Afternoon all,

I'm planning a trip from southern England to Norway this summer and I'm looking at ways to get there. There doesn't seem to be a ferry across there from the UK anymore and the only option seems to be across to Netherlands > Germany > Denmark > Sweden > Norway.

Normally that would be all good but I'm limited on time and Norway isn't the shortest country in the world so does anyone know of any other routes that could be a quicker option to get there and back.

Thanks
Rem

Harwich-Denmark-Norway. DFDS from harwich, colorline from hirtshals. Immingham dfdstorline (freight ferry, will take passengers but booking can be changed by the ferry operator if they want to, not the best for planning) to Norway. Harwich to Denmark then ride across the bridge to Sweden and up to Norway, i've not done this route but work with a danish girl who tell's me it's quite a pleasant drive up. Good luck with your planning.

I rode the long route using the Dover-Calais ferry then through Belgium, Holland and Germany to get the Puttgarden-Rodbyhavn ferry and over the malmo bridge into Sweden. From England to Sweden using this route took me 3 days. Left home got the lunchtime ferry, camped the first night in Holland and the second night in Germany before getting the ferry and riding over the bridge on the third day.

If you look at the other option using the Harwich-Esbjerg ferry you leave home and get the ferry around 1800 (I think) and arrive in Esbjerg around 1300 the next day. If you then drove to Sweden over the bridge you would arrive there about 24 hours earlier. I priced that ferry last week and with a cabin both ways it was over £400! It only saves you 2 days on the whole trip and by using the channel crossing you save £360!!

As getting the ferry to Bergen is no longer an option, which saved a lot of time, either option is open to you. Do you need the 2 days or the £300?

You can ride all the way up through Denmark and get a ferry to Oslo or the short hop to Goteburg but riding the E6 up the west coast of Sweden is no hardship.

I hope you get to make the trip as Scandinavia is a wonderful place to be. Your efforts will be rewarded ten fold. Clean air, clean people and views available in CinemaScope!!

Ilustrated man has already indicated the best route now.
Overnight ferry Harwich to Esbjerg (west coast Denmark) DFDS
Then it's a 2.5 hour drive to Hirtshals (northern tip of Denmark)
Ferry Hirtshals to Larvik, Sea Speed 1, Color line high speed ferry.
Or you can go Hirtshals to Kristiansand, (southern tip of Norway) Sea Speed 2, high speed ferry.

Both the same price.

Larvik is 2 hours from Oslo.
If your going to tour, I would suggest the Kristiansand crossing, then as you know, it is all E39, west coast fjords all the way up north. Stavanger, carry on north on the E13, or the real coast road, really beautiful, but time consuming.
Stunning scenery, but will take forever.
Larvik, is more easier to jump onto the E18, through Drammen, then hit Oslo, and up the E18 to Trondeheim, or as far as Tromso, take your pick.
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Here to lust your appetite.
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http://www.dfdstorline.com/DfdsTorLi...ionUnpublished
Greetings
/ Randa / Denmark

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Hello Pranda,

Unfortunatly this has been talked about on the HUBB for a while now.

Just one of the many threads.

http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hubb/europe/dfds-37790

Essentially for truckers.
You can get 'bumped' off at the last minute.
Not what you want to start your Scandinavian holiday with.

Cheers to everyone for your input. Even by the fastest route I reckon I'll be sticking to southern norway with my timeframe so its looking like a case of enjoy the journey as much as the destination but no hardship there...

From the looks of those pics its definitely got to be done...!!!

cheers
Rem

I envy you exploring the Fjords for the first time. You will be stopping every 100 yards to take photo's. If you find yourself heading north on the 63 to Geiranger look out for the toll road to Dalsnibba. This is a dirt road up to a viewpoint where you can see down into Geiranger. The carpark will be full of coaches but the view is stunning. The Hardanger Plateau is beautiful too. I hope you get good weather but it will rain sometime, it's just the nature of those high mountains.

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Hardanger Plateau, isn't that a glacier (sp)


That must be an awsome view.

No, it's a mountain plateau. It has a glacier in it though, the "Hardangerjøkulen". They shot the winter scenes for Star Wars V "The Empire Strikes Back" there. Most the Hardanger Plateau is a National Park.

Hardangervidda - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

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HansP
All you wanted to know
about riding in Norway

Hello Hans,

Thanks for that, I knew there was a glacier there some where !

I must try to get the train up to Finse.
I have heard it is very beautiful up there.
Perhaps train there on a Saturday morning, overnight in the hotel by the station, then back to Oslo Sunday afternoon.