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Nostalgic for NorwayBy Sarah Ridley
I'm a keen walker and love Norway for its excellent walking. I would even go as far as saying that some of the best walking I've ever done has been in Norway. Favourite routes include the walk through the magical Aurland Valley, which is dotted with waterfalls and a haven for a variety of wildlife, on the From the Fjells to the Fjords holiday, and the walk above dramatic fjords to the panoramic summit of Munkebu on the Journey to Å holiday - I'll never forget the view from the peak of brooding mountains on one side and glassy lakes on the other.
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Majestic
fjords, dramatic waterfalls, rugged mountains, wild islands, sweeping
bays of fine sand, characterful cities…Norway is astonishingly varied.
I've travelled to various parts of the country in recent years and still
find myself taken aback each time by the sheer vastness and striking beauty
of the landscapes. This is scenery that you can never tire of, no matter
how many times you have seen it, because the different seasons and different
light mean it is constantly changing. And there is something very humbling
about standing on the shores of a fjord and looking up to the peaks above,
or gazing at seemingly never-ending mountains from an elevated viewpoint.
A
holiday to Norway needn't involve any walking, however - go fishing, take
to the water in a rowing boat, or enjoy a cruise along a fjord instead.
That said, there is always the option of an occasional day of walking
as part of a touring holiday as we choose hotels from which there are
some good local paths. For touring, we highly recommend using public transport, which allows you
simply to sit back and enjoy the views from the seat of a train or the
deck of a boat. In fact, the transport system is so reliable (and clean
and comfortable) that there is no stress in travelling this way, an alien
concept to us Brits! The fact that you may have (perfectly feasible) connection
times of a minute or two between the arrival of a bus and the departure
of a boat illustrates just how seamlessly integrated the different transport
systems are. If on a rare occasion your bus or train is late, they wait
for you. And you needn't worry about restricting your options too much
by choosing the public transport system either - you can still experience
some of the most magnificent scenery. Travelling by a combination of boat and rail as part of our 
As
I've said, Norway's landscapes cannot fail to impress even the most experienced
traveller. For me, highlights - something hard to define in a country
where there are impressive views at every turn - include a stay on the
tiny Lofoten Island of