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Yes, it does.

Not sure about the 100 metres, but wild camping/caravanning/motorhoming is certainly permitted.

We've just returned from our second family camping trip to Norway and, as the ferry from Newcastle has stopped, won't be going back for a while unfortunately. I love Norway so much. it's clean,friendly and trouble free. No "Nanny state" and you feel free to do things that in this country would require several flourescent coated officials carrying out risk assessments. Everything is more expensive though apart from fuel and campsite fees. We reckoned that food is about twice as much for everything and if you want a beer, be prepared to pay £5-6 for a bottle in a bar or £3 for a bottle from the shop. I think it's a fairly sober country!!!

As advised by a previous post the roads are long and slow (relaxed!). Be prepared to discover that it takes all day to get to where you thought you would get in 4 hours.

As for where to go? It's all beautiful. We've only been as far north as Allesund but the scenery changes so rapidly from lush green lowland valleys (alpine-like) to spectacular fjords to snowy mountain roads in one 8 hour trip. Fjords ar all North of Stavanger and run up the west coast. The coast from Stavanger (my favourite Norwiegian Town despite some negative reviews) South to Kristiansand and then North to Oslo is spectacularly gorgeous. The South coast in summer is like the Med. Honestly. You go to sleep to the sound of hundreds of crickets and fruits grow that you'd struggle to find in the UK. (We did go in August though!)

It is, as I mentioned earlier, very expensive though. I'd advise you take as much food as possible, especially the essentials like coffee, tea etc. If you're using gas canisters/bottles take all you need for the trip. Some bottles are not available at all in Norway (to swap/refill) and the smaller disposable ones are twice the UK price and not widely available. If you run out on a refill bottle you'll have to buy a new bottle and gas and will cry when you get the bill. (Always think twice as much as UK).

As for roads. All good (rich country). all easy to use with good signage, max speed 40-50 (exceeding can be instant licence loss), garages everywhere (even in more remote areas), cash macines all over, basically think UK but with better facilities and infrastructure. Watch out the occassional (rare) mega toll fee.

One more thing. Almost all campsites have "huts". For about £30-50 a night you get a 4 beded hut with coker, fridge, water and basic furniture. They're great if you want a 1 nighter and don't want to put the tent up. Comfy bed, warmth with all the benifits of the site. In summer, best arrive before 5 to ensure available.

If I could afford to, I'd emigrate there.

I must admit I am having difficulty recognising some of this Norway you describe!!

If you lived there you would find it one of the most regulated places ever, but as a holiday maker you do not come up against these regulations.

Roads......have we been in the same country!?  Ah!  I see you have only been in the southern part, north of Trondheim, or off the tourist track, it is a different story.  In some areas the main E6 road is too narrow to have a line down the middle.

The road tolls are not actually that rare either, and I nearly choked on my coffee when you said "think UK but with better facilities and infrastructure" !!  Again, the good stuff is concentrated in the south .

Sorry!  Not trying to do Norway down, it is a beautiful country, but as tourists we do not always see the full picture.   We love going there, but OH, who still has his Norwegian passport, has said there are far too many restrictions for him to ever consider going back there to live. 

You are correct about food being expensive, but, depending on what you buy, I would say maybe 50% more on average. Taking the basics plus emergency rations is good advice. Choice is much more limited than here, especially in the more remote areas.  Avoid anything in tins, including soft drinks.  All bottled and canned drinks seem to have a deposit on the container, so be sure to return them for a refund. 

 Drink is expensive, but there is quite a lot of "home brewing" going on, and I can assure you that it is not a particularly sober country!!!

Gas.........I don't think there is any bottle you can swap, even Camping Gaz seems to be no longer available in the 902/905/907 cylinders, although you can get it in Sweden.   So either take enough for your trip or, as said, be prepared to fork out a fair amount for a new cylinder and regulator.

Most sites have EHU, so you can save on gas that way.  We had 2 large Calors with us and only used one on our last 3 month trip, although we were only touring for 2 of the months.

Shame the direct ferry from Newcastle has just finished.  Too expensive for fuel.

Steve.