Have you ever smelt the tang of the sea through the open window of a car? If you drive along the coast of Fjord Norway you will be met with less traffic, scenic ferry crossings and an amazing coastal scenery.
The Atlanterhavsveien road between Molde and Kristiansund.
Photo: Terje Rakke/Nordic Life
The Fjord Coast Route is following the coastline from Kristiansand to Trondheim.
THE ROAR OF THE WAVES accompanies you almost all the way – from the soft beaches of Jæren in Rogaland, to the lush skerries of Hordaland and less well-known mountains, glaciers and fjords in Sogn og Fjordane and the peaks and cliffs teeming with nesting birds on the Møre coast.
THE COAST ROAD is a stretch of road that hugs the shore along the entire coast of Western Norway, from Kristiansand to Trondheim. En route, there are countless gems – small towns and villages, spectacular bridges and natural attractions that will take your breath away. Sheltered areas with tidal currents where the fish bite, the westernmost point in mainland Europe, glaciers with views of the sea, mountains rising straight up from the ocean, sea eagles hovering over the cliffs where the breakers meet the shore. If you want to get closer to the elements, you can hire a boat, take part in a guided kayaking trip or walk along well-marked coastal paths. Or simply lie and relax on the warm rocks by the shore while listening to the seagulls and the lapping of the waves.
It’s all there waiting for you.
DURING YOUR TRIP YOU CAN FIND peace and quite in small communities on islands right out at the ocean’s edge. The people on Norway’s West Coast have always taken advantage of the area's rich resources in pact with nature - the ancient hunting communities in prehistoric times, the Viking legacy, the fisher-farmer tradition and today’s hi-tech production of fish and energy. Now, tourism is also helping to invigorate communities that are situated far from the noise and pace of city life.
TAKE YOUR TIME on your journey. This is not the fastest way from A-Z. If we were to make a recommendation, it would be not to do things in a hurry. Let your heart beat in time with the rolling waves that break on the shore often a mere stone’s throw from your car. If you are fortunate enough to experience a storm, pause and admire the forces of nature at work. You are guaranteed to spend some time waiting in the line for a ferry (there are plenty of them), so bring a fishing rod.
IF THE WEATHER GETS too chilly, just seek shelter. In a cabin, on a farm, at a hotel – or perhaps in an old lighthouse-keeper’s house? The hospitable people along the coast will give you a warm welcome wherever you decide to stay.