derek pringle Posted January 9, 2011 Share Posted January 9, 2011 Hi , My wife and I are seriously considering a trip to Norway via Rotterdam then through Sweden, Denmark etc. Planning on about 9 or 10 weeks or so. Wonder if anybody out there has any valuable hints for us. Must say, Norway does seem expensive but have been wanting to go for a long time. thanks in anticipation. derek Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnnerontheroad Posted January 9, 2011 Share Posted January 9, 2011 Derek, Have a read of the articles on this site lots of info http://www.magbaztravels.com/content/section/8/30/ Also you may want to get one of these http://www.dacf.dk/sider/index.php?traeid=624 Good luck Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JandP Posted January 9, 2011 Share Posted January 9, 2011 We went 11 years ago to Norway with our motorhome. Ou experience is that you do need to use camp sites; they do not allow wild camping. There are lots of places to park alongside the fjords and, yes, you will need all the time you are planning to use if you are going to enjoy it all. We spent three weeks just in Norway and didn't get very far north as the scenery is so magnificent and we had to keep stopping to take photos! It is very expensive but it's so fantastic, it's worth every penny. It can be quite wet; we went in May/June and had a little rain almost every day but then we had lots of sunshine, too. The people are very friendly and all speak English and we found the camp sites very good, most of them are right on the side of the fjords with splendid views. Hope this is of some use and, although it is many years since we took the motorhome, we have since been on a cruise and have seen lots of motorhomes there. Just avoid July/August as this is Norway's school holidays and it is very crowded with their motorhomes. (lol) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
malc d Posted January 9, 2011 Share Posted January 9, 2011 We went to Nordkapp a few years ago and found plenty of places to wild camp. It is only in the south that wild camping is not encouraged as there are so many motorhomes around, and it is so much more 'inhabited'. I'd say go for as long as you can. Our trip was up through Sweden to the North Cape and then back down the west coast of Norway, with a visit to the Lofoten Island ( recommended). Our trip took two months ( and wasn't long enough). Don't go to the fjord areas in the south before around mid June or you will find a lot of the best roads still blocked with snow and you have to take long diversions. Keep some cash handy as it will be needed for the many ferries ( they didn't take cards when we went). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy_C Posted January 9, 2011 Share Posted January 9, 2011 I've just received this, might be useful for anyone travelling to the Nordic countries: Dear Motor Homes friends, if you are looking for stopovers in Denmark you are at the right place. Take a look at these sites. http://www.stellplatz-danmark.dk Most of the entries for Denmark have small colour pictures of the sites. A key of symbols in English is provided. These symbols are used throughout the guide and they convey the site information. The map shows the locations of the stopovers. The address for each entry has been provided and GPS coordinates are given in following format: N55°39’27.12” E8°29’27’21.2”. If you need more information about stopovers in Denmark and the Nordic countries please visit http://www.dacf.dk/sider/index.php?traeid=624 Andy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spospe Posted January 9, 2011 Share Posted January 9, 2011 We have been to Norway, Sweden, Finland & Denmark a total of 4 times in our Duetto. Noway has a law which translates as "everyman's right" this means that you can stop anywhere where there is not a sign specifically forbidding it and provided that you are at least 50 metre from a boundary fence or property. Norway is about 10-15% more expensive overall than the UK There are many toll bridges, tunnels and sections of road, so be prepared. The best route north is NOT TO USE THE E6 for as much as possible, the most scenic route is to use the coastal ferries, especially the leg that crosses the arctic circle south of Bodo We often wild camped in the south and usually took one of the many roads to a lighthouse and stayed there when near the coast. Do a search of this forum as the subject has been covered many times in the past and also use the MMM 'consultants' as they are a source of much data and help. and here is a photo of the midnight sun from the North Cape to whet your appitite :-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cattwg Posted January 9, 2011 Share Posted January 9, 2011 Hi Derek, We did over 7000 miles on a Scandinavian tour during end May – June – beginning July in 2006. We did it the long way round Dover – Calais through France etc. turn left at Germany [we used stellplatze here] and so into Denmark. We wanted to see Copenhagen. Then across the water to Sweden – north and then west to Oslo and hence to the fjord coast. We followed this, with a few diversions on the way, across the Arctic Circle (stayed overnight in the free car park here, along with several other ‘vans) right up to Nord Kapp. Then south through Finland, seeing Santa Claus, in his village, at the Arctic Circle on the way (stayed overnight in the car park here. It was free when we were there but they were installing hook-ups and generally ‘improving’ the area so there may be a charge now), through Sweden and then retraced our steps to Calais. STELLPLATZE Haltern: Free parking for 5 motorhomes on the parking area at the leisure centre/swimming pool, for up to 2 nights. Flensburg: Free parking for 5 motorhomes (when we were there people had made room for about 10!) in the Industriehafen (industrial port) on the edge of the city center – with views over the water and the shipyards. Kielseng/Am industriehafen. There is more free parking in the dockland between Foerde and the sewage purification plant. No facilities. Its 2 kms to the centre. Open all year. CAMPING