Ulvik WESTERN FJORDS 2018

Transcription

1 Ulvik WESTERN FJORDS 2018

2 WELCOME TO Ulvik Norway s Western Fjords are the country s most enduring image, and rightly so. The dramatic high- sided valley landscape has been carved out by glacial activity and the fjords themselves are created by a sea level rise flooding the valleys. The result is a region filled with unquestionably beautiful sea inlets and incredible scenery at every turn that just begs to be explored. Our holiday begins at Bergen, Norway s historic second city and former capital, which now serves as the perfect access point to hop over the mountains into the Western Fjords region. To the east of Bergen lies Hardangerfjord, a 100km fjord overlooked by the incredible lunar scenery of the Hardangervidda mountain plateau. At its eastern end the impressive fjord divides into several smaller fjords including Ulvik fjord. Nestled here on its shores is the peaceful village of Ulvik, your base for the week. The name Ulvik translates from Norse to mean wolf cove and this small, attractive village provides an ideal location, with picturesque views across the water and a traditional wooden church, as well as some shops and local amenities. Our week in the spectacular Norwegian fjords includes a diverse collection of walks from the nearby tiny peninsula of Åsen, with its apple orchards and cider farms, to the unforgettable Norway in a Nutshell experience, including the world-famous Flåmsbana railway and a ferry journey down the World Heritage Site of Naerøyfjorden. This unmissable journey follows one of the steepest railways in the world, past waterfalls and magnificent mountain scenery, before enjoying views of the steep sided fjord that typifies Norway s beauty. 2 Call or visit hfholidays.co.uk

3 ACCOMMODATION BRAKANES HOTEL Promenade Ulvik Tel: 0047 (0) The 4-star Brakanes Hotel enjoys a unique setting in Ulvik by the beautiful Hardanger Fjord, surrounded by mountains and apple orchards. Bedrooms: There are 143 simply decorated ensuite bedrooms. All rooms have telephone and television. Tea and coffee making facilities are not available in the bedrooms, but hot drinks can be bought from the bar. Facilities: The hotel has a lovely restaurant, several lounge bars, swimming pool, sauna, steam bath, solarium and small gym. Wi-Fi is available throughout the hotel. There is a small souvenir shop in the reception area. In wet weather, there is an area made available for our guests to use as a boot/drying room. Meals: All our holidays include breakfast and evening meal. It is very important that guests with special dietary requirements, including vegetarians, advise our Reservations team before travel so that suitable arrangements can be made. Breakfast: This is served from 7am to 10am in the Peer Gynt restaurant. Breakfast comprises a self-select buffet, offering a range of hot and cold items. Evening meal: Dinner is served in the Peer Gynt restaurant and is a three-course self service buffet. Tea and coffee are included with your meal. Lunch: It is possible to purchase a picnic lunch from the hotel. Alternatively it is possible to buy ingredients from local shops or on some days to eat at one of the local cafés; your leaders will advise you of the options. Call or visit hfholidays.co.uk 3

4 Guided Walking Easier Walks: : 4 to 7 miles (6.5-11km) on good paths and tracks. Up to 1,500ft (450m) of ascent in a day. Day 1: Arrival day You should arrive with time to settle into your room, and perhaps take a short stroll in the village. In the evening your leaders will explain more about the walks and there will be plenty of time to meet with your fellow guests. Day 2: Upland farms and orchards or Solsaevatnet Easier Walk: Across the fjord from our hotel a small pretty peninsula splits Ulvik Fjord from Osafjord. Our walk starts at the side of the fjord 4 Call or visit hfholidays.co.uk ITINERARY A unique feature of our Guided Walking holidays is the daily choice of walks. Each evening your leaders will give a short talk about the options for the next day and answer any questions that you may have. In Ulvik you ll have a choice of two guided walks on each walking day. Harder Walks: 8 to 9 miles ( km) on steeper and rougher terrain. Up to 3,000ft (900m) of ascent in a day. Please note that the itinerary outlined below is provisional and could be subject to change. For the most up to date information, please check our website. A finalised itinerary will be available at the resort and your leaders will talk every evening about the next day s walks. near an important bird watching area. We then ascend through a wood to easy forest tracks and lanes. This provides a super introduction for the easier walk and some impressive views down into Osafjord. 6 miles (9.5km) with 1,100ft (330m) of ascent. Harder Walk: The harder group goes past apple orchards and meadows above Ulvik that eventually give way to high Alpine scenery which is easily accessible. We travel high up to the old Granvin road and then walk on gentle forest tracks to reach the reservoir of Solsaevatnet, set in a superb

