Norway and Sweden - any advice, sites, where to go

SurreySimon
SurreySimon Forum Participant Posts: 18

We are planning a trip to Scandinavia next May/June With our car and caravan. We got as far as Denmark last year and loved it. Having seen the bridge from Copenhagen to Malmo this would be our starting point. Any advice would be much appreciated.

Comments

  • freddie
    freddie Forum Participant Posts: 25
    edited October 2016 #2

    Google magbaztravels you will find more than enough info to keep you busy on Norway/ Sweden. Their current travel log is about Sweden.

  • EJB986
    EJB986 Forum Participant Posts: 1,153
    1000 Comments
    edited November 2016 #3

    What kind of advice do you want?

    As already hinted Google 'Norway blogs' if you want a detailed run down of the country!

    PS If you want even more detail visit:-

    http://mylittlenorway.com/

    Sorry live links are not possible for me to post.

    Moderator Edit:

    Link now live.

  • papgeno
    papgeno Forum Participant Posts: 2,158
    1000 Comments
    edited November 2016 #4

    It's a long time since we took our caravan to Denmark and Sweden so the sites we visited then may not still be there. However we enjoyed great holidays at sites such as Ljungshela, Saffle, Gulbranengard, Jonskoping and Gothenburg. You might like to check
    the spelling.

  • DougS
    DougS Forum Participant Posts: 327
    edited November 2016 #5

    https://www.acsicampingtours.co.uk/

    Norway and Sweden, etc.

    Depends on your views on group tours. These are for UK clients only.

  • nelliethehooker
    nelliethehooker Club Member Posts: 13,647 ✭✭✭
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    edited November 2016 #6

    Many years ago we toured all the way through Sweden, up across a little of Finland and into Norway, as far north as we could get before sailing across to North Cape.Back down through part of Norway before using the Silver Road into Sweden. We were touring
    for 3.5 wks and travelled abpout 3000mls. We had no trouble finding caravan sites, using camping checks along the way.

  • Rushallmanor
    Rushallmanor Forum Participant Posts: 78
    edited November 2016 #7

    We went that way this Year, Copenhagen to Stockholm with a short stop at Jonkoping. Plenty to do and see in Stockholm. We then took the Sija Line ferry to Helsinki, another interesting city. We took the train from here to St Petersburg and spent a few days
    in a hotel. On returning to Stockholm we headed for Oslo, this is one of my favorites. A final stop at Gothenburg before returning to Copenhagen. The bridge to Malmo is better on the return journey in my opinion, the ferry from Helsingor to Helsingborg is
    far more interesting and is a similar price. All in all a very interesting trip.

  • EJB986
    EJB986 Forum Participant Posts: 1,153
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    edited November 2016 #8

    Copenhagen to Oslo overnight ferry is our favourite one way route.

    Saves a lot of boring road miles in Sweden and no days lost due to the overnight aspect.

    The price is reasonable balanced against fuel, time lost and perhaps a camping fee etc.

    The scenery is also very worthwhile!

  • DavidKlyne
    DavidKlyne Club Member Posts: 13,867 ✭✭✭
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    edited November 2016 #9

    We went that way this Year, Copenhagen to Stockholm with a short stop at Jonkoping. Plenty to do and see in Stockholm. We then took the Sija Line ferry to Helsinki, another interesting city. We took the train from here to St Petersburg and spent a few days
    in a hotel. On returning to Stockholm we headed for Oslo, this is one of my favorites. A final stop at Gothenburg before returning to Copenhagen. The bridge to Malmo is better on the return journey in my opinion, the ferry from
    Helsingor to Helsingborg is far more interesting and is a similar price. All in all a very interesting trip.

    Rushallmanor

    Can you tell me a bit more about this ferry link in terms of cost and whether its a turn up and go ferry.

    Thanks

    David

  • Rushallmanor
    Rushallmanor Forum Participant Posts: 78
    edited November 2016 #10

    We went that way this Year, Copenhagen to Stockholm with a short stop at Jonkoping. Plenty to do and see in Stockholm. We then took the Sija Line ferry to Helsinki, another interesting city. We took the train from here to St Petersburg and spent a few days in a hotel. On returning to Stockholm we headed for Oslo, this is one of my favorites. A final stop at Gothenburg before returning to Copenhagen. The bridge to Malmo is better on the return journey in my opinion, the ferry from Helsingor to Helsingborg is far more interesting and is a similar price. All in all a very interesting trip.

    Rushallmanor

    Can you tell me a bit more about this ferry link in terms of cost and whether its a turn up and go ferry.

    Thanks

    David

    David

    The Helsingor ferry is a turn up and go or you can book it, goes about every 30 mins. In June and with an exchange rate of 1.16 worked out at £85. The bridge cost £87.19 on the return journey. I am a car with a twin wheel caravan and the total length is 12.73m. Crossing is a little over 30 mins if I remember correctly.

  • KjellNN
    KjellNN Club Member Posts: 8,671 ✭✭✭
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    edited November 2016 #11

    If going to Norway, you really need to head north of Oslo for the best scenery.

