Detour #08: Atlantic Ocean Road, Norway
Photo opportunities abound on the Atlantic Ocean Road which links the towns of Vevang and Kristiansund in Norway.
Eight bridges span a series of small islands, some so low that you feel you’re skimming the sea, while fishermen catch cod from the side. Others are a roller coaster ride into the sky and down again.
The most photogenic stretch is only five miles end to end but, as getting there is an epic journey in itself for most travellers, you'll want to drive back and forth to enjoy it again and again.
Exiting Vevang on the FV64 it's hard to know where to look - at the shimmering fjords or the crystal-topped mountains as you island hop to Kårvåg.
The highlight is the Storseisundet Bridge which 007 fans will recognise from its starring role in No Time To Die. It’s a wonderful up-and-over, high enough to let maritime traffic into the Kverned fjord. If you’re not being chased by a supervillain’s henchmen it’s best to take it slow and soak in the experience.
To avoid being soaked yourself it’s wise to tackle the Atlantic Ocean Road when the sea is calm, as when the tide turns and the wind picks up, enormous waves crash over the road so that it’s like driving through an unrelenting saltwater car wash.
As this is Scandinavia, you’re treated like an adult and are allowed to park and walk around the larger of the skerries - small islands - to take in this engineering marvel from a different perspective.
From Kårvåg the road takes you inland, up through the centre of the island to the northern tip. Here you’ll dive below the Bremsnesfjorden to reach Kristiansund in one of the deepest undersea road tunnels in the world. It’s almost four miles long and 250m (820 feet) deep.
It’s all mighty impressive, at least until you discover the Laerdal Tunnel, Norway’s ultimate underground road.
Words Nik Berg Twitter | Instagram
Photography Peter Dawson @peterdawsonphoto
Roadbook
Class: Island hopping
Name: Atlantic Ocean Road
Route: VEVANG to Kristiansund
Country: Norway
Distance: 25 miles
Getting behind the wheel can have a positive impact on people suffering from Seasonal Affective Disorder.