Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Autumn & Winter Experiences in Norway
The ugliest, most delicious thing Most people only get a glimpse of Norway’s northernmost fjord before rushing south with the illustrious Hurtigruta. But there is so much more to Varangerfjorden than what can be seen from afar, and the waters are bursting with natural richness waiting to be discovered. By Stine Wannebo
If there is one person who will never tire of the remarkable landscape in and around Kirkenes, it must be Karl Magne Wille. Along with his team, he takes tourists out amongst the shallow waves every day, almost all year round, looking for one of the north’s most desired treasures. The king crab is one lucky creature. It lives in some of the purest waters on earth, surrounded by incredible nature, and it gets to look up at the red midnight sun during summer and the blue and green Northern Lights during winter. It is the world’s largest crab and the animal everyone wants to meet – and eat – when travelling to the north of Norway. Wille finds it astonishing that an animal as ugly as the king crab can taste so delicious. “It tastes like somewhere between prawns and crayfish, and it’s fantastic!”
Since Wille and his wife decided to expand their souvenir business and buy a boat in 2010, people from across the globe have travelled to their little dock to hear them tell tales about the 15kilo crab and its journey from the Russian Murmaskfjord over 50 years ago. “On board the boat, guests can see how the crab is caught, they can take pictures of it, hold it and taste it,” Wille says. After that, guests can enjoy as much as they want of the freshly-cooked delicacy while sipping a glass of white wine and looking out across the quiescent fjord. Sea, sun and salt is far from everything a fjord cruise in Verangerfjorden has to offer. Top photo: Helge Stærk. Bottom photo: Bernt Nilsen
For more information, please visit: www.kongekrabbecruise.no
Winter adventures in rustic settings Brekkeseter Resort is located between Oslo and Trondheim at Høvringen, at the border of Rondane National Park, offering a range of hiking tours for the family on marked and unmarked trails in the mountains. During winter, trails are made up of dual tracks for skiing. Additional activities include sports fishing, bicycling, horseback riding, white water rafting and canoeing, and spectacular arctic nature and wildlife are also on display for keen photographers. By Stian Sangvig | Photos: Vendy
While the season for walking and biking continues until mid-October, plans for the winter season are underway, and from January, 130 kilometres of skiing tracks will be available for visitors. “The highest point of the skiing tracks is at 1,423 metres above sea level by the peak Formokampen,” says general manager
Kari Setsaas, continuing: “The scenery is typical for high mountains, being hilly but at the same time reasonably flat, thus ideal for crosscountry skiing.” The high altitude offers sunshine throughout the year and spectacular views over high mountains, deep valleys and forests.
At Brekkeseter, visitors can also experience the winter atmosphere inside the cosy 17th century timber buildings. Rooms and communal areas have fireplaces, and fires are lit every day using birch. The food served in the on-site Rondane Restaurant is prepared using the finest local and seasonal ingredients, including wild game and fresh-water trout, as well as wild berries and mushrooms picked locally. “The lights at Rondane National Park and Høvringen have inspired many Norwegian painters and writers,” says Setsaas. “Ibsen’s Peer Gynt is based on local folklore and Sigrid Undset wrote Kristin Lavransdatter here.”
For more information, please visit: www.brekkeseter.no
Issue 68 | September 2014 | 69