Nature

Akrafjall is a picturesque mountain close to Akranes. The mountain offers one of the best views in West Iceland across Faxafloi Bay and a panoramic view from Reykjanes to Snaefellsjokull Glacier.

The mountain was smoothed on the top by a glacier and surrounded by water during the Ice Age.

It is easy to ascend the mountain from the Akranes Water Works car park, where a sign points the way to Haihnukur (555m), the shoulder on the right side of the mountain seen from Akranes. A visitor's book is at the top. A somewhat longer hike takes you to the highest peak in the range, Geirmundartindur (643m).

Arnarstapi was an important trading post in the past and had a much bigger population than it has now.

Columnar basalt, ravines and grottoes surround the Arnarstapi pier. There is good anchorage for small boats.

There is quite a large arctic tern colony in the village itself. A walk along the coastline is recommended to watch the birds and the magnificent lava formations. The seaside and the cliffs between Arnastapi and Hellnar have been made a Natural Reserve in 1979.

A very interesting old path follows the coastline where you can see old lending places of fishermen, lots of birds like the kittiwake, the Arctic tern and the fulmar and pass through a lavafield. If you take a guided tour, you will also hear a ghost story.

A sculpture of Bardur Snaefellsas by Ragnar Kjartansson stands by the beach at Arnarstapi.

The meaning of this waterfall translates into "Children's waterfall", but the signs here indicated that there was a saga describing why it got this name. The saga said that there were two children in the Hraunsás household who were supposed to stay home while the parents went to church for Christmas Mass. When the parents returned from mass, they discovered that the children had disappeared (possibly because the children got bored and decided to go out).

They then followed the children's tracks to this waterfall at the stone natural bridge where the tracks disappeared. The mother concluded that the children must have fallen into the river and drowned. Then, the mother had the arch destroyed in order to ensure no one else faces a similar fate. I've seen some accounts say it was by spell or curse, which induced the bridge's collapse by earthquake. In reality, natural bridges usually collapse over time, and given the powerful erosive forces from the rapidly moving river that undercut whatever was supporting the bridge, that could very well have been the fate of the natural arch here.

Baula is a volcanic mountain of a very special pyramidic form. It measures 934 m in height. The mountain is a 3 million years old intrusion, consisting of liparit stone.

For people in good shape, it is well possible to hike up on the mountain from Bjarnardalur, road number 60. But its sides are very steep and there are big and loose stones on the way. On the other hand, the view of the top is very rewarding and you can write into a guestbook there.

Berserkjahraun is a 4000-year-old lava field situated on the Snæfellsnes peninsula.

It covers the western part of Helgafell, between Stykkishólmur and Grundarfjörður.

The name Berserkjahraun comes from one of the Icelandic Sagas, Eyrbyggja-Saga. According to the saga, a farmer brought two berserkers from Sweden to the Snæfellsnes Peninsula. He later gave the berserkers to his brother, Víga-Styr, who lived on the other side of the lava field.

One of the Swedes fell in love with Víga-Styr's daughter and asked for her hand in marriage. Víga-Styr made a deal with the berserker, he could have his daughter's hand if the two Swedes could clear a path through the lava field, connecting Víga-Styr's farm to his brother's.

The feat was considered impossible but the berserkers managed to complete the path quite quickly. Instead of keeping his promise, Víga-Styr had the two Swedes killed and buried them near the path.

The lava field was created after four scoria craters erupted in short intervals around 4000 years ago. The lava ran from the mountain slopes of Bjarnarhafnarfjall and out to the sea at Hraunsfjörður and Hraunsvík.

Bjarnarfoss is a majestic waterfall that falls down a basalt cliff which was formed by the now extinct volcano Maelifell. The waterfall, along with the columnar rocks around it, is on the Nature Conservation Register. A car park is near the waterfall and a good walking path. In 2018, the tourist attraction at Bjarnarfoss received the Icelandic Tourist Board´s environmental awards.

Bjossarolo is a playground for children in Borgarnes, not far from Edduveröld or the Settlement Centre .

It was constructed by Bjorn Gudmundsson, a man who was ahead of his time and thought about recycling. He used exclusively things that had been thrown away to build up this special place. At the playground there are for example swings, slides, an old boat, a castle and a lot more in a hollow enclosed by rocks not far from the sea.

And on going there you could look for shells or nice stones on the beach. The small, but very pretty park Skallagrimsgardur is not far away. There you can even find the grave of a saga hero!

