UK to Norway: Actually Living the Dream

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After months leading up to it, the day finally arrived for me to finish work and set off for my big adventure. Everything was packed up and ready, and all that remained was for me to head into the office to return my laptop and say goodbye to my colleagues….

Disaster Struck (Almost)

However, as I came downstairs to make my morning cups of tea (yes, plural), I saw that my hazards were going off on the van. I grabbed my keys but nothing happened when I pressed the unlock button. I couldn’t open the doors and the hazards wouldn’t turn off. I managed to open the driver door by putting the key in, but the ignition was dead. And I mean dead dead. I couldn’t even open the back doors of the van to get my jump leads out.

So I had to call the rescue out and wait for them to come. After about an hour, they arrived and even he couldn’t get it started using his big battery pack. So he called for it to be towed to the garage. Absolute nightmare, not what I needed at all! I thought the start of my trip was in jeopardy!

Once it was at the garage, I finally headed into work (only 4 hours late!). After a lovely leaving lunch with some of my faves, and a very generous leaving gift from my colleagues (a Passenger fleece and money towards my trip), I handed my laptop back in and headed home, still not sure at this point whether I would be leaving for Europe that evening or not.

However, a call into the garage gave me the best news I could have hoped for! The battery was fine, but there was something that was causing it to slowly drain. They said as long as I am driving it every 3-4 days, I should be fine! Panic over!

Getting to Europe

First stop: Folkestone.

So finally at 6pm, after all that stress, I set off for Folkestone and arrived at about 10:30pm. I parked up on a quiet country road about 10 minutes away from the Euro Tunnel terminal ready for my 7am train.

Getting the Euro Tunnel was a fairly straightforward process, and by 8:45am (French time) I was in Calais. I didn’t have a plan for this day, other than to keep driving and see how far I could get.

I drove through France, Belgium, Netherlands and finally into Germany. I found a great little park up outside Bremen. It was a free stay in the forest, but had access to a hot shower in the swimming pool block. Winner! You just needed a €1 coin, or so I thought! I only had one €1 coin on me, but when I put it in the machine to get access to the building I realised that you also needed another €1 coin to operate the shower. Absolutely devastated.

There was a guy doing maintenance on the outdoor pool, so I walked up to him (still in my pyjamas as this point!) and tried to ask if he had change for a €2 coin. He didn’t speak English and I don’t speak German, and I had no phone signal to try and translate. Anyway, I think he felt sorry for me, because after lots of hand signals and confused expressions, he decided to let me into the main building to use the swimming pool showers. Heaven.

France, that way!
The Euro Tunnel
Home for the night in Germany

Beach Day in Denmark

Time to get back on the road again, and head towards Denmark! I hadn’t decided at this point, whether I was going to head north and get the ferry straight to Norway, or head east and drive over the bridge through Sweden. But it was a beautiful sunny day and I found a great place to park up on the beach, so I headed straight there.

I arrived at about 2pm and was not disappointed. The beach was really quiet, although there were a couple of other vans already there. I was able to park right next to the beach, about 10m from the shore. A beautiful place to chill for the afternoon and enjoy the sunshine.

And in the evening, I was treated to the most gorgeous sunset. What a way to finish the day!

Walk along the beach
Sunset
Sunset from the van

Next Stop – Norway

After spending all evening planning to drive east to Copenhagen and round through Sweden to get to Norway, I suddenly decided in the morning to head north and take the ferry. There was availability on the 3pm ferry, which gave me enough time to get to Hirtshals in the north.

Anyone who has travelled with me, knows that I get ridiculously motion sick. So I really wasn’t looking forward to the ferry. And as expected, it was not pretty. But 2 1/2 hours later, I arrived in Norway and the long awaited dream had finally come true!

I found the most delightful parking spot right on the marina of a fjord. It was about £7 to stay there and they had toilets and hot showers! Also, I found out later that it had been closed for construction over winter and had only reopened again that day! My luck was in!

On the ferry
Camping by the fjord

My First Norwegian Hike

One of the hikes that was high up on my bucket list for Norway was Pulpit Rock (Preikestolen). Located an hour outside of Stavanger, Preikestolen, is known as one of the world’s most spectacular view points, so I simply couldn’t miss it.

