norway in a nutshell vs hire car
 

even though we are committed to getting a car, id like to still know what i might miss out on if we dont do the rail experience
did anyone do this toss up and come away feeling theyd made the right decision ?
OH is confident that the road is the way to take- gives us that flexibility we love and we are not standing in queues with our luggage
but a part of me is wondering if the train takes you places where roads dont
any opinions?
thanks

In 2005 we have done a round-trip by car through Norway (from Oslo till Alesund through the country and back to Oslo along the coast).
Never did I get the feeling I missed something by not taking the train. Almost every little spot is very good reachable by car in Norway. And where cars can't come, you can always very easily take the train or a cableway/cable-lift.
My advise; take the car!

Thanks TommieG
that is heartening to know@!
i know that we will leave the car to do a trip on a ferry or whatever some days and that might be a waste but if it's only for ten days max then it doesnt matter if the car gets a rest!
i love the fact that we can leave our luggage and save our backs

how did you find the roads? good signage id expect but winding?

Oh and TommieG
how long was this norway trip of yours?
did you book all of the accommodation before leaving ? what time of year were you travelling
we will be there in early june

It doesn't have to be one or the other - you can do both.

The NIN tour is roughly triangular, and encompasses a boat, coach and train trip which brings you back to your starting point. Where the car is parked........

I was there in July 2005 for almost 3 week (one of the warmest summers ever there!). I had (mostly) pre-booked acoomodations. Mostly 'hyters', small holiday homes on holiday parks or on private properties of e.g. farmers. Almost every other home offers 'hyters' for rent, so pre-booking is not really necessary IMO. But in the high;-season it can be busy. Road are excellent and signage is good, but indeed very winding. Also keep in mind that driving around the fjords takes a lot of time, there aren't that many bridges! Plus; don't expect (expcept around the bigger cities) multi-lane roads. Most are single lane roads in both directions. So it can happen that you get stuck behind a tractor or truck and cannot overtake!
Bit all in all, it is a very pleasant country to drive in.

But indeed as RM67 says; you can always rent a car and also book a (small) round trip like NIN.

thanks for that advice

we do have to factor in the extra driving time to get round a fjord

thats an important point so thank you Tommie G
and RM thanks for the suggestion that we can actually incorporate NIN into the car trip

i guess it will come clear when we get there
and then ill be in the know too!

If you're calculating drive times with an idea to get to a certain point (for a ferry, exhibit, etc.), do remember to add some extra time for inevitable stops to take photos or just marvel at the scenery. I have driven in Norway many times, and I have always been impressed (even in drizzly weather) by the stunning scenery. Although estimated driving times on Michelin, for instance, might be correct if one were to drive directly, we have invariably exceeded them. The opportunity to stop and soak in the scenery is also a reason to favor the car over the train. However there are a few experiences that won't be available by car. When driving from Bergen to Oslo, if you visit Flåm, at the head of Sognefjord, you can take the lovely narrow gauge rail trip out of the valley to Myrdal and back (two hours round trip). That leg is, by the way, part of the Norway in a Nutshell route.

thank you Midnight Sun
i have noted your advice re taking the rail trip out to myrdal

this planning is doing my head in !couldnt do it without you guys
so thanks!

now what if....

we didnt base in bergen but in fact based ourselves in flam?
Just two nights-
a day in Bergen might just do us...
do the town a bit and the funicular

plenty of daylight

it is about 3hrs along the scenic route from Flam to Bergen and then we could use the motorway on the way back...

Hectic? maybe but somehow bergen isnt beckoning as much as the smaller towns even though originally we thought wed use it as a springboard to stavanger ...
canned that idea- just too far to see the pulpit rock and it could be foggy that day anyway ....shame

What about balestrand as an overnight - the big hotel there kviknes is booked out but we might get a cabin? Id like to do the selfguided walk tour round the town and surrounds.

Big soccer tournament on in voss in the 3rd week of june so lots is already full accommodation wise. Extreme sports week is on too.