FJORD OF DREAMS

A trek through the Norwegian wilderness offers more than sweeping views, swims and mountains – Eliza Ketcher realises what it means to feel grounded and connected

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I'm standing at the edge of a fjord, gazing across glassy, gold-lit water under a sun that never set. It's just past midnight, and I'm bleary-eyed and exhilarated. Norway is full of moments like this: vast and bright, offering a kind of beauty that makes you feel both tiny and impossibly alive.

Previously a rookie outdoor enthusiast, Eliza's hike across the Norwegian wilderness helped her forge a new connection with nature (Eliza Ketcher) I’m in Bruvik, a small village an hour outside Bergen on Norway’s west coast. Rugged mountains rise out of the glacial water, inviting me to take an icy plunge. Despite Bergen receiving 250 days of rain per year, it’s a balmy 26C and nota cloud in sight. Perfect for a rookie outdoors enthusiast whose main experience with sleeping under canvas is at a music festival, perhaps once a year.

I’ve been brought here by the outdoor brand Helly Hansen, where I’m testing the brand’s latest gear against the elements. Known for kitting out Olympians, national teams and mountain guides, the brand is now putting its professional-grade kit to the test on someone like me - the living embodiment of “all the gear and no idea”.