1

Why not drive to Harwich - take the ferry to Esbjerg, Denmark - drive 1½-3 hours to either a ferry town in NJutland or Copenhagen and catch the next ferry.
Guess that total travelling time will be the same - add a few hours driving in GB and a few in DK.
Better ferries I guess (at least the Esbjerg Newcastle ferries used to be the oldes from DFDS - do not know the Norway route.).

You put uneconomical in quotes - arn't it a big money looser, due to ferry users wanting a very cheap product?

Still - will you now stay in GB forever? I mean travelling by ar from NEngland to ANY other country will involve lots of driving + ferries - to most places much more than the "via DK"-route suggested.

2

Well there is of course still the fortnightly summer service from Scrabster in northeast Scotland to Bergen, is there not?

3

For cyclists going to Esbjerg and then riding 400km to Hirtsthals for another ferry to Kristiansand or Bergen extends the trip by at least 4 days each way.As I only have 2 weeks summer holiday that rather puts Norway out of the picture.

The Norwegian press say that the route is uneconomic due to competition from cheap flights :

http://www.bt.no/lokalt/bergen/article571003.ece

- flights are fine (climate change excepted of course) unless you have a bike, tandem, canoe etc etc. The loss of this route is bad news for Norway and North-East England.

4

there's still the ferry which goes to torshavn (faroes) shetland iceland and bergen

5

Useful to know there are still some direct routes to Bergen although both are some way from Tyneside and at least as far in driving time as Harwich. The great thing about crossing from Tyneside was starting the holiday on a relaxing "cruise" rather than an exhausting UK drive to a distant port. And I get no pleasure out of long drives to reach my first port of call.

Ijmuiden to Bergen is about 1000 miles, 21 hours travel including ferry from Denmark to Norway after the 15 hour overnight ferry from North Sheilds, total 36 hours each way for which I would spend 3 or 4 nights in hotels each way (I rarely drive over 300 miles in a day). Rather different to overnighting on the current route and waking up fresh to drive. Fuel about £250, hotels perhaps £500, Ferry with car around £300 return - total over £1000 - meals extra (against about £350 direct).

I have just checked typical flight and car hire package is £900-!000 for 2 weeks in the summer against taking my own car for about £350 return including European insurance and breakdown.

No, we will not stay in GB for touring holidays unless they cut the Newcastle to Netherlands route, but it will put us off a driving holiday in Norway if we have to go the "long way round". Driving to Harwich from Tyneside is a nightmare as far as I am concerned - I would rather drive in Europe, especially Scandinavia.

WE won't give up Norway entirely - I did a bargain Hurtigruten Round Voyage in January with no single supplements and free flights from UK. Will do that again! Also it is just possible that we could consider touring by train if we have to go without a car. But withiut the Newcastle ferry taking our own car will be a no-no.

6

Same with the ferry link from Edinburgh/Rosyth to Zeebrugge. Closing down after this summer, unless they find another operator. Looks like most of the links from the northern UK to mainland Europe will be gone, not just scandinavia.

7

Hello, I wish to add some comments to this removal of a public service sea route between the UK and Norway having travelled to Norway both as a Tourist and on Business since 1989 and in all seasons. (I have lots of Norwegian friends there)

1. There has been a route here since the times of sailing vessels.
2. When DFDS closed the Kristiansand to Newcastle route is said it was because the vessel was old and slow. (So why did they purchase a old and slow vessel to do the second route?)
3. Colorline have invested in a couple brand new large fast vessels between Hanstholm/Hirtshals Denmark and Kristiansand.(Fjordline also has a fast service)
4. The best all season routes would be Newcastle/Immingham to Kristiansand/Stavanger. To Bergen is a waste of time. (Sea Travel/Holiday/Closed roads in snow season)
5. DFDS taking free caravans on the route was not sensible as it filled up needed vehicle spaces and Norway is full of nice wooden cabins to overnight in.
6. I have driven from the Oslo area down through Sweden and over the EXPENSIVE BRIDGES to Denmark and on to Esberg. Then catching the DFDS vessel to Harwich and the drive up to Derbyshire. (It is too long a trip and would not do it again!!)
7. What is the Norwegian Tourist Board and Norwegian Government going to do about this serious issue? Please E-Mail/Telephone!!!!
8. Flying is fine but vehicle hire prices are expensive due to high vehicle purchase taxes in Norway.(www.toll.no)
9. When the vessel went to Kristiansand it was a nice drive of around 3hrs into the mountains of Telemark from there. (Speed Limit 50mph/80kmh)
10. The time of arrival should have been around 8am-9am not late afternoon as people miss the first views of Norway and travelling over the mountains in the snow/dark when the road clearing stops at 10pm is not sensible.

I have written to all the shipping companies and at present no one is interested. (Still waiting for a response from DFDS and Stenaline and Smyril-Line) It needs a forward thinking company to use a brand new vessel that is fast and economical to operate in all seasons. (Richard Branson?)

There needs to be a International issue on this problem. Write to the EU and the local MP of the area you live in. It should be classed as a PSO.

Edited by: Engelskmann

8

Hi all,

I have just moved to Norway from the UK and would like to take my car over. Now that it seems all ferries from UK to Norway have stopped, can anyone suggest an alternative method? Without breaking the bank.

Many thanks,

Neal

9

You can take the Harwich -Esbjerg ferry and drive on from there using the bridges to Sweden or a ferry form Northern Denmark to either Norway or Sweden

10

Thanks Devil, do you know roughtly how long the drive would take from Esbjerg to Stavanger and what the best company to use is?

Many thanks again.

11

Any update if they will change there mind?
, i remember years ago think it was dfds had a ferry from harwich to hertshalls denmark then on to oslo.
Why cant they do something similar , rather than have to drive to a different ferry port in denmark.

12

DFDS' freight ferries will take passengers and their cars, I traveled UK to Sweden on them last October and it was very comfortable. The also do UK to NOrway direct routes

http://www.dfdstorline.com/DfdsTorLine/EN/Schedules/NorthSea/index.htm

However Smyril lines dont call in Scotland any more

13

#12 thanks for that link, what did you approximately pay for a car and a cabin (assuming you went by car)

14

Hi nealcon,

from Esberj to Stavanger, well, allow 3 hours to Hirtshals in Northern Denmark, then the Colorline ferry to Kristiansand takes 2.45 then another 3 hours on the E39 to Stavanger, we live in Sandnes and have actually found it just as quick now to drive down to France and take the Norfolk line to Dover, we can be in Hampshire in around 24 hours, but then we do not have children to contend with on the long drive, suggest a break around Hamburg if your planning on this route though. You could look at Fjordline from Hantsholm direct to Stavanger they have an overnight service, but is fairly unreliable and expensive. Any questions just mail me.

Eamonn