Mal Dickson - Guiding in Norway

04/08/2024

THIS WEEK'S GUIDING DESTINATIONS

I am out on the road this week with two sets of guests with some fabulous tours and amazing places and views. All full of history and interest - getting truly under the skin of west Norway and its rich history and culture.

Here are some of the highlights from one of the tours that I will be doing this week. If you are interested in a tour with me during your trip to Norway, then do get in touch - I am already taking bookings for 2025.

📷 as always, all photographs by me, and exact locations on request if you ask in the comments!

31/07/2024

SOME NEW PICTURES FOR YOU! ISLAND OF KINN

2 days ago I took a trip to somewhere I long had wanted to go - The Island of Kinn. Famous for its old medieval church, and the incredibly distinctive rock formation of Kinnaklova, Kinn is a beautiful island with amazing history, reached by boat from the coastal town of Florø. The church dates back to the 12th century and was a major centre in the late middles ages. Each year there is a historical play that takes place on the island - Kinnaspelet.

The island has seen recent fame by being one of the locations for the first of the recent movie adaptations of 'Dune'. Kinn and this part of the west Norway coastline served as the landscape of the world of Caladan, home to House Atreides. The final picture in this post shows the Kinnaklova rock formation as depicted in the movie. All the other photographs are by me.

Kinn is a possible location for a private guided tour with me, if you are visiting this part of west Norway. Please contact me for further information.

28/07/2024

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN IT RAINS?

I have some questions about my guided tours along the ines of 'what happens if it rains?'. My answer is: 'Get excited!' All of the photographs in today's post have been taken while I was actually standing in rain coming down (indeed look closely at the water in some of these photographs and you will see the proof!). Rain creates a different magic here in Norway, and it's spectacular, mysterious and just sometimes the word awesome seems never more appropriate!

Come rain or shine, my tours will find the magic for you. Ask me about private guided tours happening in 2025 if you are planning your trip now. Bookings are already coming...

📸 All photographs by me, and locations on request if you ask in the comments! Have a great weekend!

21/07/2024

I am so looking forward to guiding more wonderful guests this coming Tuesday, and one of the places we'll be visiting is the incredible Stegastein viewpoint in Aurland. Situated 650m (2130ft) above Aurlandsfjord, it's one of the mightiest fjord views in west Norway.

Interested in a private tour with me for 2025?
Then feel free to get in touch to discuss.

🎥 Video shot by me, March 2024.

18/07/2024

AUGUST COLOURS AND OPPORTUNITIES

August is the lush height of summer in southern and western Norway. Green colours build up to their full richness and the earth reaches full ripeness. The landscape is often constantly changing with summer rain showers - rainbows at every turn. The mountains are also full of the summer's crop of berries. It's a wonderful time to be in this part of Norway!

I still have have some very limited availability for private tours in the final week of August 2024. If you are interested in finding out more about my private tours, then see the link in the comments below. ⬇️

📷 All photographs by me and all taken in August.

15/07/2024

After yesterday's post and photographs about how beautiful the fjord is here at Hyllestad, well nature comes along and gives out another virtuoso performance. This time I was quick enough to get the drone up in the air and capture the magic. I hope you enjoy this short video of the results!

Here in Hyllestad, west Norway at Viking Footprints we are lucky to be so close to the coast that when we get a good sunset, it's often a great sunset. Enjoy...

14/07/2024

Summer evenings at one of the most spectacular hidden gems of west Norway, Lihesten in Hyllestad. The imposing mountain is just perfect for a summer evening - watch the sun get lower at around 22.30 to 23.00 before just before it dips out of sight for a few short hours. Amazingly this view can be had if you just bother with a 30 minute detour from the main E39 road between Bergen and Ålesund. Just a little deviation from the busy main road and you can be in fjord heaven.

13/07/2024

Go Viking in Hyllestad this summer! Thursday to Saturday through July and into August you can hop on the express boat from Bergen and book a package of activities with transport including a 2 hour visit to Viking Footprints and also entrance to Kvernsteinsparken (Millstone Park). Lots of Viking related fun to be had!

