Reykjavík Grapevine - 01.08.2018, Page 30

The Reykjavík Grapevine
Best of Iceland 2018
30
Kirkjubæjarklaustur
Vík í Mýrdal
Höfn í Hornafirði
Stöðvarörður
Djúpivogur
Reyðarörður
Eskiörður
Neskaupsstaður
Seyðisörður
Vopnaörður
Bakkagerði
Fáskrúðsörður
Selfoss
Hella
Hvolsvöllur
EyrarbakkiÞorlákshöfn
Stokkseyri
Grindavík
Hafnarörður
Reykjavík
Borgarnes
Akranes
Kjalarnes
Húsavík
Grenivík
Hrísey
Svalbarðseyri
Hjalteyri
Kópasker
Raufarhöfn
Þórshöfn
Ólafsörður
Dalvík
Akureyri
Grundar-
örður
Ólafsvík
Arnarstapi
Hellnar
Hellissandur
Rif
Kópavogur
Keflavík
Sandgerði
Garður
Hvammstangi
Borðeyri
Laugarbakki
Djúpavík
Sauðárkrókur
Varmahlíð
Hofsós
Sigluörður
Blönduós
Suðureyri
Æðey
Súðavík
TálknaörðurPatreksörður
Búðardalur
Bíldudalur Hólmavík
Bolungarvík
Flateyri
Þingeyri
Hnífsdalur
Ísaörður
Laugavatn
Hveragerði
Mosfellsbær
Sólheimar
Laugarás Flúðir
Reykholt
Stykkishólmur
Flatey
Skagaströnd
Grímsey
Egilsstaðir
Bakkaörður
Breiðdalsvík
Laugar
Brjánslækur
Reykholt
Reykhólar
Jökulsá á Fjöllum
Jökulsá á Fjöllum
Lagarfljót
Öskjuvatn
Þjórsá
Ölfusá
Hvítá
Mývatn
Langisjór
Veiðivötn
Þórisvatn
Þingvallavatn
Skaftá
Kleifarvatn
Hvítárvatn
Skjálfandafljót
G U L L F O S S
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D E T T I F O S S
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BR
E I
Ð
AM
ER
KU
RS
AN
D
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R
P A P E Y
H A L L O R M S S T A Ð U R
K A T L A
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T A N G A R
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A S K J A
V Í T I
L Ó N S Ö R Æ F I
M Ö Ð R U D A L U R
G R Í M S S T A Ð I R
J Ö K U L S Á R G L J Ú F U RG J Á S T Y K K I
S A U R B Æ R
TJ Ö R N E S
M E L R A K K A S L É T T A
L A N G A N E S
Á S B Y R G I
V E S T U R D A L U R
H E R Ð U B R E I Ð A R L I N D I R
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T R É K Y L L I S V Í K
H O R N S T R A N D I R
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J Ö K U L F I R Ð I R
H V Í T S E R K U R
D J Ú P A L Ó N S S .
L Ó N D R A N G A R
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R E Y K J A N E S V I T I
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D R A N G A S K Ö R Ð
H O R N B J A R G
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L Á T R A B J A R G
H R A F N A G I L
H V A L N E S
V E S T R A H O R N
S K R I Ð U K L A U S T U R
S U R T S H E L L I R
J Ö K U L H E I M A R
N Ý I D A L U R
V O N A R S K A R Ð
B A K K A H Ö F N
G U N N U -
H V E R
H Ó L A R Í H J A LT A D A L
S V A R F A Ð A R D A L U R
L A U G A F E L L
S K Á L H O LT
G A LT A L Æ K U R
Ú T H L Í Ð
F L J Ó T S H L Í Ð
H N J Ó T U R
B R E I Ð A V Í K F L Ó K A L U N D U R
H E S T E Y R I
S N Æ F E L L S S T R Ö N D
H R A F N S E Y R I
K V E R K FJ Ö L L
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Museum: Samúel
Jónsson Art Museum
samueljonssonmuseum.jimdo.com
Tel: + 354 698-7533
Just along the south shore of Ar-
narfjörður, in one of the most
isolated areas of Iceland, lies a
cartoonish house and church
surrounded by a number of bi-
zarre plaster sculptures. These
are the work of Samúel Jóns-
son: a hermit self-taught artist
who used his pension money for
plaster, which he then used for
these peculiarities. “Prepare for
unpredictable road conditions,”
our panel warned. “But perhaps
that’s just part of the whole bi-
zarre Selárdalur experience.”
Map square: B8
Waterfall:
Dynjandi
Location: Just off Route 60 on the
way to Þingeyri in the Westfjords
Some consider the spectacu-
lar Dynjandi to be amongst the
most beautiful waterfalls in
all of Iceland. This impressive,
massive torrent is actually a
series of seven-tiered water-
falls that resemble a flooding
staircase. It’s easily accessible,
too, via a relaxed fifteen-min-
ute hike through vibrant brush.
Take your lunch here—it’s also a
great picnic spot. C8
Town: Ísafjörður
Info: isafjordur.is
The regional capital of the West-
fjords is Ísafjörður, an old mer-
chant town that’s definitely worth
a visit. It’s the cultural capital of
the area, and around the turn of
the 20th century, Ísafjörður was
the second-biggest town in Ice-
land, with a history filled with
witch trials and industry. Today,
it has a population of only 2,600,
but despite its location deep in
the Westfjords, it remains a lively
town with three museums—in-
cluding the oldest row of houses
in Iceland—two bars, and a mov-
ie theatre. Its houses are old, and
its people proud. C6
Area:
Hornstrandir
Info: westfjords.is
This largely uninhabited pen-
insula is so far off the beaten
track that you have to either un-
dertake a lengthy hike or get a
boat ride there. It’s worth it: it’s
a natural reserve of outstanding
natural beauty, and a haven for
Arctic foxes, which are protect-
ed in the region. It’s also some-
thing of a hiking mecca, with
campsites and all the trails you
could want. D-E5
Place: Djúpavík
Info: djupavik.is
Djúpavík is a far-flung and
breathtaking hamlet around
a rough dirt track deep in the
Westfjords. A handful of hous-
es and a rusting shipwreck
stand nestled next to a huge,
crumbling factory building
that seems like a surreal vision
in the depths of the Strandir
coast. The factory was aban-
doned when the fish vanished,
and now serves as a workshop,
museum and gallery; the work-
ers’ quarters are now a cosy and
informal family-run hotel. F7
Museum of Sorcery &
Witchcraft
Info: galdrasyning.is
Tel: +354 897 6525
A weathered wooden structure
with a turf roof, Hólmavík’s
main tourist attraction may
look underwhelming, but like
its subject, it’s got some mag-
ic. The museum’s most famous
acquisition is a replica of a pair
of “necropants”: trousers made
of human skin, which allegedly
dispense gold form the crotch
for those brave or psychotic
enough to make a pair. If that
tickles your occult bone, indulge
your morbid side with a visit. F8
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 domestic airline:
Isafjörður (IFJ)
Domestic flights to and from
Reykjavík.
Main airline operator:
www.airiceland.is
Tel: +354 570 3000
Other airports are at Bíldudalur
and Gjögur, with flights to and
from Reykjavík serviced by
eagleair.is
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