I'm off up to the top in July too on my Serow. The plan is to keep off the main roads and do a fair bit on gravel. The Harwich-Esbjerg ferry is way too expensive so I'm doing Holland and then into DK. Fredrickshavn-Goteborg ferry (only 4 hours) and heading into Norway 100kms east of Oslo. Oh for the days of the Bergen ferry :(

:offtopic:
I guess you plan to enter Norway somewhere around Charlottenberg.
In that area you have "Finnskogen" which is gravel-heaven. If you go north you can follow gravel roads more or less all the way to Røros (which is worth a visit).

Fuel-range might be an issue and you need detailed maps.
If you use a Garmin-GPS the City navigator covers the area pretty good, you can also get topographic maps for Garmin.

I'm using a 1:250,000 scale map and will have my Garmin with me too. It looks as if I'll cross over near Hogsater/Vestmarka.

I've been to Roros before, I met a group of women bikers from Oslo up there in September 2008, they were a great crowd. It was market day and I was shopping for thermals of all things, ha ha.

I usually have a range of 140 miles to reserve and will be carrying another 5 litres. This should give me a range of over 200 miles even off road so hopefully I won't be walking.

Sorry for the thread hijack :oops2:

Hi
Depends on how much time you have. You may want to check out this page (scroll down to "I have X days at my disposal..." and "Where should I go?") for starters. Where in Sweden does your mate live?

The Hirtsals-Kristiansand ferry is very quick and cheap - especially if you book in advance. We're going to take this in September this year when we tour Norway for about a month.
Not done a great amount of research yet, but any advice / recommendations welcome! Cheers,
Jonnie

I would have thought going the long way round from Staffordshire to whatever port in the UK and through Holland , Germany and Denmark and then from Goteborg up into Norway would probably cost as much in petrol, accomodation and time as getting the ferry from Harwich to Esbjerg.

You then have a nice easy run up the coast to Hirtshals for the ferry to Norway.

I would certinly take the Harwich ferry...personally.

Steve

I'd still consider the DFDS Torline option if I were you. I lived in mid Sweden from 2006 until last September and used the DFDS routes for the first two years (Newcastle to Gothenburg then the Newcastle to Norway routes until they closed them all). After they closed them I also did the Newcastle-Amsterdam and Harwich - Esbjerg routes and drove up. The driving is very long, boring and arduous.

My experience of DFDS Torline has been nothing but good. The standard of cabins is IMHO better than their Newcastle passenger ferries. You also get to use the 'driver's mess' (actually a very informal dining area and tv lounge where you can make food over and above the cooked meals provided). The cost is higher than passenger ferries but meals are included. Immingham to Gothenburg then up the west coast into Norway would be a nice route. Factor-in extra fuel and the cost of crossing the two bridges (Oresund and ????) + meals and it might be a closer call than you'd expect, with a much nicer journey.

Anyone know the typical cost for bike and rider for the Immingham-Brevik or Immingham-Gothenburg route?

http://www.dfdstorline.com/DfdsTorLi...assengerFares/

cheers dave

The schedule of fees explains it better. A return trip costs £450 that includes the motorbike, a room and all meals. No drinks though.

Very expensive, you can to get Portugal for £400.