Norway’s Views

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Troll’s tongue

From precipices overlooking fjords to architectural lookouts, could Norway be the world capital of the spectacular view?

If you want to hang out over a terrifying precipice, Norway is your country. Spots like Trolltunga (Troll’s Tongue) in Skjeggedal, are left as close as possible to how nature intended. So don’t expect protective fences on the four-hour hike to the precarious rock hanging out 700m above the lake Ringedalsvatnet.

Pulpit Rock
Pulpit Rock

Slightly easier to get to is Prekestolen (the Pulpit Rock) in Forsand, which now attracts over 200,000 hikers a year for the 3.8km trek to its 25, by 25m flat top, perched 604m above the Lysefjord and the Ryfylke valley.

Kjeragbolt
Kjeragbolt

Nearby is the Kjeragbolt, a 5 square meter boulder lodged in a 984m-deep crevasse in the 1,100 in the 1,100m Kjerag mountain, which is popular with hikers and BASE jumpers.

From Andøya, Norway's national tourist routes
From Andøya, Norway’s national tourist routes

Norway has developed 18 National Tourist Routes to take the country’s landscape and many of these drives have been augmented with spectacular viewing points. Beautiful installations on the Andøya, Lofoten (above, designed by Snøhetta) and Trollstigen routes, for example. You will find protecting platforms at Gaularfjell, Ørnesingen and Aurlandsfjellet (by architect Todd Saunders and Tommie Wilhelmesen). These don’t just showcase Norway’s stunning outdoors, but innovative design too.

Feature image (on top) Eagle’s Bend, Geiranger, Norway. Photo: Statens Vegvesen

Norway’s Views, source: Visit Norway and Nasjonale Turistveier.