Has anyone driven up to Nordkapp, right up the top of Norway? i want to do this trip this summer but i'm rubbish at organising things so is there anything to be aware of before i set out?
i want to drive via the channel tunnel, Denmark, Sweden route, and i'm allowing 4 weeks for the trip (more of a road trip than a holiday)
is there any toll roads/bridges, tunnels i might come across and is wild camping acceptable or frowned upon? i like to stay at campsites when i find them but also like to wild camp when i find nice views
------------- will everybody please stop getting shot
Don't forget to leave a review of the French and other European campsites you have visited!
Hi there, quite a bit of info in those threads, but just ask if you need any more.
We drove to Nordkapp in 2007, it is do-able in 4 weeks, but as you say, it will be a lot of driving in a short time.
Is it a motorhome you have? You will have no problem wild camping, lots of motorhomers do it. There are MH service points in several places, or campsites will let you empty/fill for a small fee.
No tolls in Sweden, bridge from Denmark is at least kr1000 or so return, you will find it on the Net. Also a toll bridge on the way across Denmark.
Lots of tolls in Norway if you want to return that way,and quite a hefty one to get onto the Cape itself, but you can stay there for (I think) 48 hours for that, though there are no MH facilities, only toilets in the visitor centre. There were loads of MHs parked out there.
thanks for the reply, i read through the other threads couldn't find any info on tolls so thanks for that info.
yes i have a camper van (pics now on my profile) it handled realy well. 2009 we done the full lenghth of the UK, Lands End to Unst in Shetland and we never touched a motorway (5 months in total) a great driving van (auto, cruise control)
------------- will everybody please stop getting shot
You would enjoy driving south down the coast of Norway, some tolls, but also lots of ferries. Pricing on the ferries is not too bad, you can get some info if you google "kystriksveien". Norwegian tourist board is good too, and they have info in english on campsites etc, also free maps, you can request stuff on-line.
If you don't have time to do the whole coast you could come as far as Trondheim then go inland, but western Norway (Bergen area) is really pretty. Can you not extend your trip?!
At Nordkapp, if you like a good walk, you can walk out to the real northernmost point, it is signed off to the left of the road, plenty of parking too. I think you can also stop there and walk out to the cape, saves a little on the toll, but then there are no toilets or anything nearby.
We drove north in Sweden and then Finland (Rovaniemi is a good stopover) and went right to the north east edge of Norway, to the Russian border, Grense Jakobselv, and Kirkenes, then west to Nordkapp....as you are going so far you might as well see as much as possible.
When do you plan to go? For the midnight sun late June is good, but it can be seen in July too. It can be very cold and windy, so take some warm clothes. It was only 5 degrees when we were there in July.
jennifer = after i've had my camper 3yrs i'm gonna be selling it and buying a caravan so while i have the camper van (and its excellent for touring) i'm travelling round all the hard to get to places and finding places to go back to when i've got a caravan.
i've seen the west coast of norway on "Coast" and it looks amazing but driving over the artic circle and as far north as as i can is the sort of adventure i like and yes i think i will drive up to the russian border that sounds pretty cool, something else to bore the grandkids when im old and decrepid lol
since 2007 ive travelled during the summer and worked over the winter but got to bump up my savings so i have to work the next 2 - 3 yrs which means i got limited holiday, but its lucky my boss is a caravaner so he's being generous by letting me have 4 weeks in one hit. I'm gonna try and go in June to see the midnight sun.
when i get my caravan i'd probably get a ferry to Bergen and tour round from there, but this is a "seen it, done it, bought the t-shirt" trip so i'm just gonna wing it as much as possible but realy wanted some basic advise on tolls. wild camping and whats fowned upon by the locals if you know what i mean?
So thanks for your advice and the other threads have been helpfull and if anyone thinks of anything else that could be of help let me know please.... or perhapse ive given someone else that nudge to go and do it.... you only live once so make the most of it, i am!!
------------- will everybody please stop getting shot
ok not to worried about the ferry to bergen as thats a few years off, but thanks alot for the info you have given me i'll post how things went.
while scanning a few websites i came across how many tolls are on the roads on the west coast of norway!!! i think i may be travelling back down through sweden its something i need to look up, what route to take? so if anyone has any sugestions i'll look into them as i have a few months to sort it all out
------------- will everybody please stop getting shot
Don't forget to leave a review of the French and other European campsites you have visited!
UPDATE!!! Nordkapp 5th June 2010 to 25th June 2010
Got the ferry from Harwich to the Hook of Holland, drove through Holland, Germany, Denmark, Sweden, Finland and Norway and made it to Nordkapp on the 12th June.
See the midnight sun then drove through to Kotola to visit the Russian border drove back via Finland, Sweden, Denmark, Germany, Holland, Belguim, to Calais and back home to sunny Essex.
I diddn't see any other british vans, cars or bikes in Sweden, Norway or Finland. The trip was great and for someone who has never driven abroad it was a bit of a quick learning curve as i done a total of 4'990 miles and the only thing i planned was the ferry to Holland.
The van was a dream to drive auto with cruise control was a wise choice when i got my van & the only electric hook-up i had was at Adenkirke, Belguim (it was in the price of the campsite). If anyone is thinking of doing it i'd highly recomend it but i knew it was going to be cold at Nordkapp but it was F****ING FREEZING lol
Thanks to all who gave me advise it was much appreciated.
------------- will everybody please stop getting shot
the only way i could afford the van was to sell my house and that was the best thing i've ever done, no more bills or mortgages and the freedom to jack my job in when i want and hit the road, lifes too short for waiting for retirement... too much to do, too little time lol
Going to do Austria, Switzerland Germany & Denmark next year
And possibly Iceland 2012 (if it don't blow up) lol
The vans has the 2.5 engine, has a built in LPG tank for the Fridge, cooking and heating, i got 3x 120amp batteries (had the 3rd fitted when i had the solar panals installed) & 3x 80watt solar panals, the rest is standard. going to get an auto sat dish next year but need to save some pennys 1st.
Even at 30mpg (fully loaded, inc water tanks) the fuel bills are the main cost of my trips nowdays,so thinking about getting a couple of electric bikes for me and the missus so we can park the van up on site for a week and can still get into towns and parking ain't a problem then either. Every trip i do i learn something new each time... like find out where you can fill up with LPG (as i nearly ran out in Sweden) lucky the bloke had the adaptor for my van so thats something i have to get is the 2x euro LPG adaptors.
i took loads of pics but can only upload 3 at a time on here!!
------------- will everybody please stop getting shot
Amazing family weekend with old steam engines, classic car displays, market stalls, and full catering and bar. And camping on site - Save £25 by booking in advance.
Topic: Sweden & Norway
