The fjord region is a big deal for Norwegian tourism.
It has pulled in Brits since Thomas Cook started tours in the late 19th century, and now accounts for a quarter of the country’s commercial bed nights.
It’s little wonder: the scenery is remarkable – dramatic scars clawed out by glaciers, with waterfalls pouring down from the plains above.
There are established routes plied by coach tours and cruise excursions, but there are also places where things remain small-scale – such as Akrafjord, whose tourism co-operative only started test tours in 2007, with many offerings based at local farms.
The loss of the Newcastle-Bergen ferry link in September has left DIY travellers unable to take their own cars, so there may be scope to sell flydrives.
We explored the south of the region, between Haugesund and Bergen.
History
Avaldsnes was a seat of Viking power for hundreds of years thanks to its pivotal position on the ‘Nordvegen’ shipping channel (which later gave its name to Norway).
Visit the Nordvegen History Centre and the nearby ‘Viking farm’, with its authentic buildings and boats. The latter can arrange Viking dinners – we ate cured goat, flatbread and wild garlic, followed by wild boar and cabbage cooked in beer.
A few hours’ drive northwest in Hardangerfjord, learn about traditional fjord lifestyles at Agatunet farm village and the Hardanger Folk Museum, where the famous Hardanger fiddles are still made.
Local produce
See Hardangerfjord’s ever-present apples put to good use on a tour of Lekve fruit farm in Ulvik. Nils Lekve’s still or sparkling ciders are closer to wine than the stuff we drink, and at 12% they pack a fair punch.
Sample the local goats cheese at the Eldhuset centre in Undredal.
Get active
Adventure company Opplev Odda offers a ‘via ferrata’ climb up the pipeline of Tyssedal’s Tysso 1 hydro-electric power station.
It offers a mix of great views and local history, and it’s safe too, thanks to the fixed cables and ladders that give the climbing technique its name.
See the sights
Early British tourists came to Norway to see its waterfalls, and the likes of Langfossen, which thunders 600 metres into Akrafjord, still stop the heart.
There is a five-minute photocall at the equally impressive Kjosfossen on the Flam Railway, which trundles past sheer tree-clad mountains and the churning Flam river before climbing to Myrdal in the mountain plains.
City life
The bustle of Bergen comes as a bracing reality check after the fjords. Its Bryggen area was once home to merchants of the Hanseatic League trading alliance (I thought the Hanseatic Museum was piping in ‘authentic’ smells until I realised the pile of dried fish in the room was real).
Suggest visiting the art museum with works by Picasso and Munch, as well as a visit to the home of composer Edvard Grieg’s house.
Sample product
ScanTours offers escorted six-day Waterfalls, Glaciers and Fjords tours, from £1,570 per person including SAS flights from across the UK. scantours.co.uk, 020 7554 3530
Specialised Tours offers the seven-night Fjord Favourites tour, including Bergen, Ulvik and the Flam railway, from £1,350 per person including SAS flights form Heathrow. specialisedtours.com, 01342 712785
