Ferries to Norway/Scandi in general

[Arsey]

A few of us are toying with going to Norway in 2009.

We are all in Guernsey and would get the ferry to UK,ride to east coast port and then ferry onwards.

What options are there,now that the Newcastle service is stopping ?


When I sold my MV to a Norwegian chap this year,I'm pretty sure he was going from Harwich to somewhere in Denmark and then a short ride to catch another ferry to Sweden and then ride home to Oslo.

Does this ring any bells ?

I've only been to Norway for work and never on a bike.

Is May/June a good time and are the mossies out then ?

Ta

 

[Aidan1150]

As far as I can recall, DFDS sail from both Harwich and Immingham to Esbjerg in Denmark.

 

[Aidan1150]

Here's a link to DFDS Seaways which gives the Harwich/Esbjerg option, but not Immingham which must be freight only.

 

[Arsey]

As far as I can recall, DFDS sail from both Harwich and Immingham to Esbjerg in Denmark.

That may have been it-Esbjerg and then he rode across somewhere to catch a ferry to Sweden.

Ta

Any more ?

 

[Aidan1150]

That may have been it-Esbjerg and then he rode across somewhere to catch a ferry to Sweden.

He probably went from Esbjerg to Frederickshavn which is the very northern tip of Jutland where you can catch a ferry to Gothenburg in Sweden, which I seem to remember is operated by Stenaline.

HTH

 

[Aidan1150]

Any more ?

Yeah.

Here is a link to the port of Frederickshavn.

You can catch a ferry from there to Oslo or to Gotenborg, more details here.

 

[Arsey]

Aidan,

thanks for all that info.

i see here that Stena do these routes :

<img src="http://img.skitch.com/20080811-m5cixgq65xxk3jer9ix7qf3uuc.jpg" alt="Picture 4"/>

I wonder if anybody has done that Grena-Varberg route and then ridden up ?

It only takes 2 hours less than the Fredrikshaven-Oslo but I guess it depends on whether it is nicer to rise up the west coast of Denmark or Sweden ?

Or,alternatively ride up from Esbjerg to Frederikshaven and take the shorter ferry to Goteborg and then ride up from there.


No doubt somebody will be along later who knows this area well.

 

[Aidan1150]

I have driven trucks all over Denmark Arsey and it would put you in mind of Holland, very flat and rather featureless to be honest. The Danes are quite friendly and of course English is widely spoken.

Oh, , lots of lovely ladies too.


I would be inclined to go Harwich to Esbjerg then run up to Frederickshavn for the boat to Oslo.

2p

 

[PhilM]

Or DFDS go Newcastle to Stavanger/Bergen/Haugesund, 18hr crossing.

I'd rather go with Aidens suggestion, beats driving up the east coast of Englandshire

 

[DavidJames]

Dont forget that you can ride straight from Denmark into Sweden across the bridge to avoid taking another ferry. The terrain is very flat and the roads not too exciting, but there are some great towns to stop at and as said before the Danes and Swedes are very nice people.

 

[casperghst42]

Instead of Fredrikshavn-Oslo, there is also Hirtshals - Kristiansand, there is as far as I know also other destinations from Hirtshals. Also from Hanstholm.

Have a look here (danish)

Casper

 

[Arsey]

I have driven trucks all over Denmark Arsey and it would put you in mind of Holland, very flat and rather featureless to be honest. The Danes are quite friendly and of course English is widely spoken.

Oh, , lots of lovely ladies too.


I would be inclined to go Harwich to Esbjerg then run up to Frederickshavn for the boat to Oslo.

2p

I think that looks the best option !

Or DFDS go Newcastle to Stavanger/Bergen/Haugesund, 18hr crossing.

I'd rather go with Aidens suggestion, beats driving up the east coast of Englandshire

except the route ceases at the end of this month,which was the main point of this thread as to what alternatives there were !

Dont forget that you can ride straight from Denmark into Sweden across the bridge to avoid taking another ferry. The terrain is very flat and the roads not too exciting, but there are some great towns to stop at and as said before the Danes and Swedes are very nice people.

True-I've flown over Copenhagen/Malmo a fair bit lately on the way out east and it's a big bugger !!

It's quite a long way round though.

