Scandanavia

[Louey]

I've been thinking about a trip to Norway, Sweeden and Finland in the next couple of years with a mate of mine (and both our families) - we did consider Iceland but the ferry from Scotland to the Faeroe Isles has stopped.

Any tips or worthwhile places to go??

[Kernbunker]

I've been thinking about a trip to Norway, Sweeden and Finland in the next couple of years with a mate of mine (and both our families) - we did consider Iceland but the ferry from Scotland to the Faeroe Isles has stopped.

Any tips or worthwhile places to go??

There's a ferry from Denmark to Iceland, which is quite reasonable, of course you've got to get to Denmark tho!

I've just done the whole lengths of Sweden, Denmark and Norway (plus an hour or two in Finland). They are big places with much to see and do in all of them. The landscape is more spectacular in Norway. The lakes beautiful in Sweden (bit cold to swim now though)
How long are you going for and what do you want?

I saw, glaciers, caves, forests, lakes, mountains, fishing villages, moose, reindeer, Sami, snow in August, lots of mossies (should be gone now) and midnight sun - which was really wonderful. The more north you go, the better it gets in my opinion. The roads are empty, the camping free (in Sweden they even leave wood beside the road so you can make a fire), the landscape breathtaking. Start saving up for petrol prices tho!

I have plenty of suggestions, but got to go for now...

[Kernbunker]

The Lofoten islands (Norway) are really beautiful, great for walking. Both Norway and Sweden are full of impressive national parks/nature reserves. Jotenheimen, in southern Norway is perhaps one of the most spectacular, with glaciers, 2400m mountains and stomach twisting hairpins on the approach roads! The tourist offices are great for info (even for questions about the whereabouts of engine parts stores!)

Small towns in the North are fascinating, a bit Twin Peaksish. My favourites were: Jokkmok - Sweden, Ostersund -Sweden, Kautokeino - Norway, Alta - Norway. Tromso in Norway is very swanky, despite its arctic location. All the lakes in Sweden are great, but the sea-sidey towns, plus the clarity of water around Vattern makes it hard to miss. Stockholm is very, very beautiful and has a stellplatz on one of the central islands - not very pretty, but making the old town walkable.

Much would depend on the weather, we were very lucky up North. But every Norwegian we met on route up North, would wince and say 'I hope it's not raining'. Nordkapp's midnight sun could be dampened by inclement weather I guess, for us it was magical. It made me change the route home, the original plan was to go back via Finland/Baltic states.

The beaches in Norway, Sweden and Denmark are empty. We had tempuratures up to 25 degrees inside the arctic circle, I swam in the Arctic Ocean 3 times! But as I said we were lucky (it could have been just 6 degrees!) However, the beaches in southern Sweden or Denmark regularly clock up temperatures of up to 30 degrees.

I have to go back in winter, maybe not in the van though! The van might do Finland or Iceland next year!

E D I T: Take mosquito repellent and nets! We had ones that sat over our heads, without these we could never have picked all the blueberries that we ate for breakfast every morning.

[Louey]

Thanks for all of that info - I never associated Scandinavia with warm weather and beaches

Have you, or anyone else got any links to websites about campsites and wild camping. I'm being a bit lazy for once - I eat, drink, live, sleep and poo ICT but I have lesson plans to complete due to inspectors coming in next week.

Also, what ferries can you get from the UK?

[Mick & Tracey]

We've been several times to Scandinavia, though haven't taken the van there yet, but we will soon.

I second everything Kernbunker says - it's a truly magical place. Absolutely stunning scenery, warm in summer, totally different in winter but absolutely brilliant -40' on a skiddoo has to be experienced, friendly people, English widely spoken

You an wild camp in many places - it fact most areas have trails with wilderness shelters.

Our best budget trip was to get a railpass for about three weeks, staying in hostels, bunkhouses & wild camping

Stockholm is a great weekend break. If you fancy something of a once in a lifetime experience, try the ice hotel in Sweden (jugasarflai or something like that - google it

Get a lonely planet or Rough Guide to help you plan - it's well worth it.

[treacle]

I've been thinking about a trip to Norway, Sweeden and Finland in the next couple of years with a mate of mine (and both our families) - we did consider Iceland but the ferry from Scotland to the Faeroe Isles has stopped.

Any tips or worthwhile places to go??

been to iceland and norway many times (ex seaman) start saveing now its very expensive

[campervanman]

Been to Norway three times in watercooled 1.9 petrol Bilbo pop top.
Lofotens are ace, try and go whale watching from Andenes (north part of the Lofoten Islands) with Whalesafari. Magic! Well worth the dosh.
We used to go across from Newcastle to Bergen with Fjord Line but ferries no longer run to Norway from Newcastle so its Harwich to Denmark to Norway or drive up through Denmark so we haven't been for some years. Have gone to Aosta valley in Northern Italy in previous years and to Solvenia this year instead!

[taigagreen]

Hi.

If you are planning a trip to Norway/Scandinavia: contact me I can give you some camping tips, route tips and such.

I'm located a few km's south of the arctic circle.

email: tage.vedal@gmail.com

A few pics from Helgeland, the area south of the arctic circle.