Hurtigruten - Norway

Long before humans settled the land, the mountains and valleys of Norway were the domain of the trolls. Powerful troll kings, Suliskongen and Vågakallen were among them, but both leaders struggled to control their young.

Suliskongen had seven beautiful daughters. Though they were trolls, they were unlike any others. Each sister possessed a unique beauty and a distinct personality, yet together, they formed a striking sight as they wandered the coastline.

Their father was very protective of them and forbade them from wandering too far from home after dark. Suliskongen sent his seven daughters to the maiden of Leka, Lekamøya, known for her wisdom and beauty, so she could turn them into responsible young ladies.

One evening, after a long day of exploring the coastal cliffs with Lekamøya, the seven sisters lost track of time and found themselves far from home. The moonlight shimmered on the water, and they couldn’t resist the temptation to take a swim. However, they were being watched.

The son of Vågakallen, Hestmannen, had left home and was looking for mischief. He had long harbored a secret desire for Lekamøya. That night, he had wandered the coast when he saw her and the sisters bathing in the moonlight.

As dawn approached, he set off to capture her. The sisters fled, but Hestmannen closed in, preparing to shoot an arrow to stop Lekamøya. The troll king of Sømna intervened, throwing his magical hat to block the arrow. Although this initially protected Lekamøya and the sisters, the emerging sunrise would have the final say

The Seven Sisters were caught by the light. In an instant, they were turned to stone, frozen forever in their flight.

Hestmannen, still chasing after them, was forever fixed in the shape of a rider looking south towards the sisters. Lekamøya made it as far as the county border and now stands on an island in Trøndelag.

The magical hat, which had fallen to the ground with the arrow stuck in it, was also turned to stone. Today, this hat is known as Torghatten, a famous mountain with a distinctive hole piercing through it, a reminder of the fateful arrow that once flew through the night sky.

Vågakallen still sits high up in Lofoten, unmoved, gazing out over his northern realm

Torghatten is further South and although we pass close by unfortunately we don’t actually see it from the ship so I have utilised the InternetEn savoir plus