Blautós og Innstavogsnes

At the north western rim of the town Akranes is the estuary nature reserve Blautós and Innsatvogsnes. The river Berjadalsá runs out of the western part of mount Akrafjall and mouths into the cove. The area has an abundance of bird life and is amply vegetated. The landskape is spectacular and has interesting geological formations from the last glacial periods.

The area is used for recreation as it is close to the centre of the town Akranes and the recidents have their stables by the cove Innstavogur.

Many migration birds stop at the area and some birds breed there. Brant gees stay at Blautós and Innstavogsnesi during spring and autumn. It is estimated that about a quarter of the entire brant geese species come by in Blautós and Innstavogsnes and the reserve Grunnafjörður on their way between their winter quarters in Ireland and breeding grounds in Canada.

There are eider ducks breeding in the area and the eider farmers are free to continue their tradition of collecting the eiderdown in early summer.

The area is important as an informative area but also as a recreational area for hiking and riding.

Brakarey is connected to the mainland by a bridge. The island was named after Egill's nanny and Skalla-Grimur´s slave Thorgerdur brak, after Skalla-Grimur killed her and she drowned in the sea near it. From the island is a great view over Borgarfjord.

Breið is the southernmost part of Akranes and the location of the fishing history of the town. There are two lighthouses open to the public as well as a view point.

For more information contact Akranes Information Office, tel: +354 433 1065, e-mail info@akranes.is.

Breiðafjörður is a large shallow bay, about 50 km wide and 125 km long and located in the west of Iceland. It separates the region of the Westfjords (Vestfirðir) from the rest of the country. Breiðafjörður is encircled by mountains, including glacier Snæfellsjökull the Snæfellsnes peninsula on the south side and the West Fjord peninsula to the north. Another interesting feature of the bay is that the northern tip was formed about 15 million years ago, whereas the southern end at Snæfellsnes was formed less than half that time ago.

The little black church, Budakirkja Church is located at Budir on Snaefellsnes Peninsula. People come from around the world to seal their love at the church.

Budir is a popular destination. The landscape consists of golden sand beaches, rugged lava field and great vegetation and bird life. Budahraun lava is a nature reserve. The little black church, Budakirkja, is located at Budir. People come from all around the world to seal their love at the church. Visitors also have an impressive view of the breathtaking Snaefellsjokull glacier from Budir.

Búlandshöfði falls steep into the sea. There you find strata from the first half of the ice age, hardened glacial rock and fossils of seashells. On top of the sea sediment with ice seashells and glacial till there is a clayey sedimentary layer with remnants of warm seashells that lava has flowed over during warm periods.

Takes its name "Breakfast Ness" from the fact that Auður the Deep-minded, one of the first settlers, stopped to rest there one morning while searching for a place to make her home.

There is a little church at Dagverdarnes dates from 1934.

Deildartunguhver highest flow hot spring in Europe !
Deildartunguhver is Europe's most powerful hot spring. It provides 180 l/sec of 100°C hot water.
Most of the water used for central heating in the towns of Borgarnes and Akranes is taken from Deildartunguhver. The hot water pipeline to Akranes is 64 km long, the longest in Iceland and the water is about 78 - 80 degrees when it reaches Akranes. If you take a shower anywhere within a 65 km radius of the spring, you have already bathed in the hot water from this powerful spring!

Djupalonssandur is a beautiful pebbled beach, with a series of rocks of mysterious form emerging from the ocean.

It is one of the few areas that lead down to the sea along this coast with its high dramatic cliffs. Watch out for the famous ghosts roaming the place!

The rests of a shipwreck can be seen on the beach. On the beach there are also big stones which people tried to lift and test their strength in the days of the fishing stations: Fully Strong 154 kg, Half-Strong 100 kg, Weakling 54 kg and Bungler 23 kg. Weakling marked the frontier of wimphood, any man who couldn't lift it was deemed unsuitable for a life as a fisherman.

Drapuhlidarfjall Mountain is beautifully colourful. It is composed of sulphur, basalt, jasper, rhyolite and lignite. As usual with lignite deposits, fossiled plants and petrified wood can be found. Drapuhlidarfjall is 527 m high.

Einkunnir is a 270 ha country park, protected for recreational use and the preservation of the typical landscape of the area. The areas' main characteristics are its rocky islands or bluffs that rise from the areas' vast flat wetlands.