5 amphitheatre with waterfalls and high pastures. We walk gently around its southern end before starting a steeper descent to the orchards. 9 miles (14.5km) with 1,000ft (300m) of ascent and 2,000ft (600m) of descent. Day 3: Voss Today both groups start together from a point just outside the town of Voss, but walk in opposite directions. Easier Walk: Starting from near an excellent viewpoint overlooking Voss and its great lake, we descend on farm roads to visit a dramatic ravine. From here we reach the lakeside following its edges to the town centre of Voss. After visiting an historic building we ascend to the Folks Museum where there is an opportunity to visit (charges apply). We return to the town centre to meet our transport back to the hotel. 7 miles (11km) with 400ft (120m) of ascent and 1,300ft (390m) of descent. Harder Walk: From the same start point above Voss, we ascend high above the lake of Vangsvatnet on the uncomplicated slopes of Grasidetoppen. This is a superb walk on a mixture of minor forest roads and rough mountain paths to reach the small Roset mountain cabin with its excellent views of the valley below and surrounding peaks. We return to Voss to meet our transport. 9 miles (14.5km) with 900ft (270m) of ascent. Day 4: Free Day Each week there is a free day when no guided walks are offered. This is an ideal opportunity to relax around the hotel, walk independently or visit local places of interest. Some options for your free day may include: Ulvik Relax and enjoy peaceful Ulvik. Visit the local artists galleries, the new award- winning museum dedicated to the work of a local poet, or one of the local fruit farms. Get onto the water: the hotel has a rowing boat for hire and others can be hired from the nearby Strand Hotel. These can be launched from the sandy shoreline. Use the hotel facilities, including the gym, sauna and steam room and swimming pool. Eldfijord A popular trip with guests is to take the daily ferry from Ulvik to Eldfjord, another small town further up the Hardangerfjord. From here a coach trip is available, taking you to a waterfall plus a new Visitors Centre explaining the ecology of the high plateau country which dominates the immediate area. Otherwise, there are short walks available around Eldfjord which has a surprising number of Iron Age sites. Bike hire Hire a bike to explore the local surroundings. A local business hires out mountain bikes for either full or half day rentals and has maps showing marked bike trails. There is a popular route of about 10km along the fjord, traffic free. The same business also hires out kayaks, fishing tackle or rowing boats. Local information website: For information on Ulvik please visit Day 5: The postal route and Kvasshovden Easier Walk: A little over 100 years ago the only route into Ulvik was via today s route which links Granvin in the west to our village. A pleasant path with gentle sections of ascent for most of the way skirts remote cabins and a tranquil lake amidst the mountains. We finish high above Ulvikfjord and descend into Ulvik. 7 miles (11km) with 1,000ft (300m) of ascent and 2,200ft (660m) of descent. Harder Walk: Today we ascend the well known local peak of Kvasshovden, which offers outstanding views in all directions from its modest height of 1,065m. En route we reach the pretty collection of cabins called Littlestol. The route climbs steeply on rough and rocky ground to just below the summit, with a short chained section to aid progress. The return path goes down to the meadows above Ulvik. 9 miles (14.5km) with 2,200ft (660m) of ascent and 3,000ft (900m) of descent. Day 6: Norway in a Nutshell Sightseeing Day We travel to the small but busy port of Gudvangen. Here we board our ferry for a spectacular cruise through the World Heritage site of Naerøyfjorden. This provides a vision of archetypal Norway: a deep blue fjord, only 250m across at its narrowest point with towering 1,200m cliffs, isolated farms, and waterfalls that plummet from above. Kjelfossen, for instance is one of the ten highest waterfalls in the world. There are wonderful views all round of waterfalls and steep craggy cliffs as we make our way to the village of Flåm at the head of Aurlandsfjord. Flåm is set in spectacular surroundings and is a stop off point on the popular Norway in a Nutshell tour. It is also the destination for many of the large cruise ships that sail up into the inner reaches of Sognefjorden. At Flåm we board the world famous Flåmsbana railway, which takes us from sea level to 866m. It is an engineering wonder with its 1:18 gradient and numerous tunnels hewn out of the rock walls Call or visit hfholidays.co.uk 5

