The North Sea Cycle Route will surprise you with its diversity. Although bordering the same sea it goes from land located below sea level (in the Netherlands) to cliffs of 300 meters in height (Norway). You can sample wee drams in Scotland; pedal along the well maintained cycle paths of Denmark; dance the night away in millennial port cities such as Gothenburg or Hamburg; or stretch out on the inviting beaches of the Netherlands. Expect to be pleasantly surprised along this popular bicycle route which is about 7,050 km long. And don’t forget to check the ferry timetables! They are a staple in Norway to cross the numerous fjords. If you follow the whole route, you will take the ferry between Halmstad (Sweden) and Grenå (Denmark). You can also take a shortcut with the ferry running from Gothenburg to Frederikshavn or one connecting Norway to Denmark. To cross the Channel, you take the Eurostar or the ferry connecting Calais in France to Dover in the United Kingdom. EuroVelo 12 is ending in the Orkney Islands and the Shetland Islands. From the mainland to Orkney, there are ferries connecting John o' Groats to Burwick and another from Thurso to Stromness. To reach the Shetland Islands, you need to take the ferry connecting Kirkwall and Lerwick. Be careful: some ferries are only running during summer.