The nearly flat plateau is in the shape of a square and measures approximately 25 meters in depth and width (82 by 82 ft). The drop from the rock to the water surface is about 600 (1,900 ft) meters.

After a moderate hike up, I was blown away by the amazing view across the fjord! It was well worth the hike on such a beautiful sunny day. This was what I had been dreaming of!

Hiking
The route up
Amazing views
Pulpit Rock
Me on Pulpit Rock

Amazing Camping Spot

After the amazing hike and view point, I didn’t think the day could get any better. I found a spot on Park4Night and headed there. When I arrived, I was utterly blown away by how stunning it was!

The fjord was still frozen over, and there was so much snow everywhere. But there was a flat concrete patch right next to the river, complete with the sound of the waterfall nearby. One of the greatest places I’ve ever had the pleasure of staying.

Camping spot in Norway
Drone footage

So far, Norway has absolutely lived up to every expectation. And I’ve barely even scratched the surface.

I can’t wait for what the next few days have in store. Subscribe using the form in the footer at the bottom to be the first to hear about my next adventures!

Live Laugh Love ✌🏼

Travel Stats

  • Days: 4
  • Countries: 6 (🇫🇷🇧🇪🇳🇱🇩🇪🇩🇰🇳🇴)
  • Distance driven: 1451 miles (2335km)
  • Sunrise time: 5:28am
  • Sunset time: 9:52pm

33 thoughts on “UK to Norway: Actually Living the Dream”

  1. Felicity Cruickshank

    Wow Kat! Unbelievable scenes in Norway. Great blog!!! Keep em coming 😍.

  2. Poya

    Hi, Kitty,

    I was wondering how you were getting on. Sounds like you had a near disastrous start. You got up to Norway quickly. Glad you are finding plenty of good camping sites, and the views look spectacular!

    Have fun.

    Poya xx

  3. Dave Bedford

    Lovely blog Kat. A lot of driving but so worthwhile when you got to Pulpit Rock. I had the same problem with my van and installed a solar panel splitter that provides habitation power and charges the van battery as well.

    Stay safe

  4. Ellie Wadsworth

    Wow! Looks amazing, glad you’re having an incredible adventure. Missing you! Xx

      1. Emily Done

        Love it!! Those view’s are 👌🏽 so happy you’re living your best life! 🤩

  5. Anthony Lee

    I found your blog very inspiring whilst having my morning coffee ☕️ Your pictures emphasise how beautiful the world is & we should all spend more time appreciating it rather then destroying it! My fav picture is you on Pulpit rock. Incredible. Keep going & keep that battery charged!!!

    1. Kat

      Thanks Tony! It’s so true! I’m loving venturing into the unknown and exploring as many places as possible! 😊

  6. Jean

    What a way to start an adventure! Fabulous blog, loving the pics. This is a route Dave and I may take in future but would probably still be in Belgium after 4 days.

    1. Kat

      I’d thoroughly recommend it Jean! It’s absolutely stunning! Us retired folk can just go at our own pace 😉😂

  7. T

    Wonderful blog Kat. Stunning photos. So far so good. So very pleased for you. Enjoy the freedom! Such fun!

  8. Jenn Burgess

    Oh mate, what a start! 🤦‍♀️😂 I’m really gonna enjoy these updates…keep them coming!
    Think you may need to do an encyclopedia book of pics when you return from this trip!

  11. Mum

    Daughter of mine I am DOOO proud of you living your best life
    Keep the adventures coming and I’ll be following

  12. A

    Amazing blog Kat 😊 and it looks better and better 😉 waiting for next updates ✌️

  13. Ronnie B

    Well this is just what I expected from you, amazing photos of amazing places! 🤩
    I’ll be waiting for the next installment with baited breath!
    Hope the rest of your adventure is just as stunning and interesting as this first update.
    Vanning adventures rock! 🤘

  14. Mum

    What stunning photos Norway looks so inviting
    Keep living your best life and glad you weren’t scuppered by the early setback
    Love always xxx

  15. Pingback: One Week in Norway: From Tunnels to Trolls - Don't Quit Your Day Dream

  16. Yvonne Lawrence

    Such an exciting adventure Kitty. Live life to the full. It won’t last forever! X

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