Ostfold

Ostfold is Norway's gateway to Europe, and both the E6 and E18 roads pass through the county on their way to Sweden.

Norway's longest river, the Glomma, flows through the county and out into the Oslo Fjord in Fredrikstad.

It probably does not occur to many people, but the Idde Fjord and Svinesund are actually a tourist's first meeting with fjord Norway when they arrive in Ostfold via the E6 road.

Ostfold Countryside

Ostfold's countryside is diverse and rich in experiences. The westwards facing skerries with their round, bare rocks and multitude of sandy beaches provide a myriad of opportunities for sunbathing and swimming in the summer. The many lakes and waterways provide unique opportunities for fishing and canoeing. You can go for walks in the forests and meadows. All the cities have their own local forests with well-maintained ski tracks in the winter and hiking footpaths in the summer.

The mouth of the Idde Fjord is a good starting point for a trip through what many people regard as typical Ostfold – the skerries! The water and gentle lines of the bare rocks, small islands and skerries are a paradise for thousands of holidaymakers in boats and on land every summer.

Other people find their paradise when they arrive in Ostfold via the border crossing near Orje. Inner Ostfold is home to the least developed countryside in the county. This is the realm of deep forests and quiet lakes, large and small. It was here that Trygve Gulbranssen's famous book about rural life in a forest community in the 1700s was written, "Og bakom synger skogene". In this part of the county there are still places which remain untouched by modern land management, so there are many opportunities for quiet, bewitching moments. It is a true wilderness!

Ostfold is one of the few counties in Norway without real mountains. Large parts of the county are covered by coniferous forests with a multitude of small lakes. There are some hills and mountain ridges, the highest of which is SlavasshOgda at 336 metres above sea level.

At only 100 kilometres long and 80 kilometres wide, Ostfold truly offers a compact wealth of opportunities to experience nature.