Airport Honningsvåg/Valan (ENHV)

At 71° 00’ 35” Honningsvåg Valan is almost the most northerly airport on mainland Europe. An attractive entry to have in one’s logbook.

Despite the fact that it only has about 5 movements a day, it is kept open because of ‘public service obligations’ – a lifeline to the small community of Valan. The local fireman proudly told me that by using their snowplough last year “we kept it black every day, including Christmas Day”. It is mainly used by people wishing to visit Nordkapp (see below). Its asphalt runway is surround by high terrain, especially at each end. There are two RNP approaches to Honningsvåg. RNP-A & RNP-D: but both have their difficulties. There is also an NDB approach with a 1334’ minima; but with ‘coastal effect’ and ‘night effect’ (and remember it is night for over 6 months of the year here!) I would only use it with previous practise – and I can’t see how a ‘foreign’ pilot could achieve that. Even the VFR approaches requires the same kind of curved intercepts at either end.

Once you have landed, though, you will be made very welcome. All 5 staff on duty (all with perfect English) will ply you with hot chocolate & biscuits and be keen to know your life history and adventures. The fireman offered me his car ‘if I needed to get in to town’ – 5km away. As I had my bicycle, I declined. One of the two town taxis might be available provided they are not taking someone to Nordkapp. There is no Avgas - the nearest was at Tromso ENTC. There is, though, a limited supply of Jet A.

Accommodation: I stayed at the reasonable 2* Scandic Bryggen https://www.scandichotels.com/hotels/norway/honningsvag/scandic-bryggen?_ga=1.213688919.2124388246.1474305034, located right on the harbour-front near the Tourist Office. It is a converted warehouse. Ask for a room overlooking the harbour and you can watch the Hurtigruten Ferry coming & going.

The town: With only a population of 3,000 the facilities are fairly basic; but there are, apart from the hotel, some restaurants and a few pubs. Like all these northern towns in Norway it was totally obliterated by the blitzkrieg of 1944, the only survivor being the little Honniggsvåg Church Worth a visit for the poignant pictures in the porch showing its use as a refuge in 1945.

Nordkapp: Most people – all 300,000 of them a year – come to Honningsvåg to visit Nordkapp. Although they would totally disagree with me, I think Nordkapp itself is a rip-off and a sham. There is a toll of 260NOK (which technically is valid for 24 hours but they know you are only going to go there once) in addition to the bus cost. [There is technically a cheaper fee of 180NOK which allows you to visit the site only, but not the ‘exhibits’; but one sometimes has to argue to get this.] Admittedly the view is spectacular, especially if one can get there for sunrise or for the Midnight Sun. One looks down on the wild surf some 307 metres below and perhaps dream of Svalbard ENSB, far away to the north. But at 71° 10’ 21” Nordkapp is NOT the furthest north of mainland Europe: that is at Knivskjeloddev, on a tiny spit to your left.

Knivskjeloddev: For a purist, like myself, this is the real and true northern point of mainland Europe: and one can walk there. The friendly Tourist Office in town can supply you with a helpful schematic leaflet and give you all the details of the local buses. The bus will drop you off at the car park some 6km south of the Nordkapp toll booth. The route is clearly marked from the car park and is signed on the way with easily identifiable Cairns. The walk can really only be accomplished in the summer - after the snow has melted and the autumn rains have not yet arrived. The 9km track is not too difficult – although the last section is quite steep. But good clothing and definite walking boots/shoes are a must; as well as some nourishment for the journey. One should allow at least 5 hours for the return trip. When you have arrived at latitude 71° 11’ 08”N (the real North Cape) there is a safe in a cairn which contains the visitor’s book. Sign your name and take a note of your number (remember to take a pen & paper for this). Back at the Tourist Office, for a small fee (nothing is free in Norway!) they will present you with a certificate and pin badge for your (great sense of) achievement. [Your fee actually goes to up keeping the path for future visitors.]