Finland
Finland was very pleasant and pretty with forests and lakes in abundance. For us we did not find too much other interest (see some below).
Camping was very good with many areas often with a fire-pit in a modern "Sami-type" shelter and wood provided
Karigasniemi (Monday 4th July) to Haparanda (Tuesday 12th)
Monday 4th July The long straight and hilly road In Finland to E75 Overnight in a Rest area. Weather poor
Tuesday Very short drive to Inari and then a decent carpark Weather again poor and a very heavy thunderstorm.
Wednesday. Late start and short drive to just South of Saariselka. Weather a bit better but heavy rain again at night
Thursday Better weather and 1st stop at an old gold town. Ok but nothing special
Then on to a nice area by a lake/dam/canal. Sunshine and showers x3
Friday Stayed at lake/dam/canal
Saturday Weather much better and south past S of Sodankyla.
Rest area with restaurant and Party12$ entry Nice Music expensive drink (singular)
Sunday / Monday Found a nature reserve with carpark and BBQ hut Near Vikajarvi so 2 nights here
Tuesday South to Rovaniemi (Santa Town) and then on to Sweden
Camping was very good with many areas often with a fire-pit in a modern "Sami-type" shelter and wood provided
Karigasniemi (Monday 4th July) to Haparanda (Tuesday 12th)
Monday 4th July The long straight and hilly road In Finland to E75 Overnight in a Rest area. Weather poor
Tuesday Very short drive to Inari and then a decent carpark Weather again poor and a very heavy thunderstorm.
Wednesday. Late start and short drive to just South of Saariselka. Weather a bit better but heavy rain again at night
Thursday Better weather and 1st stop at an old gold town. Ok but nothing special
Then on to a nice area by a lake/dam/canal. Sunshine and showers x3
Friday Stayed at lake/dam/canal
Saturday Weather much better and south past S of Sodankyla.
Rest area with restaurant and Party12$ entry Nice Music expensive drink (singular)
Sunday / Monday Found a nature reserve with carpark and BBQ hut Near Vikajarvi so 2 nights here
Tuesday South to Rovaniemi (Santa Town) and then on to Sweden
Sweden
We found Sweden very pleasant, excellent scenery and camping, not as stunning as Norway but still very very nice
Haparanda Tuesday 12th July to Sorsele Monday 18th
Tues/Wed - Arrived at 4pm (3pm) after easy drive down the E45.
Good parking/overnight at IKEA with Water Waste and Toilet....Minor shopping. Stayed for 2 nights in the IKEA aire.
This is just over the border from the Finnish town of Tornio where we did some shopping
Thursday 14th - Medium drive to Gammelstad and overnight....just a car park but toilet available
World Heritage Site ..but not very good
Friday/Saturday - Drive south for a) Services b) LPG (Pitea) c) Camping at very nice area Javre harbour
Javre a very nice aire for 2 nights with a garage shop for a few essentials. Beer reasonable priced if a bit weak (3.5%)
Sun 17th - Short drive to Boliden but rest area not suitable. On to Arsvidsjaur.. again not suitable
On to Sorsele good parking in town centre with Toilet so OK Longish drive (170miles)
Mon 18th - Shopping in Sorsele before driving south on E45 and spotting a nice area by a lake/river.
Tuesday 19th - Lake camping very nice so stay there.
Haparanda Tuesday 12th July to Sorsele Monday 18th
Tues/Wed - Arrived at 4pm (3pm) after easy drive down the E45.
Good parking/overnight at IKEA with Water Waste and Toilet....Minor shopping. Stayed for 2 nights in the IKEA aire.
This is just over the border from the Finnish town of Tornio where we did some shopping
Thursday 14th - Medium drive to Gammelstad and overnight....just a car park but toilet available
World Heritage Site ..but not very good
Friday/Saturday - Drive south for a) Services b) LPG (Pitea) c) Camping at very nice area Javre harbour
Javre a very nice aire for 2 nights with a garage shop for a few essentials. Beer reasonable priced if a bit weak (3.5%)
Sun 17th - Short drive to Boliden but rest area not suitable. On to Arsvidsjaur.. again not suitable
On to Sorsele good parking in town centre with Toilet so OK Longish drive (170miles)
Mon 18th - Shopping in Sorsele before driving south on E45 and spotting a nice area by a lake/river.
Tuesday 19th - Lake camping very nice so stay there.
Sorsele (Monday 18th) to Gubbhogen (Tues 26th)
Nice area by Lake (Sandjos for 2 nights).
To Vilhelmina (shopping water) and to Malgomaj (2 nights).
Again a nice "hard but grassy" area right by the large lake.
Friday
Lovely, lovely drive up the valley to Klimfjall then to Stekenjokk (very near Norway) but no good camping.
Down to Ankarede 150 SEK in large carpark with all facilities
Saturday 23rd Sunday 24th
Down towards the E45 We found a very nice hard/grassy area by lake near Bagede campfire in evening.
Monday 25th Gubbhogen - A superb "semi-wild" camp in a nature reserve by a lake donation asked for (and given) 2 nights here.
This was our best few days in Sweden
Nice area by Lake (Sandjos for 2 nights).
To Vilhelmina (shopping water) and to Malgomaj (2 nights).
Again a nice "hard but grassy" area right by the large lake.
Friday
Lovely, lovely drive up the valley to Klimfjall then to Stekenjokk (very near Norway) but no good camping.