IN NORWAY AND SWEDEN Free-camping is generally practised. Just stay on uncultivated land at least 150 meters from the nearest residence for no more than two nights, ask permission if it seems the thing to do. We usually use the adage, if it feels right then OK if it doesn’t then don’t. In the south of Norway we did come across lay-byes with ‘No Overnight Parking’ signs – we simply moved on till we found a suitable spot. Many others (mainly French and Dutch) appeared to be ignoring these signs. We found that it became easier to wild camp the further north we went. We used lay-byes, harbours, ferry terminal car parks etc. Some Norwegian campsites allow you to ‘dump and fill’ for about £5 – they have signs to this effect. As you travel north some of the garages also have ‘dump and fill’ facilities – some free – some a couple of pound. These are usually signed, we e-mailed the Norwegian Tourist Board and obtained a map with them marked plus other useful camping specific information. OSLO AIRE Overnight Parking: there is an aire for motorhomes by the Yacht Harbour, called Sjølyst/Bestumkilen. Very convenient. It includes water and a sani-station. It’s 6 min. from city centre by bike or a bus stop is 50m away. About £12 per night in 2006. The marina is signposted from the E6 and the E18. There is a toll to take your vehicle into Oslo – if you reach one of these booths you have passed the aire. COPENHAGEN We used Camping Absalon – a large site about 4 miles outside of Copenhagen – there’s a train station about a 15 walk away. They took Camping Cheques. STOCKHOLM A lovely city and really worth visiting. We used a temporary aire set up by the Swedish equivalent of the MCC. It was close to a wharf/marina and very convenient for the centre – we cycled there in under 10 minutes. Sorry but I have lost the information as to its exact location. Maybe someone else could help? SOME THOUGHTS Be aware of the speed limits in Norway (there are many cameras in some areas) the fine is 5500 kr = £500 fine!! I am told that they do chase fines!?! Scandinavia IS expensive. For example, the bridge/tunnel between Denmark and Sweden is, I think £18. Nord Kapp is owned (like Land’s End!) and getting into its car park and other facilities cost us £18, yes £18 PER PERSON. But then it’s a once in a lifetime trip…………. The tunnel onto the Nord Kapp island was if memory serves about £8 each way – it goes by ‘van length the line being at 6m. Our van is 5.88. You will have to use ferries throughout Norway and these will severely cut down your average mileage per day. Also, with very few exceptions the maximum speed in Norway is 80kph. You will need cash for most of the ferries. All of the Scandinavians we met spoke excellent English, we friendly and helpful. We contacted Joyce and Gordon Pearce – the MMM Consultants for Scandinavia – Page 108 of the January 2011 magazine - for more useful information. It was a wonderful trip. Watching the sun moving across the sky without setting at 3am is surreal. We missed out the Lofoten Islands so maybe..... Cattwg :-D :-D :-D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
derek pringle Posted January 9, 2011 Author Share Posted January 9, 2011 Thank you all very much for the contributions, I will obtain the info. books you recommend. Of the little bit I have read up to now Norway also seems very restrictive on what you can take in to the country, even considering you may be there a while. Any experiences of customs etc? we do want to be sensible. cheers derek Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
malc d Posted January 9, 2011 Share Posted January 9, 2011 Filling up in Norway. I would suggest that you maintain at least half a tank of fuel and if you go up north make sure you fill up early in the day as some of the more remote filling stations, sometimes alongside shops, close early. Never had a problem obtaining fuel but filling stations can be some distance apart. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roamer Posted January 10, 2011 Share Posted January 10, 2011 Hi Been on 6 week tour twice, never had any trouble entering Norway from Sweden/Finland although were stopped once by a nice young lady carrying out a survey about our views on Finland (thought we might have to ditch half our food). One tip if you intend using campsites, take at least 50M of hookup cable as sockets are usually in a central point not near to the pitch. I have had to relocate even with this length and don't forget a french style two pin plug adaptor. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robinhood Posted January 10, 2011 Share Posted January 10, 2011 For Norway, you might find www.camping.no useful, not least because it has POI downloads, and the campsites book as a PDF.You might also find http://www.visitnorway.com/uk useful for travel planning, as you can follow links to Ferry timetables, prices etc.Whilst individual Ferry prices in Norway are somewhat more palatable than, say, cross channel, the price rises quite steeply above 6m, and it is worthwhile doing some route planning, both for route planning and budget purposes.The last visit we took to Norway (whilst the Newcastle to Bergen ferry was still running) we didn't see a single figure of authority from being waved off the car deck to arriving on the streets of Bergen (so we could have imported more wine than we did ;-) ) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clive Posted January 10, 2011 Share Posted January 10, 2011 If you get peculiar warnings on your vans electrics about reverse polarity hookups do not be alarmed. They have three different mains distribution methods. Just take advice from the site komamdant. C. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
derek pringle Posted January 14, 2011 Author Share Posted January 14, 2011 Hi, Thanks again for all your help, we have booked from Hull to Rotterdam so taking the plunge. Special thanks to cattwg for taking what seems a lot of time and trouble fornus. cheers everybody derek and lyn Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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