Norway Questions

peejay

Calling all you Norway experts again....

Found out today that although the Caravan Club don't do bookings for DFDS ferries you can still get a 10% CC discount when you book online via the DFDS website, there is a discount code available when you log in as a member so i'm pleased about that Very Happy

Trev (teemyob) gave me some info in an effort to get me a discount via other sources but that didn't work out but thanks anyway Trev Very Happy

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Anyway, onto the main question(s)..

The outbound journey from Newcatle gives you a choice of getting off at either Stavanger (1500hrs), Haugesund (1800hrs) or Bergen (2300hrs), same charge for all 3. We've decided to return Bergen to Newcastle but where to get off on the outbound ferry?

We're torn between getting off at Bergen and going straight for the fjords to the north but that would make it a very long crossing and a very late arrival at Bergen or.....
We could get off at either Stavanger or Haugesund but I would like to know if there is much to see in these regions and whether it would be worthwhile as it would then involve a fair journey with quite a few tolls and domestic ferries to get up to the fjords above Bergen. We have just under 3 weeks before the return ferry from Bergen.....

Any ideas, advice or views would be appreciated..

pete

Boff

Hi Pete,

why not start with the fjords between Stavanger and Bergen. As there is the spectacular Lysefjord with the two highlights

sallytrafic · Campsite DB Admin

When are you going (is it June/July?) if so it won't get really dark till midnight so that extends your options. You need to build in flexibility to take care of the likelyhood of at least a couple of days of rain (It rains in Bergen over 200 days a year!)

Given your end point of Bergen and three weeks I would head for Eidfjord as your most south easterly point, work north and west (perhaps as far as Molde) before going south again.

I along with the 1000's who have done a fjord cruise or have visited, are besotted with Eidfjord. Now that is about 200km (say 3 hours driving from Haugesund) with a 5€ toll. I would recommend that you don't go the whole way the first night although it is possible. You could break near Odda Which gives you the option of a glacier visit Folgefonna.

The same journey to Eidfjord from Bergen is 150km but there is a short ferry crossing (which I seem to remember is one of the more expensive ones). So you would have to break your journey to get there. Ferries don't run through the night AFAIK.

If you got off at Stavanger you could beat DFDS to Haugesund and get to the E134 near Haugesund before them. But it would cost two tolls and a ferry fare and you might be delayed.

(Personally I would do as I did last time get off at Stavanger and find another cross country route but that isn't a recommendation but landing at 3pm gives you a lot to play with).

Indeed sitting here in the dark at 5pm its difficult to imagine that getting off at Haugesund at 6pm will seem like early afternoon once you have acclimatised. Some days in Norway we didn't even start looking for a wild camp before 10pm

Hope this helps I'll find some Eidfjord photos from our cruise and scan them in later.

sallytrafic · Campsite DB Admin

I got so engrossed with my map that I took a long time to write the above and missed Boffs entry. Yes Lysefjord is brilliant - but you have read my blog covering it already haven't you?

sallytrafic · Campsite DB Admin

Eidfjord

Some photos on MHF

peejay

Thanks Gerhard/Frank.

I've taken into consideration all your tips and advice and I've booked the ferry this morning.

Newcastle > Haugesund.

Bergen > Newcastle.

We'll probably follow the route up to Eidfjord as you have suggested Frank, then take it as it comes from there.

I got a 10% discount with the Caravan Club so with the money saved I've treated Judy to a commodore cabin on the return trip, that should get me some smartie points Wink

Even then those prices don't half make you cry though when you're used to Dover/Calais tarifs Shocked

I'm now looking for a good road map and was considering the Veiatlas Norge, it seems expensive but it shows all the motorhome service points, so I'm thinking it justifies the fairly high price. Does anyone have this map and care to comment or know of any other maps?

Thanks in anticipation as always ......

pete

sallytrafic · Campsite DB Admin

What scale is that Pete?

I used 1:250 000 for the Fjord area a Freytag and Berndt Atlas Cost £22 and covers all of Scandiavia but about half of it at 1:400 000 . Didn't have the service points in though.

For planning though I got a free one at 1: 1 000 000 from the brochure section of visitnorway

peejay