Icelandic Intrigue & Norwegian Fjords

Dover, the world’s busiest ferry port, is located in the county of Kent, England, at the extreme SE corner of Britain. It faces France across the narrowest part of the English Channel, 35 km away across the Straits of Dover. Possibly best known for its lyrically famous ‘White Cliffs’, archaeological finds have revealed that the area has always been a focus for peoples entering and leaving Britain, and this continues to this day. Read more about Dover, Great Britain

Invergordon is a deepwater port near the entrance of Cromarty Firth, "the seaway to the Scottish Highlands." Inverness, where shopping is great and visitors can see tartans being made, is the capital of the Highlands, and is a half an hour drive from Invergordon. Loch Ness, home of the elusive monster, is just a few kilometres beyond. The town of Invergordon itself is small and modern, and now specialises in the construction of large offshore wind turbines. Read more about Invergordon, Great Britain

Lerwick is the capital and main port of the Shetland Islands, Scotland, located more than 160 km off the north coast of mainland Great Britain. Open to shipping in all weathers, it operates around-the-clock. Lerwick has strong ties with Scandinavian countries, particularly Norway, and this is reflected in the street names of the port. Read more about Lerwick, Great Britain

Djupivogur, a town (pop. 400) with a history of trading since 1589, lies on the east coast of Iceland in a region of incomparable natural beauty. The nearby lagoon, the Vatnajokull icecap and a range of glacial tongues feature some of Iceland's most famous scenery. Read more about Djupivogur, Iceland

Heimaey is the largest island (13.4 sq.km.) in the Westman Islands or Vestmannaeyjar cluster, 7.4 km off the south coast of Iceland. The Landnáma Icelandic record states it was first settled in about 900. It is the only island in Vestmannaeyjar that is populated, with around 5000 inhabitants. Read more about Heimaey, Iceland

Reykjavik, the capital and largest city of Iceland, is the gateway to Iceland's stunning natural wonders, which range from ice fields to boiling thermal pools. The landscape on the island seems to be in a continual process of transformation much like its society, which blends Nordic tradition with sophisticated technology. On the waterfront see the open-air history of shipping disasters. Read more about Reykjavik, Iceland

The capital of the Westfjords of Iceland is Isafjordur. The landscape is majestic, with fjord after fjord towering above shore and sea, but each and every fjord has its own distinctive character. Tiny fishing villages nestle at their foot. Read more about Isafjordur, Iceland

The town of Akureyri with its population of 17,000 is the administrative, transportation, and commercial centre of North Iceland. It is situated at the head of the 60 km long Eyjafjordur fjord, the longest and one of the most breathtaking fjords in Iceland. At first sight it appears as though it was transplanted from the Swiss Alps, as behind the city are beautiful farmlands that rise gently to year-round snow-capped granite mountains that provide the best skiing in Iceland. Read more about Akureyri, Iceland

Vopnafjordur (Vopnafjörður) is a village and municipality in Northeast Iceland, standing on a peninsula in the middle of a mountainous bay of the same name. The main industries of Vopnafjörður are fish processing, agriculture, tourism and other services. Vopnafjörður attracts salmon fishers, artists, and celebrities. Read more about Vopnafjordur, Iceland

The Orkney Islands, an archipelago of more than 70 islands, graced with temperate weather warmed by the Gulf Stream, feature some of the most dramatic coastal scenery. There are sea cliffs, some over 300m, descending to sooth white-sand beaches. Yet even more fascinating are the more than 1,000 prehistoric sites that have been found here. Read more about Orkney Islands, Great Britain

Dover, the world’s busiest ferry port, is located in the county of Kent, England, at the extreme SE corner of Britain. It faces France across the narrowest part of the English Channel, 35 km away across the Straits of Dover. Possibly best known for its lyrically famous ‘White Cliffs’, archaeological finds have revealed that the area has always been a focus for peoples entering and leaving Britain, and this continues to this day. Read more about Dover, Great Britain

Trondheim, Norway, lies on the south shore of the Trondheimsfjord at the mouth of the river Nidelva. Norway's capital of technology is a lively and historical university town. It is home to the famous Nidaros Cathedral built from 1070 onwards that became a most important pilgrimage site during the Middle Ages. Read more about Trondheim, Norway

Brønnøysund is “the coastal town in the middle of Norway”, adjacent to the North Sea and just below the Arctic Circle. Brønnøysund sits on a narrow peninsula on the mainland surrounded by islands and water. Its population is just 5000. Read more about Bronnoysund, Norway

Arctic Svolvær is one of the main towns in Lofoten, and the administrative centre for the Norway’s Vågan municipality on the island of Austvågøy - the easternmost of the Lofoten chain. The towering islands of the ‘Lofoten Wall’ stretch for more than a hundred miles along Norway¹s coast. In Svolvaer, discover a picturesque harbour overlooking the Vestfjord. Read more about Svolvaer, Norway

Tromsoe, the home of the famous Northern Lights, is situated a mere 2000 km from the North Pole, on the same latitude as Northern Siberia and Alaska. Most visitors are surprised by the prominence and sophistication of this fascinating port. On offer are high-quality theatre, arts and music, which contrast with the boundless and vast wilderness surrounding the city. Read more about Tromsoe, Norway

Honningsvåg, Norway, lies deep within the Arctic Circle at 71 deg.N. latitude, on the island Magerøya. Twenty-two km north of Honningsvåg is North Cape, the northernmost part of mainland Europe. Read more about Honningsvag, Norway

Olden is located in the county of Sogn og Fjordane in Western Norway, at the head of the Nordfjord, the sixth longest fjord in the country. The southernmost of the three short branches at the inner end of the fjord terminates at Olden, from which a lovely valley, Oldedalen, strikes due south for some 20 km between slopes rising sharply to more than 1700 m. At the end of the valley is Briksdal Glacier, the best-known arm of the Jostedalsbreen glacier which is the largest in mainland Europe. Read more about Olden, Norway

Bergen, the second largest city in Norway, is located in the county of Hordaland on the SW coast of Norway. Surrounded by seven mountains, Bergen is the starting point for fjord tours and cruises as it is located midway between the main Sognefjord and the Hardangerfjord. The city was one of nine European cities honoured with the title of European Capital of Culture in the Millennium year. Read more about Bergen, Norway

Rotterdam - located at the Rhine-Meuse-Scheldt delta on the North Sea - is the largest port in Europe, and a perfect starting point for excursions to the cities of Holland. Few cities rebounded as quickly as Rotterdam following the Nazi invasion, which levelled the medieval heart of town, burning most of it to the ground. Today some of Europe's most bold contemporary architecture, such as the unique Cube Houses, can be found amid classic 18th and 19th C buildings in this, the greatest comeback city in the world. Read more about Rotterdam, Netherlands

Dover, the world’s busiest ferry port, is located in the county of Kent, England, at the extreme SE corner of Britain. It faces France across the narrowest part of the English Channel, 35 km away across the Straits of Dover. Possibly best known for its lyrically famous ‘White Cliffs’, archaeological finds have revealed that the area has always been a focus for peoples entering and leaving Britain, and this continues to this day. Read more about Dover, Great Britain