6 of a breathtaking valley. The train takes us to the isolated station at Myrdal where we await our connection to Voss from where our transport returns us to the hotel. It is a truly wonderful trip. Day 7: Norddalen and high up on the Hardangervidda Today we explore the area around Norddalen, starting at Osa which is just 10km from Ulvik. Easier Walk: Our route is a simple out and back to the head of this narrow valley, where the scenery in both directions is truly jaw-dropping. Massive vertical cliffs and waterfalls, that could only be in Norway, are viewed mostly from a good woodland path with minimal ascent. The final section of the path is narrower and rocky but leads to a spectacular waterfall at the head of the valley. 7 miles (11km) with 700ft (210m) of ascent Harder Walk: : The harder route also starts by walking up this valley before ascending steeply up a zigzag path through the trees to reach a high alpine valley with spectacular views and the cabins at Ossete before returning to Osa. 9 miles (14.5km) with 3,000ft (900m) of ascent. Day 8: Departure Day In the evenings: The friendly atmosphere of our holidays continues into the evening. We ll enjoy a leisurely meal and then you may also like to join your leader for an evening stroll, listen to local musicians, relax with a book in a quiet lounge or enjoy a drink at the bar with your fellow walkers talking about your day. TRANSFER INFORMATION If you have booked your holiday with flight you will arrive at Bergen Airport. From the UK we offer flights from London Gatwick. Please note that meals are not provided on most European flights, although some airlines may offer a small snack. Where possible you will be met as you enter the arrivals hall by an HF Holidays leader. Your leader may be on the same flight as you or may arrive on another flight. Occasionally we will ask our transfer coach company to meet you. The driver will be in the arrivals hall holding an HF Holidays sign. The onward journey to Ulvik by coach takes approximately 2½ hours. For independent travellers: For guests who have booked their holiday without flight HF Holidays can help you to reach the hotel in the following ways: HF Holidays transfer coach from Bergen Airport. These are timed to meet the HF Holidays flights (provisional HF Holidays flight times can be found on or by calling +44 (0) ). Cost per single journey is 35. Please note that HF Holidays is not responsible for your onward travel if you fail to meet the transfer coach under any circumstance. Transfers and taxis must be pre-booked. If you have not already booked your transfer or taxi please call +44 (0) On the departure transfer, we have arranged for you to spend some time in Bergen. Airport parking and accommodation If you require airport parking or accommodation before your flight, we recommend our partner Holiday Extras. Call and quote HX031 or book online at holidayextras.co.uk/hfholidays 6 Call or visit hfholidays.co.uk

7 WALKING INFORMATION Your walking leaders: HF Holidays leaders are a pivotal feature of our Guided Walking holidays. During the day they will guide you on the walks in a caring and considerate way, showing you places of interest en route. All our leaders have been selected on an intensive residential course so you can relax and enjoy your holiday knowing that you are in safe hands. Our leaders welcome your comments on the holiday survey; constructive suggestions for things that they might do differently are very helpful. We take pride in the quality of our holidays and work closely with all our providers to ensure our holidays meet your expectations. If for any reason you are not satisfied with any element of your holiday, our leaders are the best people to help. Local interest guides: In some of our resorts we may employ the services of a local interest guides who will accompany you on a walk to enrich and enhance your enjoyment of the area by giving you an insight into its history and culture. Tips for local interest guides have not been included in the price of your holiday. This is at your own discretion and we invite you to do this directly with the local guide. Maps: Your leaders will of course carry all the maps and detailed walk instructions needed for the walks. The map available for this area is Norge 1:50,000 Ulvik. Maps can be obtained by mail order from The Map Shop, Tel: or visit www. themapshop.co.uk Children: We welcome unaccompanied children of 14 or over on our walks on the basis that they can take full responsibility for themselves. Children under the age of 14 must be accompanied by an adult. WALKING SAFETY Hydration: In warm weather it is very important to keep hydrated. You will need to carry water with you on walks, more during hot weather or on more demanding walks. One good way of hydrating is to use a hydration pack which allows drinking without constant stopping. This can then be filled up from additional water sources as required. Insurance: Insurance is a condition of booking. Therefore if you have not already arranged insurance, it is imperative that you do so, and advise us of the insurance company and policy number. We have negotiated special holiday insurance and full details of this cover can be found in our brochure or at hfholidays.co.uk. There is no extra charge for pre-existing illnesses. If you would like to purchase insurance from us please call us on or holidayservices@hfholidays. co.uk. Even with an EHIC card, medicines and out-patient treatment normally have to be paid for at the time and the costs reclaimed afterwards details are available at dh.gov.uk/travellers. Therefore insurance is extremely important, as is access to emergency money, preferably a credit card. WHAT TO WEAR & BRING To enjoy your walking comfortably and safely, it is essential that your footwear, clothing and equipment are suitable for the conditions likely to be encountered. Changeable weather is possible throughout the year, so our advice is to come prepared for all eventualities: comfortable outdoor clothing waterproof jacket and overtrousers ankle supporting footwear with non-slip soles small rucksack water bottle (at least 2 litres, more for hot climates) and a thermos flask if you wish sunhat, sun cream and sunglasses In addition to the above, the following are recommended to all walkers, and are essential for mountainous and hilly areas: walking boots spare pullover or fleece hat and gloves spare high-energy food e.g. chocolate bar or Kendal mint cake torch You may also wish to consider bringing: walking pole(s) many guests find these useful, particularly for descents camera personal first aid kit Footwear: We recommend wearing walking boots on all our walks, as these provide the best ankle support and grip. Modern approach shoes offer Call or visit hfholidays.co.uk 7

