St Olav Ways

Pilgrims walked to Nidaros from across northern Europe from the eleventh century until the Reformation banned the practice, and the routes were mapped and reopened from the 1990s, receiving European Cultural Route status in 2010. There are several: the Gudbrandsdalen path from Oslo, 643 kilometres and the most walked, the Ostersund route from Sweden, the coastal path and others, all converging on Nidaros Cathedral where Olav's shrine stood. Walkers carry a pilgrim passport stamped along the way and receive a certificate at the Pilgrim Centre in Trondheim. Accommodation ranges from pilgrim hostels and farms to hotels, and the paths run through farmland, forest and mountain rather than remaining on tracks throughout.

What you actually see

• The Gudbrandsdalen route - 643 kilometres from Oslo to Trondheim.
• The pilgrim passport - a document stamped at points along the way.
• The medieval churches - stave and stone churches on the route.
• Nidaros Cathedral - the destination and site of Olav's former shrine.

When to go

June to September, when the mountain sections are clear of snow and pilgrim accommodation is open; the season is short at higher altitudes. The full Gudbrandsdalen route takes about a month on foot.

Honest expectations

Sections follow roads and farm tracks rather than being continuously scenic, and waymarking varies in quality. Pilgrim accommodation is seasonal and needs planning, particularly on quieter routes. Weather in the mountain sections can be severe even in July.

Nearby

Nidaros Cathedral is the endpoint; Stiklestad, Dovrefjell and the Gudbrandsdalen valley lie on the routes.