Please follow the marked trails whenever possible. Do not drive off-road, damage geological formations or vegetation. Do not disturb the wildlife or light fires in vegetated areas. Please take your litter with you when you leave.

A beautifully-formed crater rising 60m above the surrounding lava.

The spatter cone is the largest crater along a short volcanic rift, 200 m in diameter and 50 m deep. Its last eruption was about 5000-6000 years ago. According to medieval chronics there was also one around the time of the colonisation of Iceland about 1000 years ago, but today it is known that it came from another of the many craters of the valley Hnappadalur which are part of the volcanic system Ljosufjoll, the mountains of the light.

It is easiest to approach Eldborg from Snorrastadir on its southern side, walking 2,5 km through the shrub-covered lava field. It is possible to walk all the way around the crater as well as up it.

The route via Klofningsvegur no. 590 runs through Hvammssveit, Fellsströnd, Klofningur, Skarðsströnd and Saurbær. Day-to-day it is called going around the coasts. The boundaries of Fellsströnd and Hvammssveit are around Hólsá and reaches Fellsströnd to Ormsstaðir, where Klofningur takes over.

It used to be populated on Fellsströnd, but now many premises are not inhabited. Icelandic forest service owns the land Skógar, from where there is almost continuous forest out to Staðarfell. Staðarfell is an ancient manor and church. A housewife school was there 1927-1976, an treatment home from 1980-2018 and there is a community home. Outside Ytrafellsmúli, the lowlands increase and there is some woodland and islands out from the coast. Flekkudalur and Galtardalur go in between the mountains and there lies Efribyggð. From Efribyggðarvegur there is a large and beautiful view of the islands at the entrance of Hvammsfjörður. Kjarlaksstaðir is the settlement land of old Kjarlak. After Flekkudalsá and Galtardalsá merge, it is called Kjarlaksstaðaá. Bjarni Jónsson grew up in Vogur and was called Bjarni from Vogi, after the farm. There is a monument about him by the highway.

Until 1918 the boundaries of Skarðsstrandarhreppur were from Ormsstaðir to Fagradalsá, then the district split into Klofningshreppur and Skarðshreppur. The district boundary held until 1986 that Klofningshreppur split over Klofningur between Fellsstrandarhreppur and Skarðshreppur.

In Dagverðarnes, Auður Djúpúðga ate a breakfast in her search for her settlement columns. The current church in Dagverðarnes was built in 1934. Outside Dagverðarnes lies Hrappsey where the country's first secular printing house was operated.

Klofningur is a natural gap and the road runs through it. At Klofningur there is a sightseeing point and a good view over the islands and out to Snæfellsnes.

One of the oldest manor in the country is Skarð á Skarðsströnd. It is the settlement land of Geirmundur heljarskinn and the same family has lived there since the 11th century. Farmers church is in Skarð and there is, among other things, an altarpiece that Ólöf "the rich" Loftsdóttir is said to have given to the church. Below Skarð is Skarðsstöð. There is a lot of bird life and cultural monuments. Skarðsstöð was the first legalized trading center in Dalasýsla in 1884 and now houses a fishing port.

The community center Röðull is located below the road by Búðardalsá. In Röðull there are often exhibitions related to the life and culture of the people of Skarðsströnd. In the 18th century, Magnús Ketilsson, an magistrate and a great progressive man, lived in Búðardalur and did significant agricultural experiments and wrote a number of scholarly articles. Ytri-Fagridalur is the innermost town on Skarðsströnd and is the settlement land of Steinólfur "the low". Over there you can see Hafratindur, the mountain of Dalir.

Beautifully kept old houses in cheerful colours line the dusty path through the settlement of Flatey island. Walk through it, and at the end of the settlement, the path becomes even narrower and more crooked, taking you through a dense population of birds, consisting mainly of Arctic terns. Two families stay on the island throughout the winter, but many more migrate during the summer, mainly for leisure but also to serve tourists.

In a charming way, it feels very much like a movie set. And so it is. Many movies are set on the island, most notably The Honour of the House based on a short story by Nobel Prize winner Halldór Laxness, and White Night Wedding, a movie by Baltasar Kormákur. In fact, Baltasar's father painted the unusual altar piece in the island's church, making it worthy of a visit.

In summertime, a ferry goes to Flatey twice a day from Stykkishólmur and Brjánslækur, and, albeit less frequently, a passenger boat offers connection to Reykhólar.

