Viking Cruises

SPR ING 2020 | VIKINGCRUISES.CO.UK 49 H orse riding on a deserted beach had been a dream of mine ever since I was a little girl hacking out ponies on weekends in the UK. I never thought the day would come and I'd never imagined it would happen in Norway. Yet, here I was riding Silfri, a sweet-natured Icelandic horse whose name described his tufty silvery blonde mane, along a stunning white-sand beach. I was in Hov, on the tranquil island of Gimsøy in the Lofoten archipelago, where less than 200 people live. Since falling from my horse just over a decade ago and breaking two 'wing' bones in my lumbar spine, I hadn't ridden at all. It had resulted in six weeks of life altering bed rest and I became too frightened to ride again for fear of Above: Viking Jupiter taking in views of deep-cut fjords along the pristine Norwegian coastline PHOTOS: ALASTAIR MILLER/ FRANCES MARCELLIN ARCTIC GOLD risking a similar injury or worse. But when I read about Viking's horse riding excursion on the Into the Midnight Sun cruise, I felt it was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity too good too miss. It was then that I realised how a cruise experience can offer you just the right level of adventure, exploration and relaxation for your needs. I wasn't ready for official riding lessons at the local equestrian centre or a full-blown adventure holiday, but since discovering a passion for trail running earlier on in the year, my fitness and confidence had increased considerably, so it felt like the right moment to finally face my fear. e ride would only take a couple of hours, I'd told myself, so even if I couldn't overcome my anxiety I wouldn't have to be in that situation for long. Afterwards I could relax on the new and luxurious Viking Jupiter. e morning brought a panoramic tour of Lofoten, which included sightseeing to spellbinding Haukland Beach, one of the most picturesque beaches in Norway, and to Ballstad, a scenic and traditional fishing village. Later that day, with the dramatic setting of Lofoten's mountains behind and the beach to ourselves, I learned that one of my fellow riders hadn't ridden a horse since she was in her twenties. She felt excited to be on horseback again and was so moved by the experience of riding in the beguiling seaside location. We also rode trails that showed us more of this wild island, from the fairy tale-like Norwegian turf When travel writer Frances Marcellin set off on an adventure in Norway, she had no idea that the cruise would have such a profound impact on her life viking.com 17

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