07/07/2024

THE COASTAL PARADISE OF WEST NORWAY

In many places of Norway, and here in west Norway too, it seems like a record summer for visitors. Yet, there are pressures that come with that and in some more popular places there is more and more a feeling that the crowds are not a good thing - for locals and also visitors too.

If you are looking for something different and away from the crowd, but no less beautiful, then look no further than the coastal areas of west Norway. Here is often a degree of quiet and peace that is unrivalled anywhere else. It takes a little planning and a little time to get around here, but the rewards - as I hope these pictures show - are just amazing! I think with the exception of Atlantic Ocean Road, these are all in the hidden gem category!

I still have late August availability for full day private tours with groups of 2 to 4 people. Do let me know what I can put together for you here in west Norway. And already some of you are talking to me about 2025, so again, if you are visiting next year and are interested in a private tour with me, do get in touch.

📷 All photographs by me. If you want to know any of these locations, just ask me in the comments.

02/07/2024

WHAT IS A HIDDEN GEM? LET ME SHOW YOU...

I'm often asked about 'hidden gems' in west Norway. What they are? Where they are? For me, a 'hidden gem', has to be just that. Hidden. At least from the glare of publicity in our social media driven world. For the truth of that look now further than Trolltunga. 10 years ago, Trolltunga, was a genuine hidden gem. Now (in my opinion) it's a circus.

For me, a hidden gem has to be a place where the chances are you are going to share that moment with no one else. You have the place to yourself. And here in west Norway, you don't have to try very hard - you just need to get off the main roads, off the beaten track and away from the 'tick box' style Norway holiday itineraries.

There you will find them. You don't even need to make a great deal of effort. There are hundreds where you can just drive and get out of your car, and enjoy. No hiking required.

All of these places in this post have these qualities: drivable by car; probably you'll share it with no-one else, and, of course is a gem - a genuine 'hidden' gem. But for that moment when you are there, it is no longer hidden and becomes yours.

These are the places I can take you to, and let you experience. Ask me about a private day's tour in west Norway. This summer is almost fully booked. I have a small amount of availability late August and early September only. Or if you are going to be here in 2025, do get in touch and let me tell you what I can do for you.

📷 All photographs are mine.

30/06/2024

PRIVATE TOUR IN LATE AUGUST OR EARLY SEPTEMBER?

Thanks to all of you for your continuing support in my ventures. I am so pleased that many of you have put your trust in me to guide for a day in magnificent west Norway. As a result I have only 2 available weeks left in my calendar for such tours. The last week of August and the first of September.

Here are some of the wonderful places I could weave into a tour for you and all of these pictures were taken in August to give you a favour of what you could see.

Do contact me if you are interest and want to discuss further.

23/06/2024

Just on our door step here at Viking Footprints in Hyllestad are fascinating parts of the story of the Viking Age in west Norway. Including the first documented settler of Iceland, Ingolfr Arneson, and the place where Harald Hardråde mustered his fleet in 1066 before the ill-fated attempt to take the throne of England. Read more in our latest blog post here:

In this second part about the Viking Coast around us at Viking Footprints, we again explore just a short hour or so drive in a modern iron box with wheels and how you can come into contact with asp…

22/06/2024

Wonderful to see Queen Sonja re-opening Astruptunet in Jølster. Astruptunet was the home and work place of the wonderful Norwegian painter Nikolai Astrup, whose visions of the rural life around him are some of the most beautiful and striking of all. I love Astrup, I love Astruptunet. The recent renovations and restoration work, which prompted this 're-opening' are a magnificent success. I look forward to returning here soon - perhaps a place that you might like to visit too? Definitely possible to build into a guided tour with me. Do message me if interested.

20/06/2024

One of Norway's most famous roads, Trollstigen will now be closed indefinitely due to safety reasons and until a dispute over who should pay for safety features is resolved. Bad news if you are touring in Norway this summer. I am lucky to report that none of my guided tours are affected by this decision. For those of you who had hoped to go to Trollstigen, you should note that it is still possible to visit the viewpoint from the southern side of the Fv 63 from Valldal.

📣UPDATE: You can still see the bends of Trollstigen from the Trollstigen plateau and view Trollstigen from above or from the parking at Trollstigfoten in Isterdalen.