Garðarlundur country park, protected for recreational use and the preservation of the typical landscape of the area. The areas' main characteristics are its rocky islands or bluffs that rise from the areas' vast flat wetlands.

Gatklettur - Arch Rock - is a cliff with a circular arch. Rock Arch shows how distinctive wave action has eroded the rocks into arches and beautiful swirled patterns.

There is great birdlife around the cliffs and pretty flora surrounding the area.

During the Sturlung Age 1220 - 1264, a company of men led by Svarthofdi Dufguson, a follower of Sturla Sighvatsson used the island Geirsholmi as a base for raiding the surrounding countryside.

The tourist service at Bjarteyjarsandur nearby offers storytelling trips about Geirsholmi.

The Glanni Waterfall on the Norðurá River is said to be the dwelling place of elves and trolls. However, during our visit, we noticed that this waterfall was situated near a golf course nearby an old lava flow (called the Grábrókarhraun lava field) and the hamlet of Bifröst. The falls was one of those wide river-type waterfalls that we saw quite a few of in the country, but this one segmented into at least three side-by-side drops as well as each one having multiple tiers.

Iceland's tallest waterfall, is located in Botnsdalur valley, Hvalfjörður. Leading up to it is a fabulous hiking path that should only be attempted by those not daunted by heights or challenging hikes. Glymur is in the river Botnsá that runs out of Hvalvatn, which is a lake closed by molten lava, some 160 metres deep. In Hvalfjordur in West Iceland you can stand in awe before Iceland's highest waterfall. Standing by the fall you'll have a good view of the surrounding landcape, which is is particularly attractive, as Hvalfjordur is widely considered one of Iceland's most beautiful fjords.The walk, approximately 4 hours roundtrip, will take you from the trailhead at Botnsa river through spectacular scenery including a rock arch and will have you crossing a crystal clear river on a strategically placed log.

The largest of three craters in a short volcanic fissure.

Beautiful scenery over Borgarfjordur is from the top of the Grabrok crater. Mt. Grabrok can be ascended by a marked trail from the main Ring road no. 1.

According to Laxdaela saga, Gudrun Osvifursdóttir used to dwell by a geothermal pool in Laugar in Saelingsdalur. The pool is mentioned in Sturlunga saga and it seems to have been used a great deal.

The pool is believed to have been destroyed in a landslide. In 2009 a new pool was built near to the location where the old pool is thought to have been situated and named Gudrunarlaug.

A changing facility, referred to as a "house of modesty" in Icelandic, was also built at the same time.

The mountain Hafnarfjall near Borgarnes is part of the same extinguished central volcano as Skardsheidi and is also about 4 million years old.

The mountain is 844 m in height and its sides are rather eroded. Most of the mountain consists of basalt, but on the north side there is a small crag, which is made of granofyr. The name "flatfish" indicates its form. Let the children discover it!

On the foot of the mountain is a small forest of birch trees where the authorities of Iceland practice reforestation. It is possible to hike up the mountain beginning near the bridge over the fjord at Borgarnes.

Hafratindur is one of the highest mountain peaks in Dalir Region with an elevation of 642 meters. It is considered to be one of the best hiking trails in Dalir and has a panoramic view from the top.

Hallmundarhraun includes the longest and largest caves in Iceland.
Hallmundarhraun lava field was formed in giant eruption close to the Langjökull glacier around the year 930 and is 8-9 cubic kilometers. Hallmundarhraun includes three caves Surtshellir/ Stefánshellir they are together 3500 meters, longest lava cave in Iceland. Viðgelmir lava tube is the largest of all lava caves in Iceland the tubes volume is well over 150,000 cubic meters.

Holy Mountain, 73 m with a breathtaking panoramic view across Breiðafjordur Bay. A viewing dial is at the top.

Folklore advises anyone climbing the mountain for the first time to walk straight up without looking back or speaking and three wishes will be granted. The wishes have to be of good intent and the wisher tells no one and faces east when making them.

A small remnant of a wall on the mountain top is dated 1184 and was a part of a nearby monastery built at this time.

For centuries, Hellnar was among the largest fishing villages beneath the Snaefellsjokull ice cap.

Valasnos, a freestanding rock, extends east of the bay. One of Iceland's most peculiar caves, Badstofa, is there. It is known for its special light exposure and colourful interior.

