A few notes about the route.
Part 3b: The NSCR in Norway between Horten and Helgeroa.
We love the North Sea Cycle Route in Norway. It is the route that started our passion for cycle touring and it was great fun to be back on this part of the route.
This section is actually one of the most densely populated parts of the NSCR in Norway. Forget wide open expanses of nothingness, this area of Norway is full of houses, farms and businesses. There are plenty of campsites and lots of beaches to explore if you have young children. There are smaller and larger urban areas and no shortage of supermarkets. You have to keep your wits about you in the bigger towns although signing on the route in this area (with the exception of a couple of places south of Horten) is very good. We navigated our way around with some free maps that we picked up at Sandefjord Tourist Office.
The terrain is actually quite demanding much like all the bits of the coast route we've cycled so far. No really big climbs but a constantly undulating landscape. It is very pretty there, especially at the end of the season when fields are full of golden wheat and the sun throws a golden light over the landscape in the evenings.
There is little to choose between the two alternative routes between Tønsberg and Sandefjord. The westerly route saves you a ferry, which might save you some time and gives you wonderful views of the Byfjord. The ferry from Enge Brygge is not that frequent so if you miss one you'll have to wait more than an hour and a half for the next one. However, it is a lovely ferry especially if the sun is shining. If you don't want to go round the coast south of Åsgårdstrand then you can follow the RV 311 to Tønsberg. It saves a bit of time and there was good provision for cyclists in 2008.
The route out to Larvik is also lovely also undulating as are the routes you can take to Helgeroa from Larvik. We took local Cycle Route 25 for a while on the way to Helgeroa and then followed the RV 311. We didn't encounter significant traffic. On the way back we followed all of the crinkly bits and extra loops that the NSCR makes. Stavern is worth stopping in for a little while, especially if it is sunny.
We stopped at Vasvik campsite for two nights. This is on a small spur to the West of the centre that has been bypassed by the E18. I don't know if it is still open, but it was the closest campsite to the ferry terminal in Larvik that we could find. In 2008 it was a fairly basic campsite but quiet and in a nice location. We'd stay there again if we were taking the ferry with bikes.