Norway to carry on ...

[bod]

So not only is the Newcastle to Norway ferry not running, but the Vikings have also pulled the plug on the Lerwick-Bergen Ferry.
Having been to Shetland (and was planning to again this year) I know the Norway sailing was almost as important as the Aberdeen service.
So there is NO direct, indirect or any other kind of rect service from the UK to Norway - The only way now is via Denmark- to the very south of Norway?
My plans to Lofoten now look like a daily jaunt of hundreds of miles, only to retrace my footsteps home, instead of a lovely circular via Shetland.
Also, having not long received my guide book I am a bit dismayed at the pathetic speed limits this Country has to endure & the enormous fines for breaking the limit. How do you stick to 30kmh (about 22mph) in built up areas, with a maximum speed of 50mph on the open road?
And the cost of living over there begs the question "Is all this hassle actually worth the bother?"

With all that Norway has to offer, why isn't it making more effort to tap into the 60 million potential customers that live just on the left of them?

I need to think hard about this now & try to resist just heading up the A9 instead to the Big Country
A place I adore & know I will have a great time. A place I can ride fast & have a few beers without selling a kidney.

I know this looks like I'm having a pop at Norway ... I am not! Just a bit fed up that the planning has gone tits up at the first hurdle.

Any more news on the Toon ferry service being resumed?

 

[illustratedman]

You can get the freight ferry direct to norway from immingham, but your booking is not guaranteed if they need to get more lorries on. You don't have to retrace your steps? there is more than one route up and down, and you could mix in sweden/finland as well. With the speed limits it does'nt sound as if you'd enjoy it i'd give it a miss if i were you.

 

[Farmer Palmer]

You don't need to go fast in Norway because there's too much amazing scenery to look at when you're riding!

There hasn't been a ferry from Shetland to Norway for years either!

No news on the 'Toon' ferry resuming anytime soon either!

Norway's still an amazing place to visit though but then so's Shetland, The Western Isles and the Highlands so it's not all bad news!

FP.

 

[Farmer Palmer]

You can get the freight ferry direct to norway from immingham, but your booking is not guaranteed if they need to get more lorries on. You don't have to retrace your steps? there is more than one route up and down, and you could mix in sweden/finland as well. With the speed limits it does'nt sound as if you'd enjoy it i'd give it a miss if i were you.

I thought that was Denmark!

I'd go up Sweden and back down through Fjord Norway so to speak and unless you're going to the Lofotens there's not much point in going up past the Arctic Circle!

I'm struggling with the same dilemma but having been up to the Nordkapp twice before i'd be more than happy with the Fjords

Life used to be so easy with the Newcastle ferry......As a side note i don't think of Shetland as being Scottish as they're more Scandanavian in their outlook so Shetlands always worth a visit ot two and you might get to see the dancing pony!

 

[John Armstrong]

Shetlands always worth a visit to and you might get to see the dancing pony!

A reason to miss them I think

Might get an extras bit on some police drama, being that I don't speak the local lingo!

 

[Gossy]

A big obvious guess would be that theres insufficient demand for ferry operaters to run services , Immingham is a lottery and no 100% guarantee to board, so its DFDS Hawich a means to an end if you want to experience a unique country - thats what I'm hoping for anyway in the summer

 

[bod]

I thought that was Denmark!

I'd go up Sweden and back down through Fjord Norway so to speak and unless you're going to the Lofotens there's not much point in going up past the Arctic Circle!

I'm struggling with the same dilemma but having been up to the Nordkapp twice before i'd be more than happy with the Fjords

Life used to be so easy with the Newcastle ferry......As a side note i don't think of Shetland as being Scottish as they're more Scandanavian in their outlook so Shetlands always worth a visit ot two and you might get to see the dancing pony!

10 years since I went to Shetland & Bergen ferry was alive & well then!
As you say, very Scandinavian outlook up there & surprised the link to Norway has been cut.
Travelled the Western Isles last year from Lochboisdale to Stornaway but missed most of Lewis because I ran out of time - May just go back?