A cold water spring is to be found at the lava's edge. It is dedicated to the Holy Virgin because it is said she appeared there once.

The Hellnar church was built in 1945 on a picturesque site where a church was first raised in 1833.

Located at Hellnar is a Hotel and a charming little café.

Hólahólar are an ancient crater cluster. One of the craters is open on the side and formed like a huge amphitheater. The deserted farm Hólahólar was formerly the capital of a settlement in Dritvík and Djúpalónssandur but was deserted in 1880 and since then invisible elves (Huldufólk) have been ruling there ever since.

Hredavatn is a lake in West Iceland. It is located near route 1, between Borgarnes and Holtavorduheidi. Nearby is the university faculty of Bifrost and the Grábrók crater.

The lake has an area of 1,14 km², lies 56 m above sea level and its greatest depth is 20 m.

The surroundings of the lake are extremely beautiful and offer a few possibilities for hiking to charming spots such as the Grábrók crater, the waterfalls of the fine salmon river Nordurá and the lava spot Paradise near the river. According to the legends some mysterious animal or monster occupied the lake, but is rarely to be seen nowadays.

In Húsafell surrounding nature you can expect to find dense woodlands, waterfalls, glaciers, rugged lava, crystal springs, wildflowers plus remarkable archaeological remains.Here is a good map with ten hike trails.

Húsafell is a hiker´s dream. Fascinating walking routes are everywhere, with something new at every turn. Dense woods, lava formations, crystal-clear mountain springs, hot water, magnificent ravines, glaciers, rushing glacial rivers and an extraordinary animal and birdlife. Remarkable ancient relics and other signs of human habitation serve to illustrate the past and the relationship between man and nature. Also ubiquitous are Páll Guðmundsson´s curious sculptures, which highlight the uniqueness of the land without imposing on it. Walking routes, such as paths through the woods, may be found for the entire family, while hikers who require more of a challenge might want to hike onto glaciers such as Eiríksjökull or Ok. Visitors who prefer cycling or horse riding will also be able to find challenging routes to suit their wishes. In Húsafell you can get a hiker´s map with 9 marked routes. Here is the hiking map online

Grundarfjörður's beautiful landmark is the most photographed mountain in Iceland. Its isolated position jutting out into the sea makes it a focal point for tourists and seamen alike.

Kirkjufell (Church Mountain) is 463 meters high and visible from all angles in town.Grundarfjörður is the ideal place to enjoy the amazing colours of the sunset behind the mountain.

Kirkjufellsfoss is one of the most photographed waterfalls in Iceland. It is located near Grundarfjörður at the northern side of the Snæfellsnes Peninsula in West Iceland.

The river Kirkjufellsá runs down from the volcano Helgrindur and has three waterfalls in it, all called Kirkjufellsfoss.

From the mountan Klofningur is a panoramic view over Breidafjordur Bay, Snaefellsnes Peninsula and Bardaströnd. Viewing dial.

It is possible to hike up the mountain from the farm Stakkaberg.

Kolgrafarfjörður has a lot of wildlife. A large part of the black-backed gull population lives there with 38 other bird species. There are also killer whales, white-beaked dolphins and seals. Hraunsfjörður fjord come from it, long but narrow. At high tide, the flow is so great that the current resembles a rushing river

Auður djúpúðga ( Auður the Deep minded) was one of the settlers in Dalir. She was a Christian and had a cross raised at Krosshólaborg, where she went to pray. Her descentants considered Krosshólaborg a holy place. Women in Dalir set up a memorial of Auður, a stone cross in 1965. The remains of Auður´s first farm, Auðartóftir, are nearby.

Krosslaug is in the area of Reykir in Lundareikjadalur and is about 50 meters above the road. The pool is small but the heat of the water is about 42°C. there is a myth stating a healing power of the water in the pool. The surrounding is beautiful and the pool is pretty clean for a natural hot spring.

The coastline around Akranes is rich with bird life and there are many different types of beaches along the coast. One of these is Langisandur, a sandy beach and one of the most popular outdoor areas of Akranes. Langisandur is one of three Blue Flag beaches in Iceland. Guests are welcome to join the local Sea Swimming Club at Langisandur Beach three times a week. More information at the Akranes Tourist Information Office, e-mail info@akranes.is, tel: +354 894 2500.

Langjokull Glacier is the second largest glacier in Iceland, and is approximately 18 km from Husafell (tourist resort).

