Berties Norway adventure June 2025

[Curlynot]

Another possible option that we did in 2022 is overnight ferry from Harwich to Hook of Holland, relatively easy drive next day through Holland to Eemshaven, then over night ferry to Kristiansand?

Very roughly 300 miles driving from home to Kristiansand and plenty of rest!

Enjoy the trip its an amazing country, super expensive but you get what you pay for and you can drive on the majority of roads with 20" wheels and totally knackered suspension and it will still feel like you're riding a magic carpet!! The shock of getting back on to the British roads when we got home is still a vivid memory!!

 

[Green Giant]

Looking like a great trip you have ahead,
We went last year, loved it,
One part of the trip that wasn’t fun and stressful was the German Autobahn on our journey home to catch the ferry in Holland, they are doing a lot of roadworks and added about 3 hours very slow traffic and diversions, I would imagine it’s still ongoing as it’s a huge road project, so plan for this, you know you cut it fine when you turn up at the ferry terminal and it’s empty, everyone is already on the ferry..
On another note there has been talk of a new ferry direct to Norway for a few years, it was going to be electic powered at one point, it’s all gone a bit quiet now,

 

[chimpusmaximus]

Yeah that’s cool then. (And thanks for taking the feedback constructively! Good man.)
I *absolutely* think you can make this work with 10 good days in Norway and keeping on the move… we never stayed more than 1 night anywhere either.

I do think removing Trondheim and Atlantic Road will help since I think they are the straw that will break the camel’s (or yours and your wife’s) backs! Especially with the Trollstigen issue.
Get yourself up from Oslo quickly to approx Åndalnes and then loop back somehow south and that will work

The issue is getting back down so Geiranger so given Trollstigen closed, perhaps turn L at Otta and head more directly for Geiranger - possibly stopping somewhere on the way? (Assumes that the route is open by then after winter - should be by June I think!).
Haven’t done it myself by that would be stunning via Djupvatnet (https://maps.app.goo.gl/BfmUprRQeyJ5N2bm8?g_st=com.google.maps.preview.copy) and you will get some Trollstigen like amazing Norwegian Road and scenery.
Instant Norway stunningness
Even if your planned route then reverses the last bit?
Were you planning on just a passenger Geiranger boat trip? Or using the boat to get to Hellesylt with the van (kills 2 birds!)?

Sorry did not see this reply yesterday. Will do some replanning this evening. I think the last section of the joinery was trying to fit everything in and avoiding Trondhiem will ease that.

 

[AeonMach]

Another possible option that we did in 2022 is overnight ferry from Harwich to Hook of Holland, relatively easy drive next day through Holland to Eemshaven, then over night ferry to Kristiansand?

Very roughly 300 miles driving from home to Kristiansand and plenty of rest!

Enjoy the trip its an amazing country, super expensive but you get what you pay for and you can drive on the majority of roads with 20" wheels and totally knackered suspension and it will still feel like you're riding a magic carpet!! The shock of getting back on to the British roads when we got home is still a vivid memory!!

The Eemshaven (Groningen) - Kristiansand ferry went bankrupt and ceased it seems so that’s no longer an option.

There are plans for another from there to Arendal from 2027(?):

New Ferry from the Netherlands to Norway: Eemshaven to Arendal

Good news for travelers to Norway: in 2027, the new ferry service from Eemshaven to Arendal (Eydehavn) with Njordic Ferry Lines will launch.

ferrygogo.co.uk

…but we will have to wait and see whether - as for the UK one to Stavanger and Bergen planned for 2025 - it actually takes off!!

 

[Curlynot]

The Eemshaven (Groningen) - Kristiansand ferry went bankrupt and ceased it seems so that’s no longer an option.

There are plans for another from there to Arendal from 2027(?):

New Ferry from the Netherlands to Norway: Eemshaven to Arendal

Good news for travelers to Norway: in 2027, the new ferry service from Eemshaven to Arendal (Eydehavn) with Njordic Ferry Lines will launch.

ferrygogo.co.uk

…but we will have to wait and see whether - as for the UK one to Stavanger and Bergen planned for 2025 - it actually takes off!!

