I had been staying at Frederikshavn in northern Denmark where I spent a couple of days and mad a day trip up to Skagan (pronounced ‘Skain’) at the northernmost tip of the country. This was in winter, mid-January, and the place was very quiet, almost devoid of other tourists. I could imagine it bustling with families and happy swimmers in summer. In winter, though, it had a slightly melancholy beauty, the many crumbing WW2 German fortifications matching nicely the stormy seas and bare, icy tree. It was a cold and windy place, but a walk from the station up to Grenen, the pebbly finger of land at the top of Denmark.
Before that Aalborg had been nondescript, though I only passed through from the airport where SAS had lost my bag connecting from HEL, to the station where I caught a train to Frederikshavn to the east. My bag arrived the next day, delivered to the very cosy Park Hotel. My room there was a good size and the whole place had a great character, decorated throughout in a kind of ornate, elegant country-style. Recommended if you ever need to spend a night in Frederikshavn.
I had decided to take the ferry to Iceland. It would take a few days, but seemed like an interesting way to go. There is only one ferry, called the Norrona. It goes from Hirtshals in north west Denmark to Torshavn in the Faroe Islands before continuing on to Seyðisfjörður on Iceland’s east coast.
From Hirtshals railway station there are covered walkways taking you to ferry wharfs. These are not the ones for the Smyrill Line and the Norrona ferry. I should have gotten a taxi, but had arrived very early and so decided to walk. It is a long walk through snowy industrial streets dragging a suitcase through the port district. There was only one other passenger arriving on foot so the waiting area was very quiet. It was also very spartan, just two little vending machines for sustenance.
Photos of Hirtshals port:
In winter it seems the main function of the ferry is to move cargo rather than people. Maybe 80 cars or so drove on but loads of cargo. They take the trailers of trucks but leave the cabins and drivers behind, the trailers are used like containers. The boat was quiet and many of the distractions were closed. The cinema was out of action as were two of the three restaurants. There weren’t enough passengers or staff. The poker machines were all open and so was the duty-free shop.
I was being reckless with money so took the most expensive cabin, called “The Suite”. Actually, in winter it is cheaper so wasn’t too bad for three nights, 811 Euro including all main meals. The suite had three rooms plus a huge ensuite, a big tv that worked and fast wifi. It was a good place to get some work done.
When booking online for this ferry you can pre-pay for meals at a discount. If travelling in winter, don’t bother: the website will sell you meals in any of the restaurants on board, even though they will probably be closed. Just see what’s available when you sail.
Before that Aalborg had been nondescript, though I only passed through from the airport where SAS had lost my bag connecting from HEL, to the station where I caught a train to Frederikshavn to the east. My bag arrived the next day, delivered to the very cosy Park Hotel. My room there was a good size and the whole place had a great character, decorated throughout in a kind of ornate, elegant country-style. Recommended if you ever need to spend a night in Frederikshavn.
I had decided to take the ferry to Iceland. It would take a few days, but seemed like an interesting way to go. There is only one ferry, called the Norrona. It goes from Hirtshals in north west Denmark to Torshavn in the Faroe Islands before continuing on to Seyðisfjörður on Iceland’s east coast.
From Hirtshals railway station there are covered walkways taking you to ferry wharfs. These are not the ones for the Smyrill Line and the Norrona ferry. I should have gotten a taxi, but had arrived very early and so decided to walk. It is a long walk through snowy industrial streets dragging a suitcase through the port district. There was only one other passenger arriving on foot so the waiting area was very quiet. It was also very spartan, just two little vending machines for sustenance.
Photos of Hirtshals port:
In winter it seems the main function of the ferry is to move cargo rather than people. Maybe 80 cars or so drove on but loads of cargo. They take the trailers of trucks but leave the cabins and drivers behind, the trailers are used like containers. The boat was quiet and many of the distractions were closed. The cinema was out of action as were two of the three restaurants. There weren’t enough passengers or staff. The poker machines were all open and so was the duty-free shop.
I was being reckless with money so took the most expensive cabin, called “The Suite”. Actually, in winter it is cheaper so wasn’t too bad for three nights, 811 Euro including all main meals. The suite had three rooms plus a huge ensuite, a big tv that worked and fast wifi. It was a good place to get some work done.
When booking online for this ferry you can pre-pay for meals at a discount. If travelling in winter, don’t bother: the website will sell you meals in any of the restaurants on board, even though they will probably be closed. Just see what’s available when you sail.