Excursions onto the glacier are offered from the base of the glacier. On a clear day the view from the glacier is beyond compare.

Hraunfossar - Lava Falls - are beautiful and unusual natural phenomena. Clear, cold springs of subterranean water seep through the lava and run as tiny waterfalls and rapids into the Hvita River.

Hraunfossar have been protected since 1987.

There is a viewpoint at the car park offering an amazing view over the Lava Falls and Hvita River.

Restaurant and souvenir shop open all year round.

Uniquely-formed remnants of ancient basalt volcanic dikes sticking out from the sea.

Londrangar and the hill Svalthufa are the remains of a crater, which has been eroded to its present form by the sea.

The farmers in the area never made or make hay on the hill, because it is said to belong to the elves living in the area.

Younger lava fields surround this old crater ruin. The higher pillar (75m) was first climbed in 1735 and the lower (61 m) in 1938.

Below the hill you may find Thufubjarg cliff where according to a folktale the poet Kolbeinn Joklaskald had an encounter with the Devil.

On these cliffs, puffins and fulmars have their nests.

Longufjorur is a light sandy beach on the south shore of Snaefellsnes peninsula. This beach is perfect for horseriding with a guide.

At Malarrif is the Visitor Center for Snaefellsjokull National Park. It´s fun to walk around the area and explore the nature, the beach and the lighthouse.

Meðalfellsvatn Lake is a good place for bird watching. The Great Northern Diver nests by the lake, while Harlequin Ducks are attracted in great numbers by gnats and by the larvae at the bottom of the river Bugða in the early spring. Meðalfellsvatn Lake has always been popular for trout fishing and sometimes even salmon fishing. The waterways of Bugða and Laxá are home to all of Iceland´s freshwater fish: salmon, trout, char, eel and stickleback.

When visiting Snaefellsnes Peninsula, a round tour is a good idea because this 90 km long circle comprises a world of diversity. On the northern side you will find friendly towns and villages, spectacular mountains and waterfalls, galleries and museums and much more.

The mountain Enni is 418 meters high Tuya mountain. There is a hiking trail up the mountain but along you can also walk to look at Ólafsvíkurfoss waterfall. An information sign is laid out at the western entrance to Ólafsvík, from where there is a "path or old path that can be followed all the way up to the waterfall edge.

At the farm Olkelda, near Stadarstadur, in the south of Snaefellsnes, there is a mineral spring with carbonated water.

Mineral springs are said to have healing properties, so feel free to take a sip.

The farmhouse is named Olkelda which means mineral spring in Icelandic.

Ondverdarnes is the westernmost point of Snaefellsnes Peninsula.

Saxhóll Crater is located in the Snaefellsjokull National Park. It´s easy to climb and the view from the top is spectacular. A low-set metal stair follows the path´s course to the top. The stair is made up of modules three meters long and 1,5 meters wide that hold seven treads each between solid stingers with open risers. The units join together like a necklace on the slope. The stairs were awarded Rosa Barba International Landscape Prize 2018 which are the fourth awards the project achieves since 2017.

Skálasnagaviti lighthouse

In the heart of Borgarnes is Skallagrímsgarður, a small public park which is ideal for a picnic. The park plays an important role in Egil's Saga, as the burial mound of Skallagrímur Kveldúlfsson, Egil's father, is situated there. It is a good idea to relax in Skallagrímsgarður after a visit to Borgarnes swimming pool which is next to the park.

In stark contrast to the majority of black sand beaches in Iceland, Skarðsvík resembles a Mediterranean shoreline with turquoise water and the surrounding dark, volcanic landscape. Be warned, the waves at Skarðsvík are renown for being aggressive. It is recommended to visit the beach at low-tide in order to ensure safety.

Skessu­horn (967 m) is a particularly impressive and outstanding peak when the range is viewed from the north. Skessu­horn is located in Borgarfjörður it takes 5-6 hours to hike the mountain and you will need good equipment.

Skorradalur is the southernmost valley in Borgarfjörður. The Skorradalur lake fills up most of the valley but the lowlands in the west are wide moorlands. There is very little traditional farming practiced today but summerhouses are becoming increasingly common and forests are growing from year to year. The Hvanneyri parish is situated at Fitjar which is deep in the valley. Forestry at Stálpastaðir is in the northern part of the valley where there are beutiful hiking trails. The camping site at Selsskógur is surrounded by lush vegetation, creating good shelter on the banks of the Skorradalur lake.

