite fun and you'd see loads of things you otherwise wouldn't on the way. Thing is, I believe ferries direct from the UK stopped in 2008, so has anyone driven there recently and which route did you take? The Visit Norway website says get a ferry from Harwich to Denmark and then from Denmark to Norway, and all of these seem to dock in the South of the country, mainly either in Oslo or Kristiansand. Thing is, I'd also like to see the Northern Lights etc. up in the North in Tromsø, but this is a massive 1,200 mile drive from Oslo. Is there any kind of overnight car ferry that'll do the journey for me?
Please feel free to tell me it's a stupid idea and that I should just fly like everyone else, but this is PH, so I hold out some hope someone else will have done it and have some advice!
Also, what are the road conditions going to be like in mid-September? The average temperatures, even up North, don't seem too cold at that time of year.
Please feel free to tell me it's a stupid idea and that I should just fly like everyone else, but this is PH, so I hold out some hope someone else will have done it and have some advice!
Also, what are the road conditions going to be like in mid-September? The average temperatures, even up North, don't seem too cold at that time of year.
- Edit* meant to put this in the travel section rather than GG. Oops.
Edited by David87 on Wednesday 17th November 20:18
When you get to Norway, head to Bergen and get the www.hurtigruten.com - takes you all the up to Kirkenes in the very north of the country, stopping at many many villages and towns on the way.
Quite expensive, but well worth it!
Quite expensive, but well worth it!
O/H has been working in Norway for the last year and I spent the summer over there. Whilst there are some fantasic roads there http://www.norseaodyssey.com/Our_Travels/Europe/No... the speed limits are nuts. Limits on the motorway are about 50 mph and about 20 in urban areas. Almost everyone sticks to these limits as the police are very strict if you get caught. Furthermore,all of the motorways that we went on were only 2 lanes. We found driving in Norway to be a nightmare really, very frustrating as it takes so long to get any where.
I've been meaning to drive around to visit the GF's parents & family in Sweden one of these days, so am interested in this thread and the advice on how to get there. Always fancied going the long way round via the tunnel.
I've been on the roads in the mountains of the Norway/Sweden border, they are quite stunning. Watch for elk (moose), and perhaps practice the Scandianvian flick though, as you'll likely be dead if you hit an adult one at speed. Also, I'd imagine that driving around the Norwegian fjords would be amazing, and worth the slow pace of travel to see. Also, not sure if Norway has the same rules, but in Sweden you must drive with the lights on at all times.
A Swedish friend as a passenger commented on the (legal) speeds I was reaching in England; he thought our limits were too high in general.
I've been on the roads in the mountains of the Norway/Sweden border, they are quite stunning. Watch for elk (moose), and perhaps practice the Scandianvian flick though, as you'll likely be dead if you hit an adult one at speed. Also, I'd imagine that driving around the Norwegian fjords would be amazing, and worth the slow pace of travel to see. Also, not sure if Norway has the same rules, but in Sweden you must drive with the lights on at all times.
A Swedish friend as a passenger commented on the (legal) speeds I was reaching in England; he thought our limits were too high in general.
September = hopeless. You need to go end June/July/August otherwise most roads are impassable. I've done it a couple of times now going as far as the Arctic Circle - roads once north of Lillehammer/Bergen awesome - when out in country very few motorists, even less police but fines are huge if caught speeding. Scenery is fantastic beyond belief. No direct ferry from UK any more. Wonderful wonderful country, but beer/wine/eating out very expensive.
I love the place
I love the place
Driven to Norway and back about 4 times. The worst bit of the trip was once you crossed the border into Norway. If you take the ferry from Denmark you will be driving on single lanes with low speed limits and few passing places. Bear in mind this is the main road for trucks and caravans. The road winds around the fjords all the way to Stavanger. The scenery is stunning, absolutely amazing, but you will get frustrated. Just make sure the police do not catch you speeding, which you will be doing. The only way I could get past the tailbacks was to to floor it to approx ?x the limit
Take as many of your own supplies as possible, or drive through Sweden first and stock up in the shopping area near the border. This gets very busy at the weekends as the Norwegians all drive to Sweden to stock up as well.
The scenery is worth the trip at least once in your life. But take lots of money, do not have any alcohol in your system whilst driving, and don't get caught speeding.
Take as many of your own supplies as possible, or drive through Sweden first and stock up in the shopping area near the border. This gets very busy at the weekends as the Norwegians all drive to Sweden to stock up as well.
The scenery is worth the trip at least once in your life. But take lots of money, do not have any alcohol in your system whilst driving, and don't get caught speeding.