Instead of Fredrikshavn-Oslo, there is also Hirtshals - Kristiansand, there is as far as I know also other destinations from Hirtshals. Also from Hanstholm.

Have a look here (danish)

Casper

That's a good alternative,though I guess we would prob have a night in Oslo at some point anyway.


Thanks for all the suggestions,guys.

We are only talking about this and to see how do-able it is and how long we would need to allow.


Cheers all

 

[PhilM]

except the route ceases at the end of this month,which was the main point of this thread as to what alternatives there were !

note to self....read posts properly

 

[Farmboy]

i am so glad i went this year, the alternative routes sem a right pain in comparison.

when i was on the ferry from newcatle and after speaking to lots of port staff they were hopeful of another company taking over the newcastle ferry so i would hold for now until it is sorted out for good.

the route through Sweden is straight and tre lined but fast way up to the top of Norway, you can then meander back down the Wst Coast at your leisure.

We managed to travel through a lot of Sweden using all the offroad and gravel tracks so didnt see much of the straight boring bits that everyone else mentions, bloody good fun and beatiful scenery along the gravel tracks

enjoy

 

[forestry]

Mozzies

A few of us are toying with going to Norway in 2009.

We are all in Guernsey and would get the ferry to UK,ride to east coast port and then ferry onwards.

What options are there,now that the Newcastle service is stopping ?


When I sold my MV to a Norwegian chap this year,I'm pretty sure he was going from Harwich to somewhere in Denmark and then a short ride to catch another ferry to Sweden and then ride home to Oslo.

Does this ring any bells ?

I've only been to Norway for work and never on a bike.

Is May/June a good time and are the mossies out then ?

Ta

Just returned from 2 1/2 weeks in Norway, absolutely no mozzies encountered, saying that the weather was exceptional, 2 hours of rain in 2 1/2 weeks.

Strong rumours that someone will be taking over the Newcastle sailing without the Stavanger and Haugesund stops.

 

[Tractorpilot]

Went from Bergen up to North Cape and back second half of July last year. No mossie problem though went fully prepared. Skye/West Coast of Scotland was worse last weekend!

If you are going to North Norway - spend a day or 3 touring the Lofoten Islands, Henningsvaer is worth a look. You can get a ferry back over to Bodo from near the west end of the islands. Think we caught it from a place called Reine.

Weather was plentiful in southern Norway round the coast. Waterproofs vital. If you intend camping you will have wet gear to deal with. Use the camping huts that are everywhere in Norway instead. Can't remember what they call them but they are good value. Weather seemed to get better further North but we may just have been lucky...

 

[Arsey]

Went from Bergen up to North Cape and back second half of July last year. No mossie problem though went fully prepared. Skye/West Coast of Scotland was worse last weekend!

If you are going to North Norway - spend a day or 3 touring the Lofoten Islands, Henningsvaer is worth a look. You can get a ferry back over to Bodo from near the west end of the islands. Think we caught it from a place called Reine.

Weather was plentiful in southern Norway round the coast. Waterproofs vital. If you intend camping you will have wet gear to deal with. Use the camping huts that are everywhere in Norway instead. Can't remember what they call them but they are good value. Weather seemed to get better further North but we may just have been lucky...

We would stick to the SW where i believe all the best bits are.

 

[AndyT]

We would stick to the SW where i believe all the best bits are.

I would recomend heading further North (but not to much further). If you go to the county of "More og Romsdahl" it is absolutely fantstic scenery and superb roads. Most of the top tourist destinations are in this area but it is so big its not over crowded. Just do any search of Geiranger, Loen, Trollstigen and you will see what I mean. You can also go to some of the towns along the coast and I can highly recomend Aalesund

The 1st pic is Geiranger , the 2nd is the Trollstigen and the 3rd shows you where geiranger and Loen are. The scenery in that area is equal to the Alps.

AndyT

 

[Tractorpilot]

Agree with AndyT - also old road from Loms towards Bergen avoiding the new tunnel is worth doing.

 

[bsogri]

norway ferry

Or DFDS go Newcastle to Stavanger/Bergen/Haugesund, 18hr crossing.

I'd rather go with Aidens suggestion, beats driving up the east coast of Englandshire

newcastle to bergen norway is being stopped from this september, they say not enough use