Norway and Sweden
Author
Discussion

Redscouse

Original Poster:

36 posts

186 months

Tuesday 2nd August 2011
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Hey all,

Anybody been to Norway and/or Sweden ........ and if so did you drive there?

Currently going through the procedure of setting up an epic trip to Norway on another car club forum/website and although ive drove all around Europe, ive never been further north than Denmark, so if anybody has any advice where to go/stop and what too see and do, please drop me some tips in this thread as im hoping to make this trip special for everybody coming along smile

Thanks,

Paul

GreatGranny

9,519 posts

256 months

Tuesday 2nd August 2011
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Been to sweden several times but never driven over there.

All I can say is that its a stunning country and the women are stunning also (and really nice).

StevieBee

15,414 posts

285 months

Tuesday 2nd August 2011
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Stop off in Trollhatten, 60km north of Gothenburg.

Stunning setting, sluice waterfalls and lakes network - great bars (Butlers worth a mention). Innovatum museum worth a look. Saab Museum .....well, when in Sweden!

Matt p

1,119 posts

238 months

Tuesday 2nd August 2011
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Im off to Gatebil again in September smile

A few friends are towing cars out there but I'm a softie and flying then driving from Oslo Torp.

Drop me an email if you need to know anymore details smile

Kudos

2,674 posts

204 months

Tuesday 2nd August 2011
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I work in Stockholm. Colleague has just ridden from Edinburgh to Stockholm. Can ask him some questionsnif you want?

Redscouse

Original Poster:

36 posts

186 months

Wednesday 3rd August 2011
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Thanks for all the replies so far smile

Its just a case of wanting to know some recommended places to visit on route to Norway or in Norway. Whether this be monuments, castles, cities, best driving rounds, lakes etc......

We are heading off there in June next year (which actually ties in with the Pistonheads trip) so we might meet up with the PH's on the way as a bit of a special 'meet'

Paul

MagicalTrevor

6,481 posts

259 months

Wednesday 3rd August 2011
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I've always fancied driving round through Denmark, Sweden and Norway as we have family in Stavanger, Norway. I think I'd take a combination of ferries (apart from the obvious one to get out of England!) and driving.

What about the Eurotunnel though? Would that be better than the ferry? I'd hate the car to get mistreated in what must be the equivalent of a moving/swaying supermarket carpark. All those door dings and people walking past with luggage frown

Pothole

34,367 posts

312 months

Wednesday 3rd August 2011
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MagicalTrevor said:
I've always fancied driving round through Denmark, Sweden and Norway as we have family in Stavanger, Norway. I think I'd take a combination of ferries (apart from the obvious one to get out of England!) and driving.

What about the Eurotunnel though? Would that be better than the ferry? I'd hate the car to get mistreated in what must be the equivalent of a moving/swaying supermarket carpark. All those door dings and people walking past with luggage frown
Foot passengers tend not to have 'luggage'. You sit in your car anyway so can police the situation and it takes 20 minutes. Which version of the tunnel have you been through?

rsv gone!

11,288 posts

271 months

Wednesday 3rd August 2011
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I went to Norway a few years ago. Very beautiful country and the roads are great but enforcement is incredibly strict so you'll need to be on your best behaviour.

And food and drinks out are ludicrously expensive. Three beers and a coke in Stavanger was near on £40 IIRC.

A pub-style meal including a beer each and pud after was nearly £300. Still, I did get to eat reindeer!




Edited by rsv gone! on Wednesday 3rd August 08:59

MagicalTrevor

6,481 posts

259 months

Wednesday 3rd August 2011
quotequote all
Pothole said:
Foot passengers tend not to have 'luggage'. You sit in your car anyway so can police the situation and it takes 20 minutes. Which version of the tunnel have you been through?
Sorry, I was referring to people on the ferry going past when you're parked up. The tunnel will be fine smile

Pothole

34,367 posts

312 months

Wednesday 3rd August 2011
quotequote all
MagicalTrevor said:
Pothole said:
Foot passengers tend not to have 'luggage'. You sit in your car anyway so can police the situation and it takes 20 minutes. Which version of the tunnel have you been through?
Sorry, I was referring to people on the ferry going past when you're parked up. The tunnel will be fine smile
tbh, a ferry to somewhere a bit closer than Calais would surely be the best option, whatever your worries about luggage dings. It's a looong way to drive from France to Sweden!

Naga

2,183 posts

189 months

Wednesday 3rd August 2011
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Many many years ago (1976) I did a family holiday with parents (Dad worked for a Swedish company).

Did the Tor Line ferry from Felixstowe to Gothennburg then drove up the coast camped at Stromstad for a few days then up to the middle of Norway via Oslo and Lillehammer. Camped in a lakeside site (lake fed by melting waters from the impressive Briksdal glacier) and got sunstroke (hot Summer). Then across to the Baltic side of Sweden for more camping.

Back then, roads were empty, sometimes not another car for 200 miles. Some roads were unmade (but pretty smooth). Dad's MKIII 2000GXL estate performed admirably!