Edited by HowMuchLonger on Wednesday 17th November 21:44
I went to Sweden this summer via Esbjerg ,Denmark c£700 ,loved it ,empty roads ,decent sign posting ,
only got confused once ,which is remarkable ,a beautiful country and also v hot in July
BTW i went to this http://www.bigmeet.com/
and i did go in the Cosworth
I also would like roadtrip to Finland [WRC ?] but cost i think will be exhorbitant
only got confused once ,which is remarkable ,a beautiful country and also v hot in July
BTW i went to this http://www.bigmeet.com/
and i did go in the Cosworth
I also would like roadtrip to Finland [WRC ?] but cost i think will be exhorbitant
Blimey - I worked in Norway for a few months a few years back and to be honest I had no idea the speed limits were so low. Oops. I did work alongside a chap who had been in prison for speeding though: he gave me a lift one day and his time inside certainly hadn't slowed him down. It was November, in Norway, on what would be B roads here, and we were doing over 70mph in places.
You won't see the northern lights in September.
The roads are quiet.
Many main roads appear to hav a hard shoulder - if someone wants to pass you move over to let them pass.
Look out for the Kiosks. Small fast food joints in many towns and villages. Tend to have a small car park and are the focal point of the local car cruise scene.
What about ferry to Denmark and over the new bridge into Sweden?
I flew to Tromso and from tree did north Cape I've into Finland - as far as the Russian border, which was pretty scary in this days. No stopping on the road for several kilometres - then back through Sweden.
Highly recommended.
Oh and before someone says otherwise, no, it isn't dark all the time in Norway.
The roads are quiet.
Many main roads appear to hav a hard shoulder - if someone wants to pass you move over to let them pass.
Look out for the Kiosks. Small fast food joints in many towns and villages. Tend to have a small car park and are the focal point of the local car cruise scene.
What about ferry to Denmark and over the new bridge into Sweden?
I flew to Tromso and from tree did north Cape I've into Finland - as far as the Russian border, which was pretty scary in this days. No stopping on the road for several kilometres - then back through Sweden.
Highly recommended.
Oh and before someone says otherwise, no, it isn't dark all the time in Norway.
The Crack Fox said:
Stephanie Plum said:
September = hopeless. You need to go end June/July/August otherwise most roads are impassable.
What utter nonsense ! Unless you're talking about Kirkenes or waaaaay up north the roads are fine pretty much all year round. I once swam in the sea in September and I'm sure Skegness was colder ! OK, there will be ice/snow on most roads in winter, but hardly impassable, just fit the right tyres. I've got pics galore of my various adventures up there, I only ever got stuck once because of snow, in Telemark on a remote track to a 'Hyttefeld' in February this year, and even then some local dude came and cleared the road and helped me out.
OP - Track down the Laerdal tunnel, or the '7' road from Geilo to Eidfjord (google streetview has some nice shots, just take a look), or the west coast from Stavanger and north. The 'Polarkreis' (artic circle) thing is just a thing by the roadside, not worth the slog up the country just to see that in my opinion.
If you want some pointers, drop me a line, it's a great place.
You're not actually going to see the roadside, you're going to see the country above it, where there's at least one full day of darkness, or one full day of light, and it gets more extreme the further you go.
I spent 3 months in Norway from January onwards, not far away (40 miles) from Tromso. The roads were well salted and we never had any snags moving around in rented mondeos / minibuses / coachs.
Saw the Northern Lights about half a dozen times over that period. Lovely.
ETA - due to the lack of dual carriageways, it does take a long time to get anywhere. That 40 mile drive from our base to Tromso would take an hour and a half.
Saw the Northern Lights about half a dozen times over that period. Lovely.
ETA - due to the lack of dual carriageways, it does take a long time to get anywhere. That 40 mile drive from our base to Tromso would take an hour and a half.
Edited by alfa pint on Thursday 18th November 11:08
alfa pint said:
I spent 3 months in Norway from January onwards, not far away (40 miles) from Tromso. The roads were well salted and we never had any snags moving around in rented mondeos / minibuses / coachs.
Saw the Northern Lights about half a dozen times over that period. Lovely.
Your rentals would have had winter tyres on though - AFAIK it's a legal requirement.Saw the Northern Lights about half a dozen times over that period. Lovely.
We went in June this year on the pistonheads/petrolhead nirvana tour:
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
We caught the overnight ferry from Harwich to Eisberg. A quick drive to the north of Denmark to catch the boat to Norway saw us in country a little after 24 hours (but with sleep on the first boat).
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
We caught the overnight ferry from Harwich to Eisberg. A quick drive to the north of Denmark to catch the boat to Norway saw us in country a little after 24 hours (but with sleep on the first boat).
blugnu said:
alfa pint said:
I spent 3 months in Norway from January onwards, not far away (40 miles) from Tromso. The roads were well salted and we never had any snags moving around in rented mondeos / minibuses / coachs.
Saw the Northern Lights about half a dozen times over that period. Lovely.
Your rentals would have had winter tyres on though - AFAIK it's a legal requirement.Saw the Northern Lights about half a dozen times over that period. Lovely.
Unfortunately I don't have a digital copy of the photo taken near Balestrand in May.
The road over the top has only just opened and there's a wall of snow on either side of the road higher than a coach.
Some roads they just don't bother with in Winter - if you want to get around, that's what Fjords are for.
The road over the top has only just opened and there's a wall of snow on either side of the road higher than a coach.
Some roads they just don't bother with in Winter - if you want to get around, that's what Fjords are for.
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