Friluftsliv: the right to roam, DNT cabins and mountain sense

Allemannsretten – what you are allowed to do

Allemannsretten gives everyone the right to move freely in uncultivated land – forest, mountains, bogs and beaches that are not farmed or fenced in – even if someone else owns it. The rights are set out in the Outdoor Recreation Act of 1957.

You may pitch a tent for the night on uncultivated land at least 150 metres from the nearest inhabited house or cabin. If you want to stay more than two nights in the same place, you need the landowner's permission, except in the high mountains or far from other people. You may pick berries, mushrooms and flowers, but not take trees or dig up plants.

On cultivated land – fields, meadows, gardens and farmyards – the right does not apply in the same way. Don't walk across a field in summer, and keep your distance from houses. From 15 April to 15 September it is forbidden to light fires in or near forest, with a few exceptions where it clearly cannot cause a fire. And the rule everyone knows: take your rubbish home.

DNT and its cabins

Den Norske Turistforening, DNT, was founded in 1868 and today has more than 500 cabins and thousands of kilometres of marked trails. The trails are marked with a red T painted on rocks and cairns.

There are three kinds of cabin. At staffed cabins you get dinner and breakfast and can sleep in a bed without bringing food. Self-service cabins are locked with the DNT key and have a store of tinned and dried food; you pay for what you use. Unstaffed cabins have no food, so you have to bring everything yourself.

You get the key by becoming a member and paying a deposit. Staying overnight is cheaper for members, and most Norwegians who hike a lot are one. In the cabin the rules are simple: take your shoes off in the hall, wash up after yourself, and sign the cabin book before you leave.

The mountain code and the weather

Fjellvettreglene are nine simple rules for staying safe in the mountains. They were written in 1952 and last revised in 2016. The most quoted is the last one: «Vend i tide, det er ingen skam å snu» – turn back in time, there is no shame in turning around. Others are about planning your trip and telling someone where you are going, adapting the trip to your ability and the conditions, paying attention to weather and avalanche warnings, and carrying equipment even on short trips.

The weather changes quickly, especially in Western Norway and in the mountains. A sunny morning in Jotunheimen can turn into fog and sleet by lunchtime, even in July. Check yr.no before you go, and read the avalanche warning on varsom.no in winter.

That is why Norwegians have a saying you will hear often: «Det finnes ikke dårlig vær, bare dårlige klær» – there is no bad weather, only bad clothes. Wear wool next to your skin, a warm middle layer and a windproof shell on the outside. Cotton gets cold when it is wet. And in your backpack: map, compass, extra food, a thermos, something to sit on – and a charged phone.

Born with skis on their feet

Norwegians like to say they are «født med ski på beina», born with skis on their feet. It is almost true: many children ski before they start school, and kindergartens have ski days. Telemark is seen as the cradle of modern skiing, and Sondre Norheim from Morgedal is known for developing bindings and skis in the 1800s.

For most people skiing means cross-country, not downhill. In Oslo the floodlit tracks start right at the metro's end stations in Nordmarka, for example Frognerseteren and Sognsvann. An ordinary winter evening after work might be an hour on the lit track with a head torch.

Ut på tur, aldri sur – out on a trip, never grumpy. It rhymes in Norwegian, and it is a kind of life philosophy. You don't have to be fast. What matters is getting outside, taking a break on a rock with an orange and hot chocolate, and saying «Hei!» to the people you meet on the track. On a hike it is completely normal to greet strangers, even though you would never do it on the bus.

Useful phrases

Ut på tur, aldri sur!Out on a trip, never grumpy!
Det finnes ikke dårlig vær, bare dårlige klær.There is no bad weather, only bad clothes.
Vend i tide, det er ingen skam å snu.Turn back in time – there is no shame in turning around.
Skal vi gå en tur i helga?Shall we go for a walk at the weekend?
Hvor langt er det til hytta?How far is it to the cabin?
Er det lov å telte her?Is camping allowed here?
Kan du smøre skiene mine?Can you wax my skis?
Hva sier værmeldingen?What does the weather forecast say?