Scandinavia

Cycle-touring, Expeditions, Adventures, Major cycle routes NOT LeJoG (see other special board)
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Cachao
Posts: 51
Joined: 23 Jul 2010, 11:56pm

Scandinavia

Post by Cachao »

Hello,

A few of you may remember my friend Tokopah and me asking about touring in Peru. Unfortunately this has been pushed back by safety concerns. In its place, Scandinavia, end-to-end.

We will be reading through these threads:
viewtopic.php?f=16&t=20575&p=167421
viewtopic.php?f=16&t=72192&p=628265
viewtopic.php?f=16&t=72452&p=628889
viewtopic.php?f=16&t=71404&p=619152
viewtopic.php?f=16&t=54821&p=457467
viewtopic.php?f=16&t=23854&p=192247


Our questions so far:
1. Transport: We live in Bristol and Hampshire and aim to start in Copenhagen. What's the best way to get there? We're currently looking at the ferry from Harwich to Esbjerg, then the train to Copenhagen, or EasyJet from Bristol direct to Copenhagen.
2. Route: The fundamental idea is to start in Copenhagen, go down to Malmo and up to Hammerfest. Maybe even back down to Helsinki? We aim to leave around 9 July and aim to get back around 13 August. Any ideas?
3. Wild camping: Apparently it's allowed in Sweden and Norway

Any other thoughts?

Thanks
Vorpal
Moderator
Posts: 20697
Joined: 19 Jan 2009, 3:34pm
Location: Not there ;)

Re: Scandinavia

Post by Vorpal »

Danish trains usually have a carriage for bikes, and no problems in carrying them.

Wild camping is allowed in Finland, Sweden and Norway. Particulars vary slightly, but in general, one may not camp close to dwellings or on cultivated land. Leave the land as you found it, and no one is likely to be bothered even if you don't know the particulars.

There are a number of national cycle routes in Norway. They are generally well-signed and pleasant routes. There is information about them on the internet. Here are a couple of sites http://www.cyclingnorway.no/en/national-cycle-routes/
http://www.visitnorway.com/uk/What-to-d ... in-Norway/
“In some ways, it is easier to be a dissident, for then one is without responsibility.”
― Nelson Mandela, Long Walk to Freedom
iviehoff
Posts: 2411
Joined: 20 Jan 2009, 4:38pm

Re: Scandinavia

Post by iviehoff »

Cachao wrote:2. Route: The fundamental idea is to start in Copenhagen, go down to Malmo and up to Hammerfest. Maybe even back down to Helsinki? We aim to leave around 9 July and aim to get back around 13 August. Any ideas?

Not really quite enough time, unless you are audaxish hard riders who ride from A to B with a purpose of turning pedals and not much else.

A rule of thumb for the ordinary tourer is that it is about 3 weeks by bike from Trondheim to Tromso, taking in the Lofoten and Vesteralen islands (use the ferry from Andenes at N tip of Vesteralen which goes to Senja). And that is before you add on time spent in the fjords, which are worth a bit of time. (And apparently you are wanting to start from Malmo right at the bottom.) Then getting from Tromso to the top.

Hammerfest isn't well connected by air, if you are wanting to fly back from N Norway - there are regular direct flights to Oslo from Alta.

Although wild camping is legal, it can be difficult to find spots because in some areas, especially hillier areas like the fjords, you'll find that every piece of level ground that isn't already occupied by rocks, marsh or tall vegetation, is in use. The Vikings did there conquering because of a land shortage, remember. But there are plenty of organised campsites.
Cachao
Posts: 51
Joined: 23 Jul 2010, 11:56pm

Re: Scandinavia

Post by Cachao »

iviehoff wrote: The Vikings did there conquering because of a land shortage, remember. But there are plenty of organised campsites.

Sound advice. Camping does seem fine on the whole, though.

As for transport, we generally go at a fair pace, so I reckon it would be better to cycle back (at least as far as civilisation) rather than haul our bikes down from the end of the earth. A round trip to Copenhagen seems expensive at the moment, at least £300 with EasyJet. Any ideas?

Thanks
Vorpal
Moderator
Posts: 20697
Joined: 19 Jan 2009, 3:34pm
Location: Not there ;)

Re: Scandinavia

Post by Vorpal »

Do you have to go to & from Copenhagen?

You could check Norwegian or RyanAir, which fly to and from various Scandinavian locations.

I've had good experiences flying with Norwegian.

Also, it's worth trying the on-line agents & 'cheap ticket' services. If you have any date flexibility, you can try different dates, etc. The dates you have selected are at the peak of summer holiday time for Scandinavia. The six to seven weeks from the beginning of July through the middle of August are the most expensive time of year to travel to and from Scandinavia.
“In some ways, it is easier to be a dissident, for then one is without responsibility.”
― Nelson Mandela, Long Walk to Freedom
iviehoff
Posts: 2411
Joined: 20 Jan 2009, 4:38pm

Re: Scandinavia

Post by iviehoff »

Vorpal wrote:You could check Norwegian or RyanAir, which fly to and from various Scandinavian locations.
I've had good experiences flying with Norwegian.

There's been a series of threads suggesting that Norwegian are allergic to loading bikes on planes at Gatwick (but not unloading them). The threads are from a year or two ago, and there was never any cogent reason for it, so they might have finally seen sense. But if you want to fly Norwegian first check they will load your bike at the selected departure airport, and in the case of Gatwick, which is what they use for London, prepare to be disappointed.

Back in the days when No flew Stansted, I flew Stn - Gardemoen - Narvik and returned Trondheim - Gardemoen - Stn with them, and it was very smooth and economical, though they weren't connections, I had to retrieve the bike and check it in again at Oslo Gardemoen in each direction. There were loadsa bikes being loaded on planes at Gardemoen, it seems to be no nonsense thing in Norway.
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