The Western Fjords - Norway - page 505

magnificent observation point . Projecting out over the fjord way below, pine-clad,
simple and striking like the best of Norwegian design, it's almost as impressive as the
stunning panorama itself.
Lærdal
LÆRDALSØYRI
POP 2200
The village of Lærdalsøyri, usually called Lærdal, is where the lovely green dale of the
same name (whose fertile lower reaches produce the juiciest of cherries) meets the fjord.
A quiet place nowadays, it was once a busy port, where produce from the surrounding area
was loaded on Bergen-bound boats, which also bore so many rural emigrants on the first
stage of their journey to a new life in the US.
If you're planning to camp anywhere within the western fjords, this place, which locals
claim is Norway's second-driest village, is your spot!
Sights & Activities
The town makes for pleasant strolling beside well preserved 18th- and 19th-century timber
homes, warehouses and fisherfolk's shacks. The tourist office has a free town map that de-
scribesthebestofthemandsetsoutawalkingroute.Itwillalsolendyouafreeaudioguide
that takes you around the town's top 11 spots (leave your passport or ID as guarantee).
There's free fishing in the fjord, and the upper reaches of the Lærdal river are good for
trout (day permits are normally available from the nearest campground).
For ideas about hiking , pick up the tourist office's free leaflet of walks in the area. It
also sells a much more detailed map of the area (Nkr139) at a scale of 1:50,000.
Norsk Villaks Senter WILD SALMON CENTRE
( www.norsk-villakssenter.no ; adult/child Nkr90/55; 10am-5pm, to 6pm or 7pm
May-Sep) You can watch wild salmon and sea trout through viewing windows, see an ex-
cellent 20- minute film about the salmon's lifecycle, browse the interpretive panels, try to
tie flies to increase the odds of you hooking one of your own and do a little virtual casting.