Northern Norway may not spring instantly to mind for those planning a beach vacation. Yet the golden sands of the remote Lofoten Islands draw photographers, surfers and backpackers from the world over.

A road trip along the narrow roads of Norway’s Lofoten Islands inevitably takes hours longer than planned. Around every bend there’s another breathtaking vista, an even more dramatic mountain, or yet another fishing village of red wooden huts that just begs to be explored.

For those who venture off the E10, one of Norway’s 18 designated National Tourist Routes, Lofoten’s secrets are worth discovering.

While the islands are best known for their spiky landscape, idyllic waterside villages, Northern Lights displays and world-class hiking, it’s the beaches that are the biggest travel surprise.