VIDEO: Senja Ring Road

It took a good while before we had the possibility to somewhat encircle the island. Before that, it was all about driving to the end of the road at the tip of a headland, and backtrack. For most parts of the island, this is still how you explore it. Since Senja has plenty of headlands, it can take more than a while to cover it all 🙂 No surprise then that the 2 hour or so “ring road” has become one of the most popular drives. Not only is it a more efficient way to see the island, but with scenery like that, this is something you definitely should not let pass by. My highlights, and probably everyone else’s, are Bergsbotn, with a viewing platform up in the mountain, Tungeneset, with a walkway that takes you down to the sea, and provides superb views of Okshornan, and the sandy beach at Ersfjord, with waves rolling in from the Atlantic Ocean.

As the bridge crossing from Finnsnes, on the mainland, over Gisundet to Silsand, a mainly residential area and the largest settlement on the island, is the only way to access Senja, if you don’t consider the car ferries that run during summer only, and the express passenger ferries that service two small villages in the south and the north, it makes Silsand your point of departure, and end of an Arctic adventure on the Island of Fairytales.

Update I: With a friend from Central Norway visiting, I just had to take her on this drive. Usually I have great weather when I go back home – this time unfortunately not so much. I have to say though, the fog adds a different expression and charm to a place. I also had the opportunity to have a look at the famous Milliondassen (Million Kroner Crapper) and Gulldassen (Golden Crapper) – public toilets that have cost 1.5 million Norwegian kroners (approx. 180.000 dollars) and 3.75 million Norwegian kroners (approx. 440.000 dollars) respectively. That’s a lot of money for a couple of crappers, but they are really cool!! Note the toilets are closed from the beginning of October through April every year.

Update II: A new crapper is in town, at Mefjordvær. The Boathouse Crapper. To see it you need to get off the ring road and explore Senja the “old-fashioned” way.

Note: Photo of me in Ersfjord is by my dear friend gorilkloften.

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Ersfjord:

Milliondassen, Tungeneset:

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Gulldassen, Ersfjord:

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