The Norwegian speed limit isn't a show stopper, but 80kmh?
I think a gentle run up the west coast as far as Trondheim & back through Sweden is the most likely option now.
Shame as I had my heart set on the Lofoten Islands and maybe Tromso BUT no great desire to get to the nordkapp.

I will look into a freight ship or BHT's Sunseeker for a lift though!

 

[bod]

A big obvious guess would be that theres insufficient demand for ferry operaters to run services

, Immingham is a lottery and no 100% guarantee to board, so its DFDS Hawich a means to an end if you want to experience a unique country - thats what I'm hoping for anyway in the summer

This is my point!
Norway should be a Mecca for car touring & biking holidays, but they have scored an own goal by imposing speeding fines of a minimum 600kr, and in the extreme 7800kr

People vote with their feet, hence no ferry service.

 

[Gossy]

This is my point!
Norway should be a Mecca for car touring & biking holidays, but they have scored an own goal by imposing speeding fines of a minimum 600kr, and in the extreme 7800kr

People vote with their feet, hence no ferry service.

The other side of the coin Bod is that as it is less people free the roads up more, I'm going early July anticlockwise round the fjords - hopefully not too busy with camper vans, 50mph if stuck too seems slow but I'm banking on lots to look at and no rush to get anywhere quick, only ferries there and back booked - only time will tell!

 

[bod]

The other side of the coin Bod is that as it is less people free the roads up more, I'm going early July anticlockwise round the fjords - hopefully not too busy with camper vans, 50mph if stuck too seems slow but I'm banking on lots to look at and no rush to get anywhere quick, only ferries there and back booked - only time will tell!

I think you will find the schools break up for summer at the end of June & I'll be back by then!
Also, not far for all those Germans & caravan loving Cloggys to get to Espjerg!

Minor niggles aside, I will respect the ways of another Nation & I am looking forward to a change of scenery.

 

[illustratedman]

I thought that was Denmark!

I'd go up Sweden and back down through Fjord Norway so to speak and unless you're going to the Lofotens there's not much point in going up past the Arctic Circle!

I'm struggling with the same dilemma but having been up to the Nordkapp twice before i'd be more than happy with the Fjords

Life used to be so easy with the Newcastle ferry......As a side note i don't think of Shetland as being Scottish as they're more Scandanavian in their outlook so Shetlands always worth a visit ot two and you might get to see the dancing pony!

Nope direct to norway on the freight ferry. Not a passenger ferry but will carry limited passsengers

 

[ThorH]

Don´t let the speed limits keep you away, it is not as bad as you make it. On the roads you want to be on, the limit is mostly 80, with 50 or 60 in built up areas. 50 is the normal in cities, 30 km/h is only in housing areas and by schools.

Unfortunately our politicians don´t want to spend money on making the roads safe, it is cheaper to just lower the speed limit. Increasingly main roads with heavy traffic sees 70 km/h and no passing. Some with concrete dividers, so that not even we can pass. But you do not want to be on these roads, with all the lorries, caravans and police. More often than not; some planning will keep you off them. (This is where Henry Cole failed.)

I haven´t had a speeding ticket since 1984, and I am almost always 20% over the limit. As long as you do not do stupid and aggressive things, the police will mostly let you get away with 20%. Unless there is a speed trap (radar, laser), then they have no choice. But slow down in the 50/60 zones and look for them, and you will probably be ok.

Welcome, hope you will have a great vacation!

 

[bod]

Don´t let the speed limits keep you away, it is not as bad as you make it. On the roads you want to be on, the limit is mostly 80, with 50 or 60 in built up areas. 50 is the normal in cities, 30 km/h is only in housing areas and by schools.

Unfortunately our politicians don´t want to spend money on making the roads safe, it is cheaper to just lower the speed limit. Increasingly main roads with heavy traffic sees 70 km/h and no passing. Some with concrete dividers, so that not even we can pass. But you do not want to be on these roads, with all the lorries, caravans and police. More often than not; some planning will keep you off them. (This is where Henry Cole failed.)

I haven´t had a speeding ticket since 1984, and I am almost always 20% over the limit. As long as you do not do stupid and aggressive things, the police will mostly let you get away with 20%. Unless there is a speed trap (radar, laser), then they have no choice. But slow down in the 50/60 zones and look for them, and you will probably be ok.

