Author: Rick Mc

Career gymnastics coach who loves the outdoors, and the internet.
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Climbing Veggan from Uttakleiv Beach, Lofoten, Norway

Trip report by BestHike editor Rick McCharles

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

My best campsite in Norway was at Uttakleiv beach. $20. The only time I paid for camping in a nation where you can camp almost everywhere free.

Early next morning I had to decide whether to climb Veggen or the more popular Mannen.

For no particular reason, I decided on Veggan (“the wall”) which is a bit higher at 489m. Starting early morning, I had the summit to myself.

Like many day hikes in Norway, it’s an unrelenting climb with one good photo stop at lake Vasskarvatnet.

On departing Uttakleiv, I enjoyed the walk along the coast to Haukland beach rather than try to walk through the automobile tunnel.

BONUS ➙ more footage of the beach. Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

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Hiking 226 km on the ROTA VICENTINA, Portugal

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

If interested in planing for Portugal yourself, check Roberto’s TIPS:

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

The BEST section is the 4 days from Porto Covo to Zambujeira do Mar.

Click PLAY or watch my highlights from those 4 days on YouTube.

related – Fisherman’s Trail, Portugal – Detailed Guide

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Hiking Sandbotnen beach to Ryten Summit, Lofoten, Norway

Trip report by BestHike editor Rick McCharles

There are a few options for climbing Ryten. And connecting other summits and beaches.

A beautiful day, I opted to start on Sandbotnen Beach, messing around for an hour before finally starting up the super popular Ryten hike.

With side trips that ended up about 12km and 673m elevation gain.

Click PLAY or get a glimpse on YouTube.

I stayed at the excellent nearby Lydersen Rorbuer hostel.

It is amazing to see beautiful sand beaches well above the Arctic Circle.

Sandbotnen beach, Lofoten

It’s muddy to start, though — for a welcome change in Norway — there are some helpful boardwalks.

Part way up there are some pretty lakes.

Sheep near the top of the mountain.

The weather was typical: sunny, rainy, windy, calm … with threatening lightning. 😀

That’s Kvalvika Beach way down below. I didn’t make the detour but wished I had done so.

Kvalvika Beach

Great views from the top.

Ryten summit cairn

On the way down, clouds formed in the cooler valleys.

There’s a mountain hut on Ryten.

Of the many famous day hikes I’ve done in the Lofoten archipelago, Ryten is one of my favourites.

related – Earth Trekkers Trip Report

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Hiking out of Bodø, Norway

The gateway to the wonderful Lofoten archipelago is the town of Bodø, the end of the train line north.

It’s usually cheaper and easier to fly as the train is a 17 hour overnight journey from Oslo. The town is so compact that you can easily walk from the airport to the train station.

On my two trips to the awesome Lofoten hikes, I’ve spent quite a few days in Bodø — supposedly in transit.

It’s worth wandering the streets of Bodø.

ALSO — there is some hiking available walking from the centre of town.

I went first to Bestefarvarden. An interesting scramble among rocky cliffs overlooking the sea.

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The “hike” starts close to this beach, well above the Arctic Circle.

I left a Summit Stone there.

Click PLAY or get a glimpse on YouTube.

From there, I walked through an industrial zone to reach the city fortress (redoubt). Small, but interesting. With good views over to Bodø centre.

In addition, many tourists visit Saltstraumen, a small strait with one of the strongest tidal currents in the world. 

There’s more to Bodø than only a transit point.

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HERO Video – Reinebringen, Lofoten, Norway

The main reason to buy a drone is so you can fly to Norway and get the HERO video atop Reinebringen, likely the most popular photo op above the Arctic Circle. 😀

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Click over to our Reinebringen information page for details on how YOU can climb this famous peak.

It’s one of our top 10 day hikes in the world.

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HOW to Hike Huayhuash, Peru

The best hike in the world for me personally was the Huayhuash Circuit,

We did rent a cook tent and hire a mule driver, but decided on our route independently.

Huayhuash is dangerous. Hikers have died there. This is arguably the best hike in the world but is appropriate only for robust, experienced high altitude trekkers. 

The greatest danger is altitude sickness. We hired horses instead of mules so we could evacuate by horse, if necessary. Smart trekkers do some acclimatization treks out of Huaraz before catching the bus to Huayhuash.

Click PLAY or watch tips and gear recommendations on YouTube.

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My Arctic Norway Cycling & Hiking Highlights

BestHike editor Rick McCharles

Though I had to cancel my planned 3000km bikepacking adventure after SAS (Scandinavian Airlines) left my bike box at Heathrow for over a month 🤨, I still enjoyed my 4-5 weeks above the Arctic Circle.

Check my short HIGHLIGHTS VIDEO.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.