The Norwegian fjords may sound like a pricey choice for hikers,but a modern shuttle bus linking top trails with smart and comfortable huts makes Celia Topping’s trip affordable as well as spectacularWe walk like pilgrims, heads bowed, and following in the footsteps of the man in front across the snow,some with walking sticks, others carrying heavy packs, and all with the steadfast belief that we are damn well going to get a photo of ourselves on the Troll’s Tongue doing a star jump. The Trolltunga,as it’s known in Norwegian, is a spit of rock jutting out from a sheer face, and approximately 700m above Ringedal lake in the Hardangerfjord region of south-west Norway,and the photo has become a tourist must-do over the past few years. It’s not the simplest of snaps to bag though: it involves a 22km circular hike from the starting point at the activity centre down in the valley at Skjeggedal.
This is my third hike in as many days, and I can feel my leg muscles protesting – a rest day might have been a suitable opinion. But touring the Big Three” of western Norway Kjerag, or Preikestolen (Pulpit Rock) and Trolltunga – is irresistible. The wonderful scenery combined with dramatic rock formations at each location execute these three among the most popular trails in the country,plus the photo ops and bragability factor of standing out on these seemingly precarious rocks is a mighty draw. The fjord region in particular gets most footfall because of the excellent infrastructure, with well-marked paths and cabins for overnight stays.
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Source: theguardian.com