Beach Day



Different conditions today. Clouds have descended, bringing cooler temperatures with them. Much to Jack’s relief.

Our walks today were on the island of Vestrågøy, around 40 miles south of Svolvær. The Lofoten chain of islands are interlinked by a series of bridges, funded by the public investment arm of Norges Bank, Norway’s sovereign wealth fund created during the 1980s oil boom. Previously you apparently had to catch individual ferries to traverse the archipelago.

The walking group was conveniently split 50/50 this time. I was in the gang taking the ‘harder’ option, stepping off the coach early to tackle a steep scramble over the hill of Holandsmelen, before picking up the trail of the ‘easier’ walk from Haukland to Uttakleiv. Jack and Em opted for this more leisurely, flatter circuit around the coastline.

Jack loved this walk. The clouds were very low, making for a somewhat spooky atmosphere, and the landscape was very reminiscent of large tracts of Scotland. We just had one short steepish climb, and the rest was very easy. 





We had a decent lunch stop on the beach at Uttakleiv, where we saw a sea eagle, before taking the easy ramble around the headland back to Haukland beach. 



We had a wait of a couple of hours or so for the ‘hard’ lot to finish, which we spent just chilling and taking in the view. A few hardy souls went in for a swim. Yesterday I might have considered it, but not today! Em x

Much of the summit of Holandsmelen was enveloped in swirling mist, but it did occasionally break up to reveal the wide valley below, dotted with islets and a small landing strip among the sea channels. 



We spotted two moose, but they bolted at the sound of our exclamations. A ptarmigan took off from the undergrowth, and a sea eagle engaged in aerial combat with a squadron of gulls. Quick bite of lunch by the cairn marking the top, then a knee-wobbling descent down a black run to the road. I was glad of the poles for stability.




The next section of the walk included a gentle climb to a col, then down an easy slope to a beautiful white sandy beach and turquoise waters, very similar to NW coast of Scotland. 



The old road (no longer driveable) contours the headland, bringing you to another superlative beach and back onto the coach for the homeward leg.

Joff x


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