Follow The Norwegian Birding Route

 

White-throated Dipper Norway’s national bird.

Photo: Jan Kåre Nes

Every established holiday destination has special characteristics, but Norway is in a magnificence class of its own. For travellers hungry for scenery, history and culture, Europe's awesome north-west frontier is ideal. If birds fascinate them also, the potential for delight is even greater.

The Route And Map

The Norwegian Birding Route has been developed as a round trip, starting and ending at Haugesund or Stavanger. We have chosen some great birding localities along the way, everything from coastal marshlands to the high mountain plateau of the Hardangervidda. All you have to do is chose your destination, decide how many days you would like to stay, and book your farmhouse accommodation via the       e-mail link provided.

The Norwegian Birding Route covers many hundreds of miles and can take several days, depending on how long you stay in each area.  On the map below you will get a rough idea on how the different areas lie in relation to each other. We have also given rough estimates on distance. However, driving in Norway can be more time consuming. Motorways in general are few and far between, and the average speed limit ranges from 60 to 80 km and hour. Most of the roads are in good condition though some are narrow, but this is a part of the charm of driving in Norway. And lastly, the west of Norway is famous for its fjords, but these also mean ferry crossings so please take these into consideration when planning your route.

Norway Wild And Wonderful

1: Lying south from Stavanger the birding areas at Jæren and your accommodation at Obrestad and Varhaug are ideally situated. From Hå it is 231 km or 144 miles to Odda. If you are heading to Eidfjord it is a further 77 km or 48 mile. To get to Voss or Norheimsund it is roughly the same distance at 85 km or 53 mile. However you will need to cross the Hardangerfjord so please take this into consideration. To get to Bergen/Sotra it is best to follow the coast road via the island of Stord. From Hå to your accommodation at Sotra it is 251 km or 156 miles.

3: Voss is ideally situated between Norway’s longest fjords. It can also be reached by train from Bergen or Oslo. To get to Norheimsund from Voss it is 80 km or 50 mile. Your accommodation at Sotra is a little further at 140 km or 87 miles.

4: Norheimsund is situated along the mighty Hardangerfjord. The quickest way to get to Bergen/Sotra is via Kvamskogen at a distance of 125 km or 77 miles.

2: Eidfjord, the gateway to the Hardangervidda and some great birding. From Eidfjord it is 58 km or 36 miles to Voss via the ferry connection between Brimnes and Bruravik. To get to Norheimsund it is 80 km or 50 mile via the same ferry connection. The distance between Eidfjord and Bergen/Sotra is 186 km or 116 mile.

Odda

For those covering the whole route, the last section from Bergen, back to Haugesund or Stavanger, takes about 4 to 6 hours depending on where you are heading. The easiest route to follow is the coastal road. Follow road signs out of Bergen marked Stavanger. These signs will lead you towards Os and the ferry connection between Halhjem and Sandvikvåg on the island of Stord. From Sandvikvåg it is a direct route to both Haugesund and Stavanger.

5: Bergen/Sotra this can be the start or the finish of your journey along the Norwegian Birding Route. Your accommodation lies 50 km or 31 miles from Bergen. For those returning from Bergen to Haugesund it is 117 km or 73 miles while Stavanger is 179 km or 111 mile.