Voyages
The Vikings travelled by sea and river from Norway, Denmark and Sweden. Here are some aspects of their voyages including how they travelled, where they travelled to, their longboats and how they made them.
How Did the Viking Travel?
The Vikings travelled by these main forms of transport: longboat, ice skates (“ice legs”), horse, and walking. Longboats were used for fishing, carrying cargo, relocation, raiding and trading trips. Ice skates were used for hunting in winter (to catch up with their prey) and crossing frozen rivers ( the river Thames). Horses were used for travelling between villages and around their own villages. Walking was another form of Viking transport. They walked between trade stations – looking and inspecting items. They also carried their boats overland looking for small rivers or streams to take them to the sea.
Where Did the Viking Travel to?
The Vikings travelled widely. Countries included Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Russia, The Netherlands, Germany, France, Normandy (an important Viking settlement in France, England, Iceland, Scotland and Canada. Other islands and peninsulas that they travelled to include the Jutland Peninsula, Ireland, Isle of Man, Hebrides, Orkneys, Faeroes, Greenland, Baffin Island, Ellesmere Island and Newfoundland.