The Honningsvåg and Montrose connection

So, what is the connection? Read on to find out.

The route here from Tromsø passed by the Norwegian Alps as well as endless further stunning mountains, fjords, straits and sounds.

We felt we were lucky to catch a glance of some whales over breakfast this morning. Just a few blowhole spouts and a tale fluke but still pretty exciting. Later however it was much better. On leaving Honningsvåg this evening we saw two separate pods of whales, a half hour apart, surrounding and feasting on bait balls of fish. Very exciting. I have some photos, hopefully, but not on my phone and not yet able to share. I will do so when I can.

Meanwhile, Honningsvåg has a population of 2,100, lies at 71 10 21° and is the most northerly town on mainland Europe. It sits on the southern side of the North Cape.

Much of this wider region in Northern Norway was systematically depopulated and destroyed by retreating German forces and Honningsvåg was no exception. The image below was taken in 1946. The church is pretty much the only buliding left standing.

At the time Honningsvåg had a similar population as it does presently and the picture below was taken today. It is from a similar angle and you should just be able to make out the church spire in the upper right centre of the image.


Honningsvåg is a very vibrant community with a large fishing industry, a thriving arts and cultural scene, an interesting wee local museum and is a popular tourist destination. It is very pleasant, pretty, welcoming and friendly. Well worth a visit should you ever be passing by!

So, back to Montrose. Well, Bamse the Norwegian Naval Mascot is a decorated WW2 St Bernard dog. Following the occupation of Norway in 1940 his ship was one of 13 Norwegian naval vessels that escaped and sailed to Scotland. His ship went on to serve as a minesweeper based in Dundee and Montrose and his story could rival that of Greyfriars Bobby. He died at the end of the war and is buried in Montrose. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bamse_%28dog%29?wprov=sfla1)

There is a statue of Bamse in Montrose facing NE towards Honningsvåg and there is a matching statue here on the quayside facing SE towards Montrose.

This evening we sailed past the North Cape of Nordkapp, the most northerly point of the European mainland and set off even further north into the vast Arctic Ocean towards Svalbard. 

Tomorrow we are not all at sea but we are at sea all day with our main point of interest passing by Bear Island which is an uninhabited island (which has no bears either) lying halfway between here and Svalbard. 

I may not post a blog tomorrow and wait until we have seen and set foot upon Longyearbyen in Spitsbergen on Svalbard.

Onward and upwards.

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