    West Norway is very scenic, the bit east of Bergen, very popular with tourists.  Where I come from, just north of the Arctic Circle, Bodo, is also scenic and the mountains are very rugged and dramatic. A bit like Skye but more rugged.

    Nordkapp is worth a visit too, and Tromso is a lovely city with lots to see and do.

    A trip down the coast of Norway is an experience not to be missed, especially the Atlanterhavsvei, pray for good weather!!

    The cities of Trondheim, Bergen and Stavanger are worth visiting, as are towns like Aalesund, Kristiansund, Molde, And Kristiansand.

    Sweden is interesting, especially the Baltic Coast, and the glass making area and all the big lakes are also good to visit.  Also Stockholm and Uppsala and the other large cities.

  • DavidKlyne
    DavidKlyne Club Member Posts: 13,867 ✭✭✭
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    edited November 2016 #12

    Rushallmanor

    Thanks for the information, I assume you can get a single on the "Bridge" if you want to do circular trip?

    David

  • DavidKlyne
    DavidKlyne Club Member Posts: 13,867 ✭✭✭
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    edited November 2016 #13

    I think Norway would be a bit far for us but I have been to Bergen, Stavanger and Aalesund on a cruise.

    David

  • KjellNN
    KjellNN Club Member Posts: 8,671 ✭✭✭
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    edited November 2016 #14

    Not that far to Norway once you are in Sweden David.

    Yes, circulat tour is good, single crossing on the bridge is no problem.

    We usually go one way on the bridge and return on the ferry from southern Sweden to Germany.

  • SurreySimon
    SurreySimon Forum Participant Posts: 18
    edited November 2016 #15

    Thank you everyone who contributed, looks like there lots of possibilities, many I hadn't thought of. I'll certainly investigate the the tips you have all given me. It sounds like it should be a trip to remember. 

  • stwassociates
    stwassociates Forum Participant Posts: 5
    edited January 2017 #16

     Good morning. Reading your post 3/11/2016 you seemed to be the best person to ask about touring in Norway. we are planning to visit Norway with car and caravan in June. Our intended route is from Oslo-Lillehammer-Andalsnes-Orcog-Olden-Laerdal-Ovre Eidfjord-Roldal-Jorpeland-Mandal-Kristiansand.

    I am concerned about steep gradients and hairpin bends on this route and so far have used via Michelin for planning (ticking caravan option). Do you have any advice on how I can check my route to be sure i can tow in safety. Thanks

     

     

  • KjellNN
    KjellNN Club Member Posts: 8,671 ✭✭✭
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    edited January 2017 #17

    First...what is your outfit?  Total length , weights of both and power of car?

    Outfits over 12.4m overall are banned on a few roads.

    Unless you are planning on using some very minor roads, if your outfit is well matched you should be fine.  Hairpins are generally well engineered as they have to  cope with buses and HGVs, gradients over 12% are not considered a good idea with caravan if they are long, but these would be rare.  Short, steep bits are fine as long as you have the power.

    I generally check any bits I am worried about anywhere  using Google Earth and "drive" the route.

    From memory, There is a roads department you can contact for advice on suitability for caravans, will see if I can find how you contact them.

    I will look at your proposed route and come back with further comments later.

     

  • KjellNN
    KjellNN Club Member Posts: 8,671 ✭✭✭
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    edited January 2017 #18
  • KjellNN
    KjellNN Club Member Posts: 8,671 ✭✭✭
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    edited January 2017 #19

    Having had a quick look, assuming you will be using main routes, everything looks fine. Gradients over 12% are not permitted on main roads and hairpins will be fine.

    The only possible bit for concern might be the approach to Stryn on the way to Olden where there are some long hills, but there are now many new bits and tunnels all over the country, so it will possibly be changed since we were last in that area almost 10 years back.

    Ovre Eidfjord looks to be a bit of a detour if you are sticking with main roads? Not an area we have visited.

  • KjellNN
    KjellNN Club Member Posts: 8,671 ✭✭✭
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    edited January 2017 #20

    http://www.vegvesen.no/en/Home

     

    possible source of up to date info

  • stwassociates
    stwassociates Forum Participant Posts: 5
    edited February 2017 #21

    Thanks you for all your help. Think we can now complete the planning

    Stewart

  • GyynNorma
    GyynNorma Forum Participant Posts: 69
    edited February 2017 #22

    I have also in a preceding post asked about the problem of mosquitoes in Sweden during May and June. Can anyone advise how bad it is during these months?

  • KjellNN
    KjellNN Club Member Posts: 8,671 ✭✭✭
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    edited February 2017 #23

    Should not be a problem in May or early June, they have hardly woken up then!

    End of June into July can be much worse.  But if you avoid wooded , watery areas you should be fine.

  • GyynNorma
    GyynNorma Forum Participant Posts: 69
    edited February 2017 #24

    Thank you Kjellnn, you continue to provide us with valuable advise. My holiday in Spain last year in May and June was partly ruined due to mosquitoes and the like, thus my question.