Reykjavík Grapevine - 15.06.2018, Side 54

Travel
The best of Icelandic produce
with a nod to Japan and South
America. Modern Icelandic
flavours, share plates and award
winning cocktails.
Sushi Social
Þingholtsstræti 5 • 101 Reykjavík
Tel. 568 6600 • sushisocial.is
Our kitchen is open
17.00–23.00 sun.–thu.
17.00–24.00 fri.–sat.
SOCIALIZE
WITH THE
LOCALS
ICELANDIC
SEAFOOD
makes world’s best sushi
The little village of Hellnar used to
be a major port of call and the bus-
iest centre of fishing in Snæfell-
snes. While it is less industrious
nowadays, it has since grown into
a mecca of peaceful picturesque
beauty. With perhaps the best
views on the southern coast of
Snæfellsnes, Hellnar shines hum-
bly under the shadow of Snæfell-
sjökull. Go for an afternoon or a
quiet weekend, you’ll leave rejuve-
nated and inspired.
Stay: Fosshotel Hellnar
Fosshotel Hellnar was the runner-
up this year in the best accommo-
dation category of our Best Of West
Iceland awards. The retreat wowed
our panel with its tranquil aura,
gorgeous patio, and stunning sea-
side views. Part of the acclaimed
Fosshotel chain, it also has a fan-
tastic restaurant if you’re hun-
gry for dinner and an impressive
breakfast buffet.
Walk: Arnarstapi
to Hellnar
The one hour trek between Ar-
narstapi and Hellnar often makes
those lists of must-do activities in
Iceland and for good reason. The
leisurely coastal path will have
you serenely meandering through
bulging lava fields and past stun-
ning ocean outlooks. Make sure
to keep your eyes peeled for kitti-
wake, the Arctic tern, and fulmar
as you rejoice in the fisherman
relics and bird nests that freckle
the basalt columns, ravines, and
grottos. It’s a truly unforgettable
locale.
Eat: Fjöruhúsið
When the sun is out and the clouds
are hiding, there is no better sea-
side view in the country than from
the patio of this iconic seaside
spot. Facing the Baðstofa rock
formation and soundtracked by
the echo of nesting birds and the
swell of the tide, Fjöruhúsið is a
tiny old-timey café that serves up
great coffee, cakes, waffles, and
seafood soup. Cuddle up with a
blanket and treat on the terrace
and watch the sunset. Now, aren’t
you relaxed?
Visit: Djúpalónssandur
Only 15 minutes drive from Hell-
nar lies Djúpalónssandur, a noto-
rious black pebble beach which is
supposedly both haunted and the
location of an elf church. It was
the site of a shipwreck that took
the lives of fourteen British sail-
ors in 1948, and you’ll still come
across rusted metal fragments
of the accident dotting the rocks.
Feel free to explore the history
of the region up close, but make
sure not to mess with the wreck-
age, or with any elves. They’re
known for being temperamental.
Pray: Hellnar Church
With a year-round population of
fewer than ten people, it’s difficult
to say how many people use
Hellnar’s church. It’s a somewhat
spooky building—the type of
small-town church you usually
see in horror movies. That said,
the strangeness of it only adds to
its beauty. Inside, you’ll be met by
a b r i g ht b l u e c e i l i n g a n d
chandelier. Make sure to take a
stroll around the lumpy cemetery
before you sit in the bright red
pews. Now say Amen.
Road trip: Snæfellsnes
A one-day road trip around the
Snæfellsnes peninsula, a.k.a.
“Iceland In Miniature,” grants you
access to essentially every noto-
rious Icelandic topography you’d
dream of: think geothermal areas,
lava fields, canyons, cliffs, black
sand beaches, and, of course, the
Snæfellsjökull glacier. Follow
Route 54 to circle around the area,
and make sure to check out Styk-
kishólmur—it’s a gem of a coastal
fishing village.
Hellnar
A tranquil sanctuary on the coast of Snæfellsnes
Words: Hannah Jane Cohen Photos: Art Bicnick
Distance from Reykjavík: 188 km
How to get there: Route One North, then Route 54;
turn onto Útnesvegur then Hellnavegur
Car provided by: gocarrental.is
Acommodation provided by: hotelbudir.is