My roadtrip round Norway

So, I've spent the last 8 days or so driving around Norway. I got as far north as Andenes on Andoya island and drove round most of the fjords.

Its a truly spectacular country. I'm not sure I've been anywhere as consistently stunning as here - so far I've driven 4,100km and of that, maybe 200km has been through boring countryside.

The bad points:

Its eye-wateringly expensive here. Petrol is around £1.50 per litre, food and drink in the supermarket costs double that in the UK and hostels can be up to £40 for a dorm room, often charging an extra £6 for sheets!

I got a parking fine this morning for parking on the wrong side of a "parking here" sign (I did buy a ticket) and despite going to the parking authority's office in Trondheim to plead clemency, they wouldn't waive it. Not sure what to do about it - if i leave it unpaid they'll no doubt bill the rental car company who have my credit card details.

Finally, the national speed limit is only 80km/h which can make journeys seem slow and the temptation to speed very high. BUT they have extremely harsh penalties for driving offences (I may have been got by a speed camera yesterday so did a bit of research). Speeding fines range from £200 (for only 5km/h over the limit) to £800 for higher speeds. Being caught driving over 140km/h (around 87 mph) will get you an immediate 30 day jail sentence.

It explains why the locals are happy to drive in queues behind RVs and trucks going below the speed limit. At first I found this bemusing but now I find it kind of depressing that the state has managed to exert so much control over this part of people's lives. I know its only a small thing (just don't speed, right?) but for a country so developed (I think its considered the MOST developed country in the world), these kind of draconian penalties leave a sour taste.

Rant over, its still a staggeringly beautiful country.

Latefoss:



View from the "Stegastein" viewpoint:



Think this was driving over the Jotunheimen mountain range:





Geirangerfjord (and seven sisters waterfall):







Trollstigen mountain pass (breathtaking view):





The Atlantic Road (bit of a let-down if I'm honest):



Crossing Trondheimsfjord:



The Lofoten islands, in the arctic circle:





Island of Andoya:

some fantastic photos mate. looks amazing! wow to those speeding punishments, they are harsh lol!

Looks beautiful! I'd probably drive off the side of a mountain if I did 87 mph around some of those curves. So at least I wouldn't have to go to jail

Norway is the most beautiful country on earth. I haven't ever been there, but I know that when I finally do go I'll be forever sad I'm not Norwegian.

Great pictures man, what camera are you using?

That looks unreal and amazing. Great pictures!

bringiton_ty wrote:

some fantastic photos mate. looks amazing! wow to those speeding punishments, they are harsh lol!

Yep, hence me not wanting to have been got by a speed camera!

SubconsciousRitual wrote:

Looks beautiful! I'd probably drive off the side of a mountain if I did 87 mph around some of those curves. So at least I wouldn't have to go to jail

Well yea its difficult to drive that fast round hairpin bends but when you're on a motorway or a long, straight road - not so difficult. I've been religiously sticking to the speed limit the past few days and yelling "EIGHT HUNDRED POUNDS!" at anyone who overtook me.

Harbortown wrote:

Norway is the most beautiful country on earth. I haven't ever been there, but I know that when I finally do go I'll be forever sad I'm not Norwegian.

Great pictures man, what camera are you using?

Thanks, its a Panasonic DMC-TZ10. Just a compact one, same as I used in New Zealand a few months back. I'm a point-and-click kinda guy when it comes to photos!

How can you not have been to Norway, its right next door?! Don't be sad you're not Norwegian though. From spending three nights in Gothenburg for Bruce, I think you've got it better (apart from the scenery of course). Your prices are much more reasonable and Sweden seems a livelier, more fun place than Norway. I've hardly seen any young people here - its full of OAP couples on holiday!

We've got Scotland to the north which is far more beautiful than England but it don't make me wanna be a Scot!

stepsandnumbers wrote:

That looks unreal and amazing. Great pictures!

Thanks Few more below.

Driving down the Helgeland coast:



Bridge at Sandnessjoen (apparently voted the most beautiful bridge in Norway). Also only 2 minutes from the petrol station where I heard 45 playing:



Svartisen glacier:



Torghatten mountain (with a hole through the middle):



Couple from the drive back south (I'm flying home tomorrow):

markbarlow wrote:

Harbortown wrote:

Norway is the most beautiful country on earth. I haven't ever been there, but I know that when I finally do go I'll be forever sad I'm not Norwegian.

