Norway - Finland
 

Hi all,

I'm thinking about doing a trip from the UK, through Norway, down through Finland and then back to the UK through northern Europe. Not sure whether I'd be doing it on 2 wheels or in some clapped out car. Is it possible to do this in a bog stock 2WD? Any tips?

Thanks.

You could do that trip in a Ford Fiesta if you wanted. The nordic countries have a pretty well developed road network, even in the north ;) The only "issue" might be bumps due to frost heave but it's nothing any car can't manage. Depending on where you enter, I recommend the Sognefjord area on the way up. It's really beautiful and very fun, twisty roads, even the E-roads. The issue in Norway is likely to be the death defying Norwegian drivers that regularly drive 20-30 km/h above the speed limit.

do it on two wheels, you won't regret, especially for the norwegian part :)
roads are well mantained as ohlala said, so no problem, except maybe for some in Poland

Norway is the best riding country in the world bar NONE.

Excellent road surface, brilliant twisty sections for mile after mile, courteous drivers and the MOST mind bogglingly beautiful scenery you could ever imagine.

Hear Hear!
 

My run up to the 'Circle' was amazing, even when the tunnels were blocked taking the detour over the tops has to be some of the most dramatic scenery I've seen!
Two wheels definatley... I did it on an XT and even plodding with that was a great ride. A car will be a chore but a bike will be a thrill!

Im from norway and I took a trip last sunday. This is coming down the mountain close to Odda on the coast.
http://a.imageshack.us/img836/6206/image209.th.jpg

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This is between Odda and Eidfjord:
http://a.imageshack.us/img339/690/image210jb.th.jpg

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It gets even more twisty then this, its an incredible ride, i return there once a year.
http://a.imageshack.us/img717/6237/image217i.th.jpg

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Really? In Norway if you're caught at 20-30k's over the limit they take your driving licence away and throw you in prison. In fact the fines for doing 5 k's over the limit are huge, so in my experience everyone sticks to the limits.

Norway is a beautiful country, especially around the fjords with stunning views everywhere. The weather can be a bit dodgy there but even so it's a great destination. The only problem is that now the Bergen ferry doesn't run it's a pain to get to. I just got back from 3 weeks in Sweden and Norway and the trip from Holland to Denmark is just a motorway dash with lots of roadworks. Even then your miles from Norway. So 2 weeks is not enough time these days, which is a shame. Petrol is about the same as the UK, 11.5 NOK (£1.25), camping is around 150 NOK (£16), although I found some for 80 NOK (£8.70)on the E6. Cabins are 350-400 NOK (£38-£44). If you get your food and beer in the supermarkets it's not too bad either. It's the poor exchange rate at the moment that's making Norway expensive but it's still worth the trip.

Since DFDS have taken over Norfolk line, they have too many ferries running to Holland/Belgium and Northern France and at the end of this year are to re schedule the routes that they are currently running. I did ask if they would be running a route from Newcastle to Norway/ Denmark / Sweden or Hamburg and was told no routes have been decided on at present ( I think these companies must work to long schedules so they probably know already) and customer demand both Commercial and Passenger were part of the review of routes. Time for everyone on both sides of the pond to start contacting them suggesting that they re-open routes UK/Scandinavia. It certainly can't harm. It must be hellish for the big lorries to drive the routes overland from Holland to Norway/Sweden instead of direct by sea.

This is exactly the trip I want to do in 2011.

I plan to go via the tunnel and drive up through Germany into Denmark because I have friends there. From there over the bridge to Sweden and crossing over into Norway to go up the coastal side. Somewhere near the top I'd like to cross over to Finland and back down that side. Quite a trip. I plan for 2 months to make it a more relaxing journey.

Last time I was at the top of Norway it was thick snow, freezing temperatures, and I was behind a dog sled for a week! Be nice to see what it looks like without the snow, and with some horsepower rather than dog power....

I was there last month,
I loved every minute of it, I wouldn't do it in a car though. You use lots of Fjord ferries and tolls allthough some of the bridges and tunnels are free for bikes if you were in a car it could be expensive.
As for speeding the locals do fly around but thats because they know where the police hide with the speedguns and they have speed disrupters so give a negative reading when flashed. You soon get used to the sedate pace and for most stretches it's more than fast enough.
Tips for the journey; all over Norway you will see roadsigns with the four loopshttp://img2.photographersdirect.com/.../pd2050513.jpg
these are high interest tourist markers, some are not that interesting but most are worth a venture off the normal road to visit them. The Dalsnibba is a toll road to the tip of a mountain overlooking the Gairanger fjord, a shale serpentine track that is a must (not my photo).
Stop off in supermarkets, most have free coffee for shoppers and a hot deli counter that’s way cheaper than anywhere else.
Right to roam and camp, there are no trespassing laws in Norway, you may roam and camp where you like as long as you stay more than 150meters away from houses and don’t make fires, off road driving is not allowed though.
I managed to find B&B for 200NK about £20, if your brave go there it’s so rustic it was beautiful, that was on the Lafoten islands. I also used a cabin which are all over the country and great to dry off, I paid 180NK for the night, apart from that I camped rough bar one night on a site for 80NK.
If you have the time you can find the bargins.
There are loads of fuel stations but most are unmanned you will need a credit card and a PIN
I would go again tomorrow but probably only as far as Lafoten
More photos here

http://picasaweb.google.de/SnaphappyXL/Norway201002?authkey=Gv1sRgCJm79r2Xl5uZtgE#

I'm halfway between Calais and Hirtshals if you need a place to stop over

Also, check out the advices for budget travel in Norway :-)

Budget travel in Norway - Minutes of a Motorcycle Addict

Great site, thank you ....

I hope to make it north next year....

Cheers
Matt

Arctic for cancer
 

Planning and preping for a run to Norway. I will take in 16 countries and have allowed 6 weeks should be time enough. Cant wait to get going, but lots to do. I have heard mixed reports about speed fines in Norway in particular, but I dont intend to hurry. Check out this web. Solo Bike Tour for Cancer with Julians Restaurant, Hoylake :freezing:

Sticking to speed limit has another advantage, you use less fuel. As this is expensive and can be a little too far apart in the far north (2 litre can useful, mortgage sized tank on your GS not required type distances) this isn't a bad thing.

Not sure about taking a Ford Fiesta. While this will get you to the North Cape on the main North-South Roads and back through Finland to the Autobahn, the East-West Roads can be gravel. Miles and miles of beautiful gravel :mchappy:.

Andy