Down to Ankarede 150 SEK in large carpark with all facilities
Saturday 23rd Sunday 24th
Down towards the E45 We found a very nice hard/grassy area by lake near Bagede campfire in evening.
Monday 25th Gubbhogen - A superb "semi-wild" camp in a nature reserve by a lake donation asked for (and given) 2 nights here.
This was our best few days in Sweden
Wednesday 27th July (Gubbhogen) to Helsingor
Dreadful road conditions for 5 to 10 miles less than 10mph. Road being totally rebuilt the base layer of very rough stones/gravel was in place. Shopping in Stromsund then later in "Dollar Store". Long drive before we found camping. Big fire and Camp oven.
Just north of Ytterhogdal
Thursday 28th - Stay at camp. Big fire and Camp oven
Friday 29th - Short drive to Korskrogen
Good rest area with water etc Better picnic site by river CADAC BBQ
Sat 30th - Into Farila for shopping then vg rural road to Sandsjon Nice Picnic site
Sunday 31st July - Short drive to Edsbyn Sports Centre. Nice camping with all facilities and free
Problem with waste from kitchen sink. Not cleared with coke
Monday 1st Aug - Stay at Edsbyn but no success with drainage
Tuesday 2nd Aug - Drive to Borlange and visit 2 MH dealers
No 1 have to wait 1 week and probably about £150/ No 2 tried but failed but gave us hope
Wednesday 3rd - Short drive to Smedjebacken.lovely harbour with all facilities
I used yellow ramps to jackup MH. Detached all 3 waster pipies
Shortest = shower / Next = bathroom WM / Longest = Kitchen sink
Hurray ..All clear and loads of muck..Plunger helps
Very difficult re-attaching hoses but OK
Thursday 4th Aug (Friday Saturday) To lovely aire at Karlskoga (Alfred Nobel)
Free everything inc wi-fi only allowed 3 nights but that is good
Sunday - Move south to Motala
Monday - Further south to Eksjö and picnic site. More flushing but I think nearly clear
Tuesday 9th Wednesday 10th - 2 hr drive southwards
Lovely lovely farm site near Rydaholm. so 2 nights here.. all facilities but good water a bit limited (but 4 WCs enough to fill up)
Thursday 11th - Helsingborg to Helsingor. Very short easy crossing but expensive at over £90 for a 20 min crossing
Dreadful road conditions for 5 to 10 miles less than 10mph. Road being totally rebuilt the base layer of very rough stones/gravel was in place. Shopping in Stromsund then later in "Dollar Store". Long drive before we found camping. Big fire and Camp oven.
Just north of Ytterhogdal
Thursday 28th - Stay at camp. Big fire and Camp oven
Friday 29th - Short drive to Korskrogen
Good rest area with water etc Better picnic site by river CADAC BBQ
Sat 30th - Into Farila for shopping then vg rural road to Sandsjon Nice Picnic site
Sunday 31st July - Short drive to Edsbyn Sports Centre. Nice camping with all facilities and free
Problem with waste from kitchen sink. Not cleared with coke
Monday 1st Aug - Stay at Edsbyn but no success with drainage
Tuesday 2nd Aug - Drive to Borlange and visit 2 MH dealers
No 1 have to wait 1 week and probably about £150/ No 2 tried but failed but gave us hope
Wednesday 3rd - Short drive to Smedjebacken.lovely harbour with all facilities
I used yellow ramps to jackup MH. Detached all 3 waster pipies
Shortest = shower / Next = bathroom WM / Longest = Kitchen sink
Hurray ..All clear and loads of muck..Plunger helps
Very difficult re-attaching hoses but OK
Thursday 4th Aug (Friday Saturday) To lovely aire at Karlskoga (Alfred Nobel)
Free everything inc wi-fi only allowed 3 nights but that is good
Sunday - Move south to Motala
Monday - Further south to Eksjö and picnic site. More flushing but I think nearly clear
Tuesday 9th Wednesday 10th - 2 hr drive southwards
Lovely lovely farm site near Rydaholm. so 2 nights here.. all facilities but good water a bit limited (but 4 WCs enough to fill up)
Thursday 11th - Helsingborg to Helsingor. Very short easy crossing but expensive at over £90 for a 20 min crossing
Thus we return to Denmark and mainland (almost) Europe. Camping throughout Sweden was very good and north of Ostersund very little traffic. I believe the area near Rydaholm to be worth spending more time and indeed the area either side of the Gota canal http://www.gotakanal.se/en/
Denmark to the UK
Vaerlose Simply a free overnight by a museum in a nice town
Munke B A farmhouse with several places Water Sewage EHU
Haderslev A "private house" with EHU
Kiel Canal Schachtholm a very nice stellplatz overlooking the Kiel Canal
Rotenburg Pleasant enough
Cloppenberg Yes we stayed here on the way out very nice
Moers A very hi-tech stellplatz conveniently located jut off the main East-West Euro Route
Grobbendonk Again a re-visit
Oye Plage Nice town and very convenient fo Calais
Munke B A farmhouse with several places Water Sewage EHU
Haderslev A "private house" with EHU
Kiel Canal Schachtholm a very nice stellplatz overlooking the Kiel Canal
Rotenburg Pleasant enough
Cloppenberg Yes we stayed here on the way out very nice
Moers A very hi-tech stellplatz conveniently located jut off the main East-West Euro Route
Grobbendonk Again a re-visit
Oye Plage Nice town and very convenient fo Calais