8 appropriate levels of grip and may be worn on some low level walks, but users should be aware that they offer less ankle support. Lightweight trainers, denim jeans and waterproof capes are not recommended for any walks. HOLIDAY TIPS Language: Norwegian. Currency: Norwegian Krone. Changing money: There are several ATM machines in Ulvik where you can obtain money. Electricity: 220 Volt AC with round two pin plugs; you will need an adaptor for any appliances brought from the UK. Tap water: Is considered safe to drink, but if you prefer, bottled mineral water can be purchased from the hotel or local supermarkets. Telephone code: If the international number you wish to call starts with a 0, you must drop the starting digit when dialing the number. To dial a UK number 0044 To dial a Norwegian number Call or visit hfholidays.co.uk

9 RECOMMEND A FRIEND AND SAVE 50 Do you know someone who would enjoy our holidays as much as you do? Invite them to book a holiday and you ll receive 50! If you recommend HF Holidays to a friend who subsequently makes their first ever booking with us, we will give you 50 off your next holiday for each person recommended. Plus, as a welcome, we will also give your recommended friend or friends 50 per person off their holiday, meaning savings for everyone! Claim your 50 in three easy steps When your friend books a holiday, ask them to mention at time of booking your name and address. If they have never travelled with us before, we will give them a discount of 50 per person. We will send you a 50 voucher off a future HF Holidays break for each friend you have recommended. Terms & conditions apply, visit hfholidays.co.uk/raf for details. PATHWAYS FUND Last year guests donated 19,500 to our Pathways Fund and we spent 25,000 on projects. For more information on the projects the Pathways Fund has supported, plus how to donate, please visit hfholidays.co.uk/pathways HF Holidays continues to work in partnership with the Family Holiday Association to provide Feel Good Breaks designed to reward families who could not otherwise afford it with the gift of a break in the outdoors and the chance to spend quality time together. Help us continue this work by donating to the Pathways Fund. JOIN US TODAY AND BENEFIT TOMORROW HF Holidays is the only UK holiday provider that s a co-operative. We re owned by our members who help shape our business for future generations. Join our award-winning and sociably responsible society that s passionate about helping others to enjoy holidays in beautiful countryside. For a minimum purchase of shares you can benefit from: Members loyalty scheme earn points on your holidays and use as a discount on your next holiday Member-only events and holidays Members come first with advance registration for the holiday you want 10% discount at our country house bars 15% discount at Cotswold Outdoor 15% discount at Rohan 25% discount at Hi-Tec Annual interest on your shares ALREADY A MEMBER? There are many ways for you to further your support: Help choose our Board Attend member events Encourage others to join us Increase your shares at any time Top up to 1,000 shares to become an investment member with enhanced benefits Give membership as a gift To join or increase your investment call our Membership team on , membership@hfholidays.co.uk or visit hfholidays.co.uk/membership Call or visit hfholidays.co.uk 9

10 linger a little LONGER If you enjoyed your holiday in Ulvik, we recommend our other Norwegian holiday, visiting the Lofoten Islands, land of the midnight sun. Two weeks or more Make the most of your break and enjoy a longer holiday either two weeks of walking at one resort or by combining complementary holidays, such as Sorrento on the Neapolitan coastline and Altamura, in the undiscovered region of Puglia. We arrange the transfers between the resorts so that you don t have to. See our brochure or website for more information. Self-guided Walking For those who prefer to explore independently, we recommend our Self-guided Walking holidays. In selected European destinations you can discover unspoiled scenery, historic sites and the local culture at your own pace by following our carefully planned walking routes. Leisure Activities We offer a range of Leisure Activities holidays at some of our European destinations, including Discovery or Garden Tours, Photography, Painting, or Yoga. Worldwide From Alaska to Australia our Worldwide Journeys invite you to explore world famous destinations, and some lesser known gems, on six continents including Europe. SAVE ON OUTDOOR CLOTHING From time to time our outdoor clothing partners have special offers for our guests. Visit hfholidays.co.uk/partnerships to see the current offers. 10 Call or visit hfholidays.co.uk

11 Contact details HF Holidays Ltd Catalyst House 720 Centennial Court Centennial Park Elstree Borehamwood, WD6 3SY hfholidays.co.uk For any questions before your holiday, we re here to help, so please contact us on: (local rate) +44 (0) (from outside the UK) Monday-Friday: 9am-7pm. Emergency contact details: In all instances during your holiday, your first point of contact should be our HF Holidays leaders. If for any reason this is not possible, HF Holidays emergency contact details are as above or between the hours of Friday 7pm to Monday 9am are: +44 (0) or Call or visit hfholidays.co.uk 11

12 EXPERTS IN ADVENTURE SINCE 1913 Call Visit hfholidays.co.uk