The Fjords

There's also the impossibly pretty shoreline hugging city of Alesund. To the north of Alesund lies the Atlantic Road, recently voted the most incredible stretch of tarmac (as Jeremy Clarkson would no doubt say) '... IN THE WORLD.' The Big Sur might have something to say about that particular result, but for sheer engineering flair and dramatic scenery this makes for a truly memorable road trip.

Finally, and straying away from the coastline for once, we wouldn't warrant the name Original Travel if we didn't sing the praises of the super-original Juvet Landscape Hotel, an architectural oddity that allows the full impact of the regions scenery into the bedrooms dotted around the woods thanks for huge ceiling to floor window walls.

Once you've stayed there and seen the rest of this stunning area in all its panoramic glory it won't just be Monty Python's Norwegian Blue parrot who'll be pining for the fjords.

Photo credits: The Atlantic Road, Credits: Øyvind Heen - Visitnorway.com; Name: Single track, Hellesylt, Credits: Mattias Fredriksson Photography AB - Visitnorway.com; Name: Blue Hour, Ålesund, Credits: Per Eide/visitnorway.com; Name: Dalsnibba, Credits: Espen Mills/Tasteofnationaltouristroutes.com/visitnorway.com; Name: From Randers Topp, Sunnmøre, Credits: Håvard Myklebust - Visitnorway.com; Name: From Stålberget, Norangsfjorden, towards Slogen, Credits: Håvard Myklebust/visitnorway.com; Name: Skiing in Fjord Norway. The Geirangerfjord in the back. Credits: Fredrik Schenholm - Visitnorway.com; Name: The Atlantic road, Credits: CH - Visitnorway.com; Name: The Atlantic Road, Møre and RomsdalCredits: C.H. - Visitnorway.com; Name: Geiranger, Møre og Romsdal; Credits: Terje Rakke/Nordic life - Visitnorway.com