By PER BANG
IF one puts a pin through Lindesnes. the most Southern part of Norway. and swings the country round in a half circle, the North Cape will scrape along the Pyrenees. skirt the suburbs of Rome and take in Belgrade.
This illustrates the length of Norway, and makes it clear to tourists how necessary it is to plan in advance where to go and where to stay.
The ideal way would be to go from South to North by sea and back again by car. for the nature of Norway is more richly varied than most countries.
Travelling by reindeer
IN Finnrnarksvidda, in the far North, the migrant Lapps still travel by reindeer.
The rivers are excellent for fishing. and by long narrow riverboats you can make a fascinating and thrilling journey. The temperature in Finnmark in the summer is sometimes higher than in Italy. The sun shines all day and all night.
Further South, a boat trip through the Lofoten archipelago is a most dramatic journey. Islands rise vertically from the sea; snowpeaked mountains form a ragged wall on the horizon.
This place, and Jotunheimen in the South, have always been a mountaineers' paradise. total of about 6,000 Catholics. There are imposing monastery ruins to be seen near Hamar, on Hovedoya just outside Oslo harbour, also near Trondheim and Stavanger. New churches are being from Limmehammer and Rena, In January already Oslo sets the scene for the 9-mile international "Monolith" race.
In the very best of Norwegian hotels you can stay for an inclusive "en pension" rate of as little as 35 kroner — or 35 shillings. Service charge (10 per cent) is added automatically to the bill. Smaller establishments can put you up for £1 a day with all meals.
Most of the top-category hotels are licensed to serve wines and spirits (hut spirits never on Sundays); smaller places are licensed for beer and wine, or beer only.
Enjoyable way to get there
T° get to Norway can be a cheap and at the same time luxurious holiday in itself.
Norway is served well by trains across the Continent and by daily air services—SAS and BEA. But the most enjoyable way to go is by sea. from Newcastle to Oslo or Bergen. The Blenheim and Braemar of the Fred. Olsen Norway Line, sailing twice weekly to K ristiansund and Oslo, are sister
ships of about 5,000 tons each, both ultra modern with a cuisine one never forgets. The Leda of the Bergen Line sails from Newcastle twice weekly, connecting with special trains arriving at winter resorts the same afternoon.
Inclusive tours from £24 up
SEVERAL inclusive tours are organised to Norway. A I4-days trip to Oslo, all included, can cost less than £24. For £33 you are offered 14 days including touring parties with dogs and sledge in Nordmarka, outside Oslo. For less than £50 you can go to Lofoten and see fishing on a big scale. Thousands of fishing boats assemble here in the early months of the year; the tour includes a fishing expedition.
Boat fares to Oslo vary between £20 10s. and £9. Small family cars can be taken across the North Sea for as little as £5.
Hard to find a favourite
AN English diplomat, who in turn has been stationed in all the three Scandinavian countries, used to say, when asked which country he liked best, that if Copenhagen could he transferred to where Stockholm is, and filled with Norwegians, it would be ideal. His answer points to the fact that the three countries have many things in common and still are very different.
of all the inclusive Scandinavian tours offered I think I would choose the £55 18s. one which gives me 15 days, and takes in Copenhagen, Stockholm. Oslo and Gothenburg before going back to London. Another tour, which omits Norway and Denmark, includes a conducted trip to the Swedish Lappland. Canal enthusiasts had better join a third tour by steamer from Gothenburg to Stockholm; this lasts 14 days, including stays in Copenhagen and Esbjerg.
`Hotels on wheels'
THE Swedish State Railways organise a seric, of "Touring Trains". These run through sonic of the most beautiful parts of the country. stopping at interesting places for excursions and study-trips. A. touring train is the home of its 60-120 guests— a sort of hotel on wheels with a sleeper, a restaurant car, a lounge car, a combined drying and shower car, a kitchen car, a storage car and a staff car. Guests make their own beds.
Each tour takes a week, and the price includes hoard and lodging. service of guides and entrance fees according to programme.