👉 The Trollstigen road from Valldal to the Trollstigen plateau is OPEN. View the hairpin bends from above at the Trollstigen plateau on the Valldal side.
👉 View Trollstigen from below from Trollstigfoten. Trollstigen Gjestegård in Isterdalen remain open

📌 Due to increased risk of rockfall, unfortunately, the distinctive bends in Trollstigen are closed to both vehicular traffic, cyclists, and pedestrians for the remainder of the 2024 season. The closed section is between Isterdalen in Rauma/Åndalsnes and the bends leading up to the Trollstigen plateau. Please park only in designated areas.

🚗 Detour from Åndalsnes to Valldal/Trollstigen Plateau:
Åndalsnes – Sjøholt (E136) – Valldal (fv 650)

📷 Nordlandblog

16/06/2024

*** LIMITED AVAILABILITY ONLY FOR PRIVATE GUIDED TOURS - SUMMER 2024 ***

Here's a selection of the some of the places I will be taking my private guiding clients this summer. A rich variety of experience and enjoyment lies ahead for everyone, I hope.

If you are a part of 2-4 people and are interested in a day's private guiding with me, this summer, in west Norway, then please do drop me a message. I have some limited availability left.

13/06/2024

If you are travelling in Norway in a camping car this summer, just make sure you STICK TO THE TIMETABLE!!!! 🤣🤣🤣

06/06/2024

LOOKING FOR A DAY'S PRIVATE GUIDING FROM BERGEN?

If you are a small group of 1-4 people, I am offering private guided tours of a day's length (typically 09.00 pick up to 17.00 drop off) to show you hidden gems outside of the city.

The tour will give you a taste of life and landscape in this part of west Norway from the stone age to the present day. If you are interested, just fill in the form at the link below to make an enquiry about itineraries and cost. 😃

https://vikingfootprints.com/private-guiding-services/

29/05/2024

Soon we will open our Viking Footprints Experience for the summer season. We'll introduce you a little more to ordinary life during the Viking Age and (weather permitting) give you the chance to test your Viking hunting skills. Go Viking!

We are looking forward to 2024. Viking Footprints will be open from May until September, and also by special appointment. Come and experience a little of vik...

19/05/2024

A warm welcome to all new and existing followers !! 😃🇳🇴😃

As many of you already know, I am a passionate believer in the beauty of nature and the benefits it can bring us. I am also worried about the stresses that we place on nature by our use of it, and in the case of many, I am worried for those of us who don't, or are not able to, enjoy it enough.

As part of our Viking Footprints venture, this summer we will be dipping our toe in the water of what is known as Forest Bathing - a simple way to re-connect with nature and re-balance your own perspectives. We've made a video for you to illustrate what such an experience might look like with us. Please watch. And if you are interested in finding out more, then do get in touch.

In this modern world, many of us have lost touch with the natural world around us. Many of us have little understanding of the role nature plays in our lives...

17/05/2024

Gratulerer med dagen, Norge! 🇸🇯🎉🇸🇯🎉🇸🇯

Today, May 17th, is Norway's Constitution Day - a national celebration which is the biggest of the year. It seems many places are blessed with wonderful spring warm weather too! Whether you are celebrating here in Norway, or celebrating along with us elsewhere in the world, have a fantastic day!

Photo from Otternes, Aurland during 17 mai celebrations some years ago.

16/05/2024

Viking Footprints in Hyllestad. Our booking is now open at www.vikingfootprints.com

12/05/2024

SOME OF THE PLACES MY PRIVATE GUIDING CLIENTS WILL SEE WITH ME THIS SUMMER!

Interested in a day's private guiding during your trip to Norway?

I am currently offering day tours in the areas around Bergen, Flåm, Balestrand, Sogndal, Fjærland, Loen, Stryn, Skei, Førde and Nordfjordeid for small parties of 2 - 4 people.

I am open for enquiries and bookings through until early October 2023. My schedule is now filling up, so if you are interested in the possibilities of a private guided tour, then fill out the contact form here:

https://vikingfootprints.com/private-guiding-services/

I look forward to hearing from you! 😃 Have a great weekend!

