Ut på tur, aldri sur - A nudge for March

I always think March is the hardest month in terms of weather in Stavanger. The winter delights are fading into memory. Spring still feels miles away when looking out of the window into a dreary blustery sky. Never mind that the beginning of March marks the start of meteorological springtime. I remember going out one year to take photos of my neighbourhood walks in March. It was a conscious attempt to capture that atmosphere just before the start of spring. Tree still bare, the earth and grass tired of all the rain and slush of snow; browns and greys were the main colours in the photographs. The photos were no Instagram material for sure. Having said all this, Norwegians have a very positive state of mind when it comes to heading out, even in March. They have a saying for it ‘Ut på tur, aldri sur’. It means that you will never really feel bad for having gone out for a walk or hike; that it will do you good being outside on a ‘tur’. Sometimes we need to remind ourselves of these types of truths and beliefs, that have been passed down for generations for a good reason.

About ten years ago Stavanger municipality, together with the Stavanger Hiking Association STF, introduced a series of 52 walks in and around the city. They are a great way to get to know your neighbourhood, but also the city as such on foot. You can find them all here: 52 everyday trips

The website lets you filter by difficulty, length, and accessibility. There is an overview map and each tour has its own description and map. The idea behind them is to lower the threshold for people to go out and explore the city, its green spaces, lakes and fjords. One of my favourites has to be the walk around the island of Vassøy. Just taking that short ferry ride gives me an instant holiday feeling. If you have been in Stavanger for a while, it is likely that you actually might have come across the ’T’ sign that guide walkers around these trips and tours. To get started, you can just have a look at the one in your own neighbourhood. It is likely to give you a new viewpoint (quite literally probably) on the area you live in! The ’52 hverdagsturer’ translate as ‘everyday trips’, but it is also neat to realise that you could do a different one every week and be busy for a year! Or do the same walk once a month starting now in March, and watch the scenery change in front of your eyes as spring and summer arrive.

If you haven’t hiked before and feel a bit apprehensive of going out, these city and surrounding walks could be a great way to ease you out of your comfort zone. You can learn how to use a map and follow signs. Sometimes you might come across a building site or roadworks that you need to navigate where some signs might have been temporarily removed. It will make you more confident for when spring and summer arrive and you want to head out further afield.

In addition to the 52 ‘hverdagsturer’, in case you would like to get inspiration and information on other shorter walk and hikes, our guidebook ‘Hiking Lysefjord and Beyond’ might be of interest. It has two chapters dedicated to these type of walks and hikes, some of which include ‘hverdagsturer’ that we are particularly fond of, and others that also describe where you are going and what you are seeing, For more information see: iventureout.com/lysefjord-and-beyond.

Happy walking this month and remember: ’Ut på tur, aldri sur’