Great pictures man, what camera are you using?

Thanks, its a Panasonic DMC-TZ10. Just a compact one, same as I used in New Zealand a few months back. I'm a point-and-click kinda guy when it comes to photos!

How can you not have been to Norway, its right next door?! Don't be sad you're not Norwegian though. From spending three nights in Gothenburg for Bruce, I think you've got it better (apart from the scenery of course). Your prices are much more reasonable and Sweden seems a livelier, more fun place than Norway. I've hardly seen any young people here - its full of OAP couples on holiday!

We've got Scotland to the north which is far more beautiful than England but it don't make me wanna be a Scot!

Ah, very nice, that little bugger brings some seriously good quality for scenery.

Haha yeah I know, it kind of astounds me, really. I've been to USA three times, went to Germany and Denmark a lot and I've been to loads of other European countries..but not Norway. It's strange, really, as I've glorified that country since I was like 13.
I do love Sweden! And you're right, Norway is retardedly expensive, but their nature, man...It's like something straight out of a viking tale. It speaks to the fantasy geek within me. Oh and they're also one of the most patriotic countries in the world, which is in fresh contrast with Sweden which is one of the least patriotic countries in the world.

woah, it looks unbelievable there. these photos have cemented where i wanna visit next year! hope you enjoyed

Great photo's, but you have seriously put me off ever driving around Norway!

Harbortown wrote:

Ah, very nice, that little bugger brings some seriously good quality for scenery.

Haha yeah I know, it kind of astounds me, really. I've been to USA three times, went to Germany and Denmark a lot and I've been to loads of other European countries..but not Norway. It's strange, really, as I've glorified that country since I was like 13.
I do love Sweden! And you're right, Norway is retardedly expensive, but their nature, man...It's like something straight out of a viking tale. It speaks to the fantasy geek within me. Oh and they're also one of the most patriotic countries in the world, which is in fresh contrast with Sweden which is one of the least patriotic countries in the world.

Yea its a good little camera and perfect for me as I don't want a fancy SLR or anything I have to spend too much time messing around with! I've shrunk all those shots so they load quicker but the originals are all 4000x3000 and look great - I got a couple from my NZ trip blown up on canvas with decent results.

bringiton_ty wrote:

woah, it looks unbelievable there. these photos have cemented where i wanna visit next year! hope you enjoyed

I'd love to go back there and would definitely recommend it although its not the most fun place to visit. I don't know whether its the prices or its location but its not on the usual backpackers' circuit so I didn't meet many young people there, even in the hostels (which were full of older couples and families). There didn't seem to be much of a pub culture there either - if you're going, its all about the scenery (which is extremely worthwhile).

I'd also recommend touring the country by car, despite the ridiculous limits/penalties - you could stick to the fjords in the west and see the best sights in a 3-5 day round trip from Sandefjord (where the cheap "Oslo" airport is). There's also some great scenery further north but its a hell of a long way and not as essential unless you've got the time. Let me know nearer the time and I'll give you some recommendations re where to stay/visit.

Apart from being expensive, the hostels are all of a really high standard - I think because they cater to families and couples rather than the traditional backpacker. 2 nights I ended up with a 10+ bed mountain cabin to myself including kitchen and lounge! Last night I had a 6 bed dorm to myself. Definitely take your own bed sheets to avoid the £6-8 hire charge.

luckyman wrote:

Great photo's, but you have seriously put me off ever driving around Norway!

Well the parking fine and the potential speeding fine certainly put a downer on things. Its so frustrating as most of the roads are so bloody good, you could tear round them safely, though I appreciate a lower limit maybe appropriate in the arctic winter.

I'm a little into photography too and all I wanna say that you've done some really amazing photos ...would like to come to Norway some day, haven't been there before.

I haven't posted in a while, I just wanted to say that I'm currently on an exchange year in Norway (:

I absolutely love it here!

StopAndSlideToTheRight wrote:

I haven't posted in a while, I just wanted to say that I'm currently on an exchange year in Norway (:

I absolutely love it here!

Whereabouts in Norway are you? Oslo I guess?

markbarlow wrote:

StopAndSlideToTheRight wrote:

I haven't posted in a while, I just wanted to say that I'm currently on an exchange year in Norway (:

I absolutely love it here!

Whereabouts in Norway are you? Oslo I guess?

Yeah, I'm basically 20 minutes away from the center of Oslo. It's an amazing city!