Oh drat!! My advice is no use then so please ignore. That's a pity as I don't think it had been operating for long when we went on it in 2022, it was quite a pricey crossing but saved a lot of driving miles.

 

[CAB]

Following this as quite fancy doing it. Your plan looks amazing!

In Scotland so the drive down to Kent and then back up is painfull. Looked at Newcastle & Hull ferries and the prices are eye watering. Newcastle - Amsterdam rtn is £1800. There is discussion that the Newcastle - Norway ferry route may be opened by a Norwegian company next year.

Harwich has been mentioned above, have you looked at Hull?

 

[Velosaurus]

Harwich has been mentioned above, have you looked at Hull?

Yes Hull came up at about £750 rtn?

 

[Ricardo T]

Harwich is a great departure point being one the smaller ports....very easy although the sailing times are more limited.

 

[Sirrell85]

Thought I might share my trip planned for June 25 to Norway.

One of the reasons we got a campervan last year was we had always wanted to travel more and Norway has been in the bucket list. So planning started and it soon became clear sadly that we would struggle to get up to the Artic Circle within the timespan available due to my wife's work and holiday restrictions. She has a clear 2 weeks max and after releasing the time taken to even get to Norway and the distances involved the trip would be more driving than holiday. Managed to claw back some time by me going earlier and my wife fly out and meet me.

Thursday 5th June - Pubstop near Leshuttle
Friday 6th June - Head over Bremen
Saturday 7th June - Head to Hirtshals
Sunday 8th June - Ferry to Kristiansand
Monday 9th June - Pick wife up from TORP Sanderfjord Airport
Tuesday 10th June - Head into OSLO
Wednesday 11th June - Head up into national parks on way up to Trondheim
Thursday 12th June - Trondheim area
Friday 13th June - Head over to West coast
Saturday 14th June - Atlantic Roadway
Sunday 15th June - Head towards Trollstigen
Monday 16th June - Geirangerfjord boat trip
Tuesday 17th June - Head inland for scenic routes
Wednesday 18th June - Viking Village and Bergen
Thursday 19th June - Head towards Bukkoy viking farm
Friday 20th June - Head south
Saturday 21st June - Ferry back to Hirtshals
Sunday 22nd June - Stop in Netherlands
Monday 23rd June - Tunnel and home.

I used Wanderlog to plan out the trip and have to admit I found it pretty good to allow me to build up an inter and work out how many miles I was doing in a day etc. It allows you to share the trip as well. Norway Trip


View attachment 279525

 

[Green Giant]

Harwich has been mentioned above, have you looked at Hull?

We used the Newcastle crossing last September, it was £500 return for the van and two people, this year was around £1000 for same crossing in June, so we have booked a crossing from Harwich return in June £210, it’s a daytime crossing so no cabin, it was cheaper than Euro tunnel when I booked, we are heading up to top of Denmark

 

[Velosaurus]

We used the Newcastle crossing last September, it was £500 return for the van and two people, this year was around £1000 for same crossing in June, so we have booked a crossing from Harwich return in June £210, it’s a daytime crossing so no cabin, it was cheaper than Euro tunnel when I booked, we are heading up to top of Denmark

Oh thats way cheaper than the quotes I got for both. Will have a look again, thanks!

 

[Rayza]

Another possible option that we did in 2022 is overnight ferry from Harwich to Hook of Holland, relatively easy drive next day through Holland to Eemshaven, then over night ferry to Kristiansand?

Very roughly 300 miles driving from home to Kristiansand and plenty of rest!

Enjoy the trip its an amazing country, super expensive but you get what you pay for and you can drive on the majority of roads with 20" wheels and totally knackered suspension and it will still feel like you're riding a magic carpet!! The shock of getting back on to the British roads when we got home is still a vivid memory!!

I have travelled through Finland in winter and summer many times, and when a pothole is seen it becomes a talking point for not very talkative Finns!