Reykjavík Grapevine - 19.06.2015, Síða 34

34 The Reykjavík GrapevineIssue 8 — 2015TRAVEL
How to get there: If you are driving youtself, take Route 61 from either Ísafjörður or
Road 1 at Brú, that will lead you to Hólmavík. You can take the bus there too. It runs
three times a week during the summer.
Strandir
Strandir is an area on the east side of the
Westfjords, reaching from Hrútafjörður
to Reykjarfjörður. It’s one of the most
sparsely populated parts of the country
with around 800 inhabitants spread over
3,500 square kilometres. Strandir’s tour-
ism industry is a bit of a late bloomer, per-
haps partly because of the lack of dra-
matic attractions like there are in South,
and definitely because of tough road
conditions, although there have been
some improvements in recent years.
Exploring the swimming pools in the
region is an adventure worth tolerat-
ing the bumpy road for. There are four
of them. Yep, there are four swimming
pools, and several hot tubs, for 800 peo-
ple (well, and a bunch of tourists). What’s
perhaps even more surprising is that the
pools in the more remote areas are actu-
ally far older than the ones in the more
populous areas.
1
Hólmavík
The first swimming pool you will en-
counter in Strandir is located in Hólma-
vík, which is the region’s largest town
(approximately 400 people). Construct-
ed in 2004, this is—truthfully—the most
uninteresting pool on the list (although
the fact that it exists is interesting). This
25-metre pool is the only one in the re-
gion that’s not heated by a geothermal
energy source. But it’s nice enough,
with hot tubs, a wading pool, a sauna
and a gym. Situated next to a campsite,
it should satisfy any tourist’s need for
cleaning, refreshing, exercising and re-
laxing.
2
Drangsnes
The next pool you’ll find in Strandir, is in
Drangsnes, a village of 70 people. This
cute little 12.5 x 8 metre pool opened
in 2005 and also has a hot tub, a wad-
ing pool, a sauna and a gym, along with
a great seaside view towards Grímsey
island.
However, Drangsnes has a far more
popular and attractive bathing option:
the hot tubs. These legendary tubs
have been located at the shoreline, just
off the main road, literally since the day
after a geothermal energy source was
discovered in 1997. Originally, there
were two green tubs, donated by a
trout farmer. Now only one of the origi-
nal tubs remains, and there are an addi-
tional two more conventional tubs with
seats and massage jets.
Back in the day, it was not uncom-
mon to see the people of Drangsnes
walking the streets wearing bathrobes,
on their way to or from the hot tubs, but
now there is a changing and showering
facility across the street. People used
to joke that the locals used the hot tubs
much like the Gauls used the magic po-
tion in ‘Asterix’: to gain their strength.
3
Laugarhóll
Now we get to the even more interest-
ing pools. Those are a bit more difficult
to access, as the roads in the northern
part of Strandir are unpaved. Just drive
carefully.
Words Ragna Ó. Guðmundsdóttir
Photos Art Bicnick/Ragna Ó. Guðmundsdóttir
Swimming pools and hot tubs are always major attractions
in Iceland, both to Icelanders and foreign tourists, and they
can be found in the most unlikely places all over the country.
Swimming On
The Edge Of Nowhere
Swimming pools
in Strandir
ÞÓRSHÖFN
VOPNAFJÖRÐUR
GRÍMSEY
ÍSAFJÖRÐUR
AKUREYRI
EGILSSTAÐIR
REYKJAVÍK