Nordkapp - ferry and tyres question

[Daveb999]

Hi, ive found a few older threads on visiting the Artic Circle, with a very good / comprehensive one from 2015. Things change though so a couple of questions…

Ferry - Quite a few seem to go to Calais then drive round, im wondering why not to Hook of Holland as it then means quite a bit less driving (possibly cheaper Calais ferry and shorter travel time?)

Tyres - I will be going from about the 20th May and taking a few weeks over the whole trip. So expect to hit Norkapp end May or start of June. Online it says winter tyres not required, I have standard all weather tyres at the moment (not the cross climate). People who have done this trip in May - July view on tyre requirement?

I probably wont book sites in advance as its still off season but will probably register for ACSI.

Thanks in advance

 

[RedWhiteMonkey]

Surely people just take the ferry that is most convenient for them. If you're coming from Scotland I'd go DFDS from Newcastle (North Shields) to Amsterdam (Ijmuiden).

Based on some Googling the Nordkapp temperature in May/June is around 5-7c, obviously the further south you get away from it the warmer it will be. Personally, I would go for all season tyres, as you kind of need a mix of summer and winter to best cover the temperatures you'll experience. Having said that I'd imagine it would be fine on summer tyres as long as you are sensible.

I've not been that far north in Norway but general experience there tells me you don't need to book anything in advance, I'd even take advantage of the wild camping possibilities if it was me.

 

[Daveb999]

Would be from Scotland.
Newcastle ferry almost x3 £ of ferry from hull. Dover to Calias cheaper for ferry, faster cross channel trip but a lot more driving than arriving in Holland. Probably no time saving or cost due to fuel / tolls.

 

[chockswahay]

Hi, ive found a few older threads on visiting the Artic Circle, with a very good / comprehensive one from 2015. Things change though so a couple of questions…

Ferry - Quite a few seem to go to Calais then drive round, im wondering why not to Hook of Holland as it then means quite a bit less driving (possibly cheaper Calais ferry and shorter travel time?)

Tyres - I will be going from about the 20th May and taking a few weeks over the whole trip. So expect to hit Norkapp end May or start of June. Online it says winter tyres not required, I have standard all weather tyres at the moment (not the cross climate). People who have done this trip in May - July view on tyre requirement?

I probably wont book sites in advance as its still off season but will probably register for ACSI.

Thanks in advance

@WelshGas has done it more than most, I’m sure he will be along soon. Here is a link to my blog when we went in 2014 if there is anything of use or interest to you?
https://wolfydoesscandawegia.blogspot.com/2014/04/friday-morning.html?m=0

 

[colintfcolintf]

We tend to use Hook van Holland overnight ferries and leave home after work to catch it. Used to use Tunnel, but that’s become stupidly expensive (especially compared to what was the Frequent Traveller offer)

 

[WelshGas]

Hi, ive found a few older threads on visiting the Artic Circle, with a very good / comprehensive one from 2015. Things change though so a couple of questions…

Ferry - Quite a few seem to go to Calais then drive round, im wondering why not to Hook of Holland as it then means quite a bit less driving (possibly cheaper Calais ferry and shorter travel time?)

Tyres - I will be going from about the 20th May and taking a few weeks over the whole trip. So expect to hit Norkapp end May or start of June. Online it says winter tyres not required, I have standard all weather tyres at the moment (not the cross climate). People who have done this trip in May - July view on tyre requirement?

I probably wont book sites in advance as its still off season but will probably register for ACSI.

Thanks in advance

I’ve done Norway/Sweden numerous times. See my threads Countdown 1/2/3/4/5.
Hook of Holland was the best ferry route for me travelling from S.Wales.
The shortest route to Knordkapp is via Sweden. There is only 1 road north in Norway and it is hard work.
Normally the weather is good but my last trip it was -10c at Knordkapp with a 48 hr snow/ice storm. I was on Michelin Crossclimate tyres and no problems on the snow covered roads leading to Knordkapp. No gritting just snow 5cm s or less.
You can wildcamp at Knordkapp and there are 24hr toilets available but no EHU.

 

[RedWhiteMonkey]

Would be from Scotland.
Newcastle ferry almost x3 £ of ferry from hull. Dover to Calias cheaper for ferry, faster cross channel trip but a lot more driving than arriving in Holland. Probably no time saving or cost due to fuel / tolls.

A bit dependent on where in Scotland you're coming from, motorway driving through the UK is tedious and I'd happily avoid most of it. I guess it's ultimately a cost benefit analysis thing, do any extra costs outweigh the inconvenience.