The Snæfellsjökull glacier is 1446m above sea level. The glacier is an active volcano, having been built up through numerous eruptions during the last 800,000 years. Many believe the glacier to be one of the seven main energy centres of the earth and its mystique is noticed by many. The glacier plays big role as the Center of the Earth in the novel Journey to the Center of the Earth (1864) by Jules Verne. Snæfellsjökull is a part of the Snæfellsjökull National Park which was established on June 28, 2001. The Park's purpose is to protect and conserve the areas unique landscape, indigenous plant and animal life as well as important historical relics. At the same time, the Park is meant to allow visitors easier as well as improved opportunities to get to know the area. Driving on the Glacier is prohibited except with a permission from the park ranger.

Southern Snaefellsnes

Stálpastaðir, the farm is abandoned but there are many birch-bushes. Haukur Thors gave the land to the Forestry Service in 1951, since when it has been protected and used for the rather successful cultivation of evergreens.

Stapafell is a volcanic mountain on the south side of Snæfellsjökull. This palagonitic pyramide is 526 m in height og rather eroded at the sides.

On the top of the mountain is Fellskross, which was a sign of holy powers at the times of the vikings. It is said that the mountain is home of hidden people, also called elves.

A goblet-shaped rock and popular resting place for tourists. Close to Hvammsvik on the old national road around Whale Fjord.

An elf by the name of Staupa-Steinn has his home in this rock. Not everyone can see him. He is described as having long hair, a beard and being a kind, gentle man who loves to play ball with children who are picnicking in the area.

Beautiful view. Protected since 1974.

Svalthufa is a high cliff teemed with birdlife and there is a great view to Lóndrangar Cliffs. Lóndrangar are uniquely-formed remnants of ancient basalt volcanic dikes sticking out from the sea. The higher pillar is 75 m high and the lower one is 61 m. On these cliffs, fulmars have their nests. At Malarrif is the Visitor Center for Snaefellsjokull National Park and it´s fun to walk around the area and explore the nature.

Svöðufoss is a beautiful waterfall in the Hólmkelsá river. The waterfall is 10 meters high and falls off a beautiful basalt column cliff. a parking lot has been built near the waterfall so today it is fairly easy to visit and enjoy. The walk from the parking lot to the waterfall is only about half an hour.

Þórufoss waterfall is in the river Laxá in Kjós which is renowned for its healthy population of Atlantic salmon. Þórufoss is known to freeze over in the wintertime. It´s easy to walk to the waterfall from the parking lot which is located right next to road nr. 48.

The waterfall was a shooting location for HBO's Game of Thrones as the home of the Children of the Forest

The Troll Waterfalls of the Grimsa river. There is a clear formation in the form of a troll face in the cliff by the river bank.

Take the troll walk and learn about trolls, folk tales and places that connect to the nature and scenery at Fossatun.

An extraordinary view and good spot to see the Skessuhorn mountain peak. Excellent for witnessing jumping salmon in the summer.

Exploring Vatnshellir cave is truly amazing and unforgettable experience. This 8000 year old lava tube reaches over 200 meters and goes 35 meters below the surface.

During summer, guided tours are offered from 10am-6pm. During wintertime 2 tours a day are offered. Please check on the website www.vatnshellir.is.

All guests will be equipped with flashlights and helmets.

Hiking shoes and warm clothes reccommended.

10 minute drive west of Arnarstapi. 25 minute drive south of Hellissandur.

Further info: vatnshellir@vatnshellir.is www.vatnshellir.is (+354) 787 0001

Víðgelmir is the largest of all caves in Iceland, 148,000 cubic metres, and one of the largest lava caves in the world. It has beautiful ice formations and deep inside there are lava stalactites and stalagmites.

Bones and jewelry from the viking age are a part of the archeological remains found in the cave in 1993. It has been preserved since 1993 and entrance is only allowed with proper guidance. Guides from "The Cave" arrange short (1,5 hour) and long (4 hours) tours. Please contact The Cave for information, availability and schedule.

Víðgelmir lava cave is considered by specialists to be one of the most remarkable caves on earth.

Whale Fjord (Hvalfjord) is 30km long and 84m deep.

Whale Fjord was the site of much British and US military activity during World War II. Some ruins from this period can still be seen in the fjord.