Archive for category Travel and practical stuff
Weather forecast for Norway
Posted by admin in Travel and practical stuff on July 13, 2010
Wondering what the weather will be like during your upcoming trip to Norway? Check out the forecast on www.yr.no. They have weather forecasts, in both English and Norwegian, for more than 700,000 locations in Norway, so wherever you are, they should cover it. You can see the forecast for the next three days at a glance, or look for a long-term forecast (9 days). They even have a page for stats I discovered recently. I’ve just checked out the entry for Fredrikstad, and found out that during the course of the past 12 months, the lowest temperature was an unusually cold -17.7 °C (9 January 2010) and the highest (on 4 July 2009) a very nice 25°C! Ice cream anyone?? 
On board the D/S Turisten
Posted by admin in Nature and the great outdoors, Photos and videos, Travel and practical stuff on July 9, 2010
The Halden Canal
Posted by admin in Nature and the great outdoors, Travel and practical stuff on July 9, 2010
The Halden Canal, part of the Halden watercourse, is one of Norway’s only two man-made canals. Stretching some 80km from Tistedal in the south to the little village of Skulerud in the north, it consists of a series of large lakes connected by short rivers or sounds. The canal, designed by ingenior Engebret Soot, was historically used to float timber, but the last log was lifted out of Lake Femsjøen in 1982, when a 600-year-old tradition came to an end. Today it is used by leisure boats and kayakers, and exploring the area from the water is great fun.
You can buy a map at the Halden tourist office and explore the canal at your leisure, or join an organised tour. Built in 1887, the steamship D/S Turisten, which used to ply these waters but was sinked in 1967 because it no longer was profitable, was hauled up after lying for 30 years at the bottom of LakeFemsjøen. It has since then been completely restored, and a trip on this old-fashioned vessel is quite a special experience. It runs every Wed, Fri, Sat and Sun from Strømsfoss til Tistedal until 11 July, thereafter sister ship M/S Strømsfoss takes over until 22 Aug. Departure at 11am. Price: 290Kr (M/S Strømsfoss)/450Kr (D/S Turisten) return, children under 15 free. See www.turisten.no for more info (Norwegian only).
One of the highlights of a trip along the canal is going through the Brekke Locks, Scandinavia’s highest. See www.elusivemoose.eu/2010/04/brekke-locks-halden/ for more information.
Camping in Norway
Posted by admin in Travel and practical stuff on July 4, 2010
Norway has over 1,000 campsites, with rankings from 1–5 stars, depending on the standard and facilities available. The price for a plot varies from between 100Kr–160Kr, sometimes more, and some campsites apply additional charges per person too. If you’re planning on using a campsite for more than a couple of nights, it might be a good idea to get hold of the Scandinavia Camping Card, which entitles the bearer to special discount deals. The card is available online, and from participating campsites in Norway, as well as Sweden, Denmark and Finland. It can be used in those countries too. Many campsites also rent out hytter (cabins). Most are basic, but are usually well equipped, with cooking facilities and electricity, and can sleep up to 6 people, making this a good alternative if you’re travelling in a small group. A very tempting option on a rainy day too! Most campsites are open from 7am to 11pm in high season. The larger ones tend to have someone on duty 24 hours a day.
Offsite camping (camping sauvage) is permitted in uninhabited areas (but please note, not lay-bys), and is probably the cheapest way to holiday in Norway, if you are prepared to do without modern conveniences. You must keep at least 150m away from the nearest house or cabin. If you’re intending to camp on farmland, remember to ask the farmer for permission beforehand.
For further information on camping in Norway, log onto www.camping.no, or check out www.nafcamp.com/en/
Wooden Boat Festival, Halden
Posted by admin in Photos and videos, Travel and practical stuff on July 2, 2010
Top 5: Things to do in Halden
Posted by admin in Travel and practical stuff on July 2, 2010
- Explore Fredriksten Festning, Halden’s famous fortress, high up on the cliff overlooking the town. You can do so on your own, with an audio guide, or join a guided tour, every weekend in the summer. www.halden.museum.no/festning.html (Norwegian only)
- Browse in Fønix record shop, a shop dedicated to 1950s and 60s music and fashion. Retro’s never been so cool! Fisketorget 1. www.nostalgia.no (Norwegian only)
- Visit the Fredrikshalds Teater, dating back to 1838, Norway’s best preserved baroque scene (by appointment only). Tel: 69 18 54 11, www.halden.museum.no/teater.html (Norwegian only)
- Fish for salmon in the Enningdal River, one of the best salmon rivers in Norway. The salmon season lasts from mid-May to mid-Aug.
- Visit Rød Herregård, one of the most famous mansions in the county – complete with original 18th century furniture and baroque gardens. Tel: 69 18 54 11, www.halden.museum.no/herregard.html (Norwegian only)
For more info visit www.visithalden.com
It’s summer, go on a boat trip!
Posted by admin in Travel and practical stuff on June 22, 2010
It’s hot, it’s sunny, so what better way to spend the day than at sea? Here are a few boat trip options in the area:
- M/S Sagasund arranges two-hour trips (each way) between Fredrikstad and Strömstad in Sweden, where you can spend a couple of hours before heading back to Fredrikstad. Daily during the summer holidays, departs Toldbodkaia, Fredrikstad 11am, Strömstad at 3pm. A return ticket costs 150Kr (children under 8 free), you can buy lunch and refreshments on board. Tel: 90 99 81 11, www.mssagasund.no (Norwegian only)
- If this sounds too tame, why not go for a spin with RIB Adventures instead, and explore the Oslofjord at full throttle on board one of their speed boats? A guaranteed adrenaline kick! Tel: 40 00 69 89 or 92 81 01 01, www.riboslo.no
- No time to spend a whole day at sea? Take a mini-cruise on the Glomma, Norway’s longest river. The iconic little red and white Gamlebyen ferry links Gamlebyen and the centre of Fredrikstad in 10 minutes, and you can take bikes on board. Departs Gamlebyen on the hour every day from 7am during the week, Sat 11am, Sun noon in summer (from the pier furthest from the entrance to Gamlebyen), and the city centre (pier next to Pizzanini Restaurant) at 35 minutes past the hour. A ticket costs 10Kr.
- Engelsviken Båtskole & Charter in Engelsviken, 15km west of Fredrikstad, arranges boat charters for anglers, as well as island and diving cruises along the Østfold coast. Ideal for small groups (the boat can take up to 9 passengers), but not cheap. Rental rate per hour is 1,500Kr + VAT. Tel: 91 39 08 75, www.engelsvikencharter.com
- M/S Falkungen in Fredrikstad (moored on Kråkerøy) is a 15m aluminium boat that can also be chartered for mini cruises, and provides taxi services. Maximum 10 passengers. Tel: 90 16 70 70, www.falkungen.no
- Or rent your own. Olseng Marina on Ullerøy, Skjeberg, also have a 39ft sailing boat for hire. It will set you back 14,000Kr for a week (Sunday to Sunday) in July and August, 12,000Kr in June and Sep. Deposit of 25,000Kr, insurance included (sleeps 6). Weekends Fri-Sun 9,500Kr (June to Sep). What better way to explore the Hvaler Archipelago eh?! Tel: 69 16 95 95, www.olsengmarina.no (Norwegian only)