Eid

We arrived in sleepy Nordfjordeid with few plans for the day. We visited the amazing Loen skylift last year, but didn't feel the need to repeat it. So thought we'd have a relaxed day. However, over breakfast, we reconsidered the hill-climb path that it was too hot for last year...and, despite aching legs from yesterday, decided to give it a go. 2.1km up a 414m ascent. We thought we might have company for the walk, but it turns out the lost ladies that approached us were looking for the route to Hornindal Lake at the end of the valley.

We knew from the reviews it could be a pretty steep and pretty muddy track. It definitely was. We climbed along the narrow path, at times rocky, at times muddy, at times covered in tree roots. Often with sheer drops down and a seemingly unending wall of ground upwards. Lots of huffing and puffing, and a good degree of stubbornness saw us up the hill, and to the Osvatnet lake at the top. We were however treated to beautiful views over the length of the fjord as we ascended. The photos don't do justice to just how steep and scrambling some of the climb was. It was a much quieter route than Nesaksla yesterday - we only passed one other pair of walkers on the whole walk.

Arriving at the lake, I had enough time to take off my boots and put my feet in the water before the cloud rolled in and it started to rain. So we didn't stay long before going back down the steep trail rather nervous of slipping, tripping, or barrelling over a sheer edge of the narrow path. We both took a spill in the mud on the way down but thankfully nothing serious. The rain passed mercifully quickly but the beautiful views had become somewhat mist-laden.

Back in town with tired legs, we were grateful for the walk as Sunday meant almost everything was closed (except a jolly chap, dressed in furs, and his second hand shop). So we headed back to the ship instead and spent an afternoon playing crib, watching Olympic Volleyball and the Belgian Grand Prix. Of course, we're now confined to lower decks on the ships as our legs are in all out rebellion and we don't use lifts.Read more