The Lofoten Islands, some would argue, offer the most spectacular of the drama and scenery with hundreds of rugged, foreboding mountains soaring out of the sea, looming high over deep, majestic fjords and with smaller bubble-like islands interspersed.

The Lofoten archipelago on the western coast of Norway is within the Arctic Circle, making it a destination with a restricted time period for exploration. All of this makes for a very special, memorable, and challenging place to hike. This out-and-back route to the Justadtinden summit delivers all you'd expect from this region; stunning scenery ranging from the lower lush, green pastures to the barren, bouldery summit areas, and everything in between. The varied trail meanders up (and down) a rugged mountain with little in the way of shelter. However, this route does offer peace and solitude and a great few hours of challenging hiking.

Initially the route uses forest road until the narrow, bouldery trail is seen off to the right, gradually ascending past thicket and bracken bushes. There are some small, low gradient slabs to walk over, but nothing difficult.

After some time the terrain becomes more rocky and bouldery with little in the way of vegetation or soft ground underfoot.

The final 500m before the summit and the turn around point is the most challenging part of the route. Here, some easy scrambling may be required where use of hands is beneficial, and negotiation of large boulders is needed. Although the trail is not marked, it is possible to see the way by the worn rock and footmarks. Once past this scramble section, the path is easily followed on a grassy incline. However, this section is steep and leads to a second rock scramble. The summit is just past this final hurdle, where the views are absolutely spectacular.

The 360 views from this point are incredible, looking over toward neighbouring mountains and ridges, down to fjord and sea ingresses, with small villages dotted around and out to the Arctic Ocean.

To return, follow the same route down. The views are totally different on the way back!