Eiríksstaðir walking trail Educational trail
At Eiríksstaðir in Dalir there are ancient ruins which are probably the farm of Eirík the Red Þorvaldsson and his wife Þjóðhildur Jörundardóttir. The ruins of the farm are protected ancient monuments.
A little west of the ruins at Eiríksstaður, a replica farmhouse was built, which was inaugurated in 2000 on the occasion of the 1000th anniversary of Leif's successful landing in America.
At Eiríksstaðir there is a living museum. Staff are dressed according to the traditions of the 10th century and educate visitors about life a thousand years ago, old work culture and farming practices. You can also view crafts, weapons and various items from the period. There are also historical information signs in the area and a statue of Leif Eiríksson by Nína Sæmundsson.
More information
Region
Vesturland, Dalabyggð
Starting point
N65°03.5023 W021°32.1731
Markings
Marked trail with cairns
Duration
30 minutes
Surface
- Pavement - e.g. asphalt or concrete
- Paving
Hazards
No hazards on the way
Service on the trail
- Restrooms
- Garbage disposal
Mögulega er hægt að kaupa ferðaleiðsögn um ferðaleiðina
Lighting
Unilluminated
Period
Open all seasons
Access is via Road 60 (Vestfjarðavegur), turning onto Road 586 (Haukadalsvegur) and continuing to the car park at Eiríksstaðir. The car park is spacious and includes a service building with toilets and information boards.
Walking trails lead to the reconstructed longhouse as well as to the archaeological remains in the area. The paths have a combination of gravel surfaces and paved sections.
A short distance west of the archaeological site at Eiríksstaðir, a reconstructed Viking Age longhouse was built and opened in 2000 to commemorate the 1,000th anniversary of Leif Erikson’s voyage to America. Eiríksstaðir features a living museum where staff dress in historically inspired clothing and introduce visitors to life in Iceland around a thousand years ago, including traditional crafts and farming practices.
Visitors can also see demonstrations of traditional handicrafts, weapons, and various objects from the period. Information boards around the site provide further historical context, and a statue of Leif Erikson by the Icelandic-American sculptor Nína Sæmundsson can also be found at the site.