11/05/2024

A magnificent sunset over a fjord in Norway. There is nothing in this video that would not have been seen 1000 years ago. The sunset is as fresh as in the Viking Age.

Indeed, not only can you see a sunset as the Vikings did, you can also travel to nearby Solund, where the very sunset of the Viking Age began. There, in 1066 CE, Harald Hardråde mustered a fleet to sail to England to capture the thrown, but was ultimately defeated at the Battle of Stamford Bridge by Harold Godwinson. Here at Viking Footprints, on the Fjord Coast of Norway, come and experience a different Viking story for yourself.

Find out more at:
https://vikingfootprints.com/

09/05/2024

When guiding, both privately and with Viking Footprints, I like to try to give people a sense of the history of a place that they stand in. Here in Norway, that's often pretty easy. In fact in this short video, there is nothing really visible that would not have been exactly the same 1000 years ago in the Viking Age (and indeed, before that). This is a similar sunset that those sailing this fjord would have seen then.

And over the mountain Lihesten in the centre of view are the islands of Solund, where historically, it could be said that the Sunset of the Viking Age began its course. The islands of Solund were where the Norwegian King Harald Hardråde mustered his fleet before his ill fated voyage to England and defeat in the Battle of Stamford Bridge in 1066 CE. History, here in Norway, is right outside, if you care to look and find it.

A magnificent sunset over a fjord in Norway. There is nothing in this video that would not have been seen 1000 years ago. The sunset is as fresh as in the Vi...

05/05/2024

COME AND SEE FOR YOURSELF

Our little piece of fjord beauty. I say little, because it gets none of the attention that say, places like, Flåm get. But I defy anyone to tell me that the sight of Lihesten mountain emerging from the morning cloudy mist isn't one of the most spectacular sights in west Norway. Just watch the video. Shot this morning. Yet almost no-one comes here.

If you are curious enough, then you'll find this view. Only 30 minutes drive from the main E39 road between Bergen and Ålesund. And maybe, just maybe, you might want to join us a Viking Footprints this summer for a little taste of a different Viking story. We are open for booking now.
https://vikingfootprints.com/

28/04/2024

VIKING FOOTPRINTS - SUMMER BOOKING NOW OPEN!

If you are in west Norway this summer why not Go Viking with us in Hyllestad!

Our summer activity schedule and booking is now open! You can choose between a 2 hour Viking Footprints Experience which runs at 10.30, 13.00 and 15.30:

https://vikingfootprints.com/viking-footprints-experience/
..or a Half day (4 hours) Private Group Experience if you want to book for your party of up to 10 persons and have us all to yourself:

https://vikingfootprints.com/viking-footprints-half-day/

We other you a bit of a different Viking story and lots of opportunities for you to try things for yourself!

26/04/2024

A fantastic opportunity for my Norwegian followers to get to know more of my old homeland with Fotefar temareiser 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿👍🏻

med Gunnstein Akselberg og Tore Skeie. 6. - 15. september 2025. Velkommen med på ein spennande tur i vikingane sine fotefar til øyane vest i havet. For mange...

21/04/2024

AS a guide and, for what of a better word, educator, it's really good (and fun, I think) to get underneath the basic knowledge of the past and learn a little of how people did things. In the Viking Age, in the cold north, knowing how to set and light a fire was a life sustaining and critical skill to have.

Here at Viking Footprints in Hyllestad if you book a half day private group experience with us, we will show you how.

https://vikingfootprints.com/viking-footprints-half-day/

Here's quick demonstration from that rather familiar looking guy without his camera...😅

20/04/2024

LOOKING FOR A PRIVATE GUIDE IN NORWAY?

Here is a little sample of some of the places that I could take you to if you book a day's private guiding with me. This summer I am offering very small groups of 2-4 the chance to be taken on a bespoke tour of some of Norway's finest and best natural and cultural gems. My offer concentrates in west Norway - so if you're visiting Bergen, Flåm or Loen, this might be something of interest to you.

To make an enquiry follow the link and fill in the simple form and I will get back to you promptly. Have a great weekend! 😃🇳🇴👍

https://vikingfootprints.com/private-guiding-services/