Reykjavík Grapevine - 01.08.2018, Blaðsíða 24

The Reykjavík Grapevine
Best of Iceland 2018
24
Road Trip:
Borgarfjörður
Directions: Route One North, then
circle Routes 50 & 518
Away from the crowds around
the coast is the quiet inland
area of Húsafell. Turning right
just before the Borgarnes bridge
will take you along a trail of cu-
riosities, including the powerful
Deildartunguhver hot spring,
the historical town of Reykholt,
the impressive Hraunfossar wa-
terfalls, the gourmet restaurant
at Hótel Húsafell and, eventual-
ly, the foothills of the Langjökull
glacier. Map square: E-G13
Town:
Stykkishólmur
Info: visitstykkishólmur.is
Of all the small towns around
Iceland’s coastline, Styk-
kishólmur—population 1,195—
is perhaps the most charming.
The small harbour is enclosed
by a small and easily hikeable
cliff that offers views out into
the island-dotted fjord, and for
such a small place there’s plenty
to see and do, including a hand-
ful of museums, shops, and
restaurants. The perfect spot
for a weekend getaway. D11
Museum:
Settlement Centre
Info: landnam.is
Tel: +354 437 1600
The Settlement Centre at
Brákarbraut 13-15 in Borgarnes
is an informative and playfully
construed museum about the
history of people in Iceland. It
looks at the history of the earliest
settlers and the challenges they
faced, through a series of diora-
mas and interactive displays. You
can stand on a swaying longboat,
see how humanity spread through
Iceland, and hear tales of the Sa-
gas. Next door is a similar muse-
um that relates the bloody tale of
Egils Saga. E13
Museum:
The Library of Water
Tel: +354 865 4516
Roni Horn’s Vatnasafn (“Li-
brary of Water”) resides in Styk-
kishólmur’s old library building
at Bókhlöðustígur 17. The exhib-
it presents a number of floor-to-
ceiling glass tubes, each con-
taining a sample of meltwater
and silt from one of Iceland’s
glaciers. With the current rapid
climate change situation, these
tubes may be all that’s left one
day. D11
Attraction:
Into The Glacier
Info: www.intotheglacier.is
Tel: +354 659-9710

The Langjökull Ice Tunnel is a
manmade phenomenon that al-
lows you to walk—you guessed
it—into the glacier. While
adults will be amazed by the sce-
nic journey up Langjökull, kids
could easily amuse themselves
for hours moseying around
the chilly ice tunnel, which
comes complete with multiple
chambers, information on how
glaciers form, an icicle-laden
natural crevasse, and a non-de-
nominational chapel. H13
Waterfall: Glymur
Hvalfjörður, off Route 47
Glymur was long considered
Iceland’s highest waterfall but
was demoted by the newly dis-
covered Morsárfoss in 2007.
A slender torrent that comes
tumbling down from a towering
mountain, it’s hugely impres-
sive nonetheless. The hiking
route involves clambering over
a pole to cross a river, wander-
ing through some caves, and, fi-
nally, crossing the river close to
the edge of the falls. Take hiking
poles, and expect to be walking
for around three hours. F14
USEFUL INFO

Grapevine on the West and
Westfjords:
gpv.is/west
gpv.is/westfjords
Our articles, info and
guides for West Iceland
and the Westfjords
Tourist Information:
West Iceland Marketing
Office
www.west.is
info@westiceland.is
Tel: +354 462 3300

Emergency services
Tel: 112 (national helpline)
Weather report
en.vedur.is
Recorded info: +354 902 0600
HOW TO GET THERE
By car:
Road conditions
www.road.is
Tel: 1777
(Summer hours: 08:00-16:00 /
Winter: 06:30-22:00)
From Stykkishólmur
Ferry to Flatey and
Brjánslækur
Schedule & Info:
www.seatours.is
By bus:
National Bus Network
www.bus.is
Tel: +354 540 2700