Norway

In focus: summer holidays in Norwary

Summer sees the snows melt, and for walkers, this frees up the world famous fjords for world-class hiking – head up the quiet yet no less dramatic Lustrafjord to escape the huge cruise liners and have the views to yourself. Walking the Fjords is based in the nearby Nes Gard Lodge, a short hike from Feigumfoss waterfall and a stone’s throw away from Urnes Stave church, the oldest church in Norway, and one of the most beautiful. UNESCO listed, it is built almost entirely of wood, and intricately carved with arched gables and entwined vine reliefs. You'll also see the Jostedalsbreen ice cap both on foot and by boat, from the backdrop of the Jostedalsbreen National Park and then from the waters of a glacial lake. 

Naeroyfjord is the narrowest of the fjords – only 250m between the dramatic escarpments at its thinnest point. This UNESCO World Heritage Site takes its name from ‘Njord’, the Norse god of the sea. Nowhere else does the infinite power of the gods seem more appropriate; the sheer walls of the fjords impose more than as you creep between the towering rocks. This is a mythic landscape, one where folkloric fantasies ignite the imagination. The Jostedalsbreen – the Biggest The largest glacier in continental Europe, the Jostedalsbreen ice cap is a staggering 50 miles long and up to 600m at the thickest point.