As said earlier it is damned expensive for food/drink in Norway when eating out - Have been on business several times in recent years and, despite being on expenses, couldn't bring myself to eat particularly well!!

The people are brilliant (allbeit a little nuts on occasions - lack of Winter sun I think), the countryside is awesome and the fjord roads in Norway are very special - Well worth taking a car and a camera with loads of memory cards

CHIEF

2,270 posts

312 months

Wednesday 3rd August 2011
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Went to Norway quite a few years back and not as well travelled as some on here but i'll tell you what i know.

Had a city break to Bergen and got the ferry from Newcastle (sadly they cancelled this the gits)

The Norwegians are to be honest the friendliest race of people i've ever encountered and love the English which makes a nice change.

Beer back then was around 7 quid and its probably gone up now and that was for 0.4 litre not a pint.

A sandwich from somewhere like a Greggs style shop was a fiver but we had a buffet for breakfast at our hotel so just stocked up and then just ate later on. We did try whale though and it was lovely.

One thing i will say this Norwegians loved to get pissed and love to smoke it is quite shocking to see and dont be alarmed at how Norwegians barge past you in a bar or wont hold a door open if you are directly behind them, Its not that they are rude its just how they are.

We got speaking to loads of locals over there and they loved us, We was even taken to a nightclub to meet some friendly Norweigian ladies.

If you do happen to go to Bergen take some Liverpool footy shirts or fags, you'll make a killing.

If anyone knows of any cheap ways to get to Bergen now the ferry has been cancelled i'm all ears.







Redscouse

Original Poster:

36 posts

186 months

Wednesday 3rd August 2011
quotequote all
Some brilliant stories and advice from you all, muchly appreciated thanks very much smilesmile

Sounds very expensive though!!! We will have to sort that out :P

Anymore advice or help is appreciated, please keep adding to this thread, it may help others in the future also. Thanks all for your time and effort biggrin

Paul

anonymous-user

84 months

Thursday 4th August 2011
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I used to live in Norway and have driven all over, and travelled back and fore the UK by Ferry, stil have family there and I am told theat the Newcastle/Stavanger/bergan ferry may start again next year. cross from denmarl to Kristiansand, and drive north up Settesdal, you get into amazing country within half an hour of leaving the ferry.

Driving is good but fuel is very expensive always has been, accomadation food the same, and the weather iffi, speed limit is strictly impossed,

Love Rsv's picture, I was at that eact spot in '83, at the moment my mother died, have almost the same picture on my living room wall.

rsv gone!

11,288 posts

271 months

Thursday 4th August 2011
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Berw said:
Love Rsv's picture, I was at that eact spot in '83, at the moment my mother died, have almost the same picture on my living room wall.
Hadn't a German battleship been parked up in that fyord?

I recall being told that that fyord was as deep as the neighbouring rockfaces were high.

Do you recall exactly where that is? I'm a bit fuzzy on it. Just that it was 50 or so miles south of Stavanger.

Luckily for me, I was there with work to look at a window and door company. They were picking up the tab.

I'd echo what others say about the Norwegians being very warm under their apparently frosty exteriors. I had a meeting with the owner of a large door factory and I happened to mention bikes. That was it. The previously reserved owner and I completely derailed the conversation by chatting about cars, bikes, his desire to go to Santa Pod and his souped up yank tanks, for ages. hehe

Chris71

21,549 posts

272 months

Thursday 4th August 2011
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CHIEF said:
The Norwegians are to be honest the friendliest race of people i've ever encountered and love the English which makes a nice change.
I've heard this too. I wonder if the second part relates more to the sort of Brits who go there, though. You don't get many 'Stella and chips' ex-pats or stag parties in rural Norway I wouldn't imagine? biggrin

boobles

15,251 posts

245 months

Thursday 4th August 2011
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Been to Sweden a few times. Lovely place but very expensive!

CHIEF

2,270 posts

312 months

Thursday 4th August 2011
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Chris71 said:
I've heard this too. I wonder if the second part relates more to the sort of Brits who go there, though. You don't get many 'Stella and chips' ex-pats or stag parties in rural Norway I wouldn't imagine? biggrin
From what i saw on my all too brief visit there is they can out party the brits anyday except they're not aholes or seem to cause any trouble, I swear i never sawe one jot of trouble when i was in Bergen for 5 days, i'm sure it goes on but it was a nice refreshing change to see, But boy do they like to get pisssed lol.

Has to be the best place i've ever visited, It was just so bloody expensive and i was gutted when they cancelled the Newcastle to Bergen ferry - That crossing was a giggle in itself.


blackersTT

1 posts

182 months

Thursday 4th August 2011
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Kudos said:
I work in Stockholm. Colleague has just ridden from Edinburgh to Stockholm. Can ask him some questionsnif you want?
Interesting, I live in Edinburgh and looking to travel to Norway next summer, which way did your colleague travel?