Welcome, hope you will have a great vacation!

Nothing like local knowlege to put things into context!

Many thanks.

 

[Sunny Jim]

Bod - my last visit 3yrs ago if suggestions on deciding a route helps:

Harwich to Esbjerg seeing as the Newcastle Ferry had gone.

North to Hirtshals via the beach roads that run up the west of Denmark.

Hirtshals to Kristiansand for cheap and cheerful overnighter.

Kristiansand to Stavanger to Bergen then over the Hardagervidda Plateau (If you're into WW2 you will naturally come across the hard-water power station the Norwegian Resistance and a few Commandos did the business on and the port where the ferry left laiden with hard water). This has to be a once in a lifetime ride seeing Norway in all its glory!

Down to Oslo and ferry home or south through a rather boring west coast of Sweden until you get deep south and cross the islands - into Germany then back home via Rotterdam/Zeebrugge to Hull

 

[Timolgra]

Bo

North to Hirtshals via the beach roads that run up the west of Denmark.

Possibly the only vaguely interesting road in the whole of Denmark

 

[Farmer Palmer]

Possibly the only vaguely interesting road in the whole of Denmark

Wow, didn't think Denmark was that good!

 

[bod]

Bod - my last visit 3yrs ago if suggestions on deciding a route helps:

Harwich to Esbjerg seeing as the Newcastle Ferry had gone.

North to Hirtshals via the beach roads that run up the west of Denmark.

Hirtshals to Kristiansand for cheap and cheerful overnighter.

Kristiansand to Stavanger to Bergen then over the Hardagervidda Plateau (If you're into WW2 you will naturally come across the hard-water power station the Norwegian Resistance and a few Commandos did the business on and the port where the ferry left laiden with hard water). This has to be a once in a lifetime ride seeing Norway in all its glory!

Down to Oslo and ferry home or south through a rather boring west coast of Sweden until you get deep south and cross the islands - into Germany then back home via Rotterdam/Zeebrugge to Hull

Liking the look of this!

Comfortable trip to do in about a week would you say?

 

[Sunny Jim]

Possibly the only vaguely interesting road in the whole of Denmark

The mountain roads were soooooo boring

Bod - a week would be ample. I'd make a point of riding the crud of Sweden down to south then over the bridge/to Cuxhaven and coast to the port.

 

[LivNorway]

Kristiansand to Stavanger to Bergen then over the Hardagervidda Plateau (If you're into WW2 you will naturally come across the hard-water power station the Norwegian Resistance and a few Commandos did the business on and the port where the ferry left laiden with hard water). This has to be a once in a lifetime ride seeing Norway in all its glory!

I guess you was at this museum? http://vemork.visitvemork.no/
The site are not in English, but I have just e-mailed the museum and asked for information in English. Let's hope it help!

Here are som old pictures from the area:
http://www.digitaltmuseum.no/info/owners/NIA

Webcam from Krossobanen: http://www.krossobanen.no/webcampage.htm

...and a map: C = Krossobanen https://maps.google.no/maps?saddr=r...zyRPnvQcg&oq=krosso&t=p&doflg=ptm&mra=ls&z=13

Liv.

 

[LivNorway]

Rjukan, and the mountain Gaustatoppen.

From here http://www.krossobanen.no/webcampage.htm you can see Gaustatoppen (Gaustatoppen in the menu). Would you like to go up there?
Earlier NATO had some secret things up there, but now all that is removed, so the tourists can go up there, using an elevator. -Or is it a train? It is inside the mountain.
http://gaustabanen.no/
http://www.nasjonalparkrute.no/eng/severdigheter.html
Another webcam in the area: http://www.gaustablikk.no/no/artikler/nyheter/vaermelding-og-webkamera.html
...and a picture here too: https://maps.google.no/maps?saddr=r...oid=7dKxazTIBuUsTKX2kG5pFA&cbp=12,254.51,,0,0

My mum was up there last year; she loved it!
You can walk if you like, up or down, or both - or not. All year!

Liv.