Reykjavík Grapevine - 01.08.2018, Qupperneq 52

The Reykjavík Grapevine
Best of Iceland 2018
52 BEST OF ICELAND 2018
East
Watch out for the lake monster
Best Bathing Spot
Egilsstaðir Pool
Egilsstaðir
Egillstaðir’s smart and modern town
pool is a perfect example of Iceland’s
bathing culture. Despite being in a
sports centre, it’s a charming spot,
with trees inside the fence and rocky
outcrops overlooking the glimmer-
ing swimming pool. The hot pots are
packed with locals relaxing, passing
the time and talking about anything
and everything. You can do laps to
cool down, then jump back in and soak
some more. A sauna and a cold plunge
pool seal the deal. Map square: H8
Runners Up
Selárlaug
Selárdalur, near Vopnafjörður
Built in 1949 as a training pool, Selár-
laug is a rustic rural pool located on the
banks of a salmon-fishing river, near the
tiny town of Vopnafjörður. It has a sun
deck, a hot pot, and a great view over
the surrounding area. You could quite
easily spend an afternoon there. G6
Fáskrúðsfjörður Pool
Skólavegur 39, Fáskrúðsfjörður
This small rural pool comes complete
with a mini-sauna that fits just a hand-
ful of people, and an outdoor hot tub.
“It’s probably one of the oldest pools
in the East, and one of the smallest,”
said the panel. “It has a lot of character,
like a micro version of the Sundhöllin in
downtown Reykjavik.” I10
Best Bar
Beljandi Brewery
Sólvellir 23, Breiðdalsvík
The tiny seaside town of Breiðdalsvík
is located on Route One between
Djúpivogur and Stöðvarfjörður, and it’s
the perfect place to stop off for some
refreshments thanks to the Beljandi bar
and brewery. “They have their own beer
on tap, which is brewed downstairs,”
said the panel. “Upstairs, there’s a nice
bar with a pool table. They have funny
opening hours in the winter, so check
ahead, but in summer they’re open
every evening.” I11
Runners Up
Já Sæll, Borgarfjörður Eystri
This bar is “probably the most active
live music venue in East Iceland,” said
the panel. “It's usually open until the
locals want to sleep, which is often
quite late. It’s a place where everybody
knows your name—or, at least, they will
by the end night.” I7
Newcomer
Tehúsið
Kaupvangur 17, Egilsstaðir
Our panel has great expectations for
this freshly opened hostel bar in the
eastern capital of Egilsstaðir.
“They have big plans to run concerts
there,” said one panellist. “It will be like
a Kex Hostel of the East, but smaller
of course.” We’ll watch with interest! H8
Best Hike
Stórurð
Borgarfjörður eystri
Beginning near Borgarfjörður Eystri, this
lengthy hike got glowing praise from
the panel. Translating as "Giant Boul-
ders," the route takes 2.5 hours each
way, passing lava formations, bright
ponds, and the huge tuff boulders from
which it gets its name. “After enjoying
the up-close view of Dyrfjöll—or the
“Door Mountains”—you pass the incred-
ible giant boulders of Stórurð. You can
return via a different route. The nearby
Stapavík offers an easier alternative
with some nice sea cliffs and the
remains of commercial activities in
the last century to gaze upon.” It’s only
open in summer, so check ahead. I7
Advanced Option
Seyðisfjörður to Borgarfjörður
This adventurous three-day route will
take you through the Víknaslóðir “aban-
doned fjörds,” past various weathered
churches and tiny settlements. There
are huts and camping places along the
way, and you’ll pass some spectacular
and remote mountains, cliffs and fjords
before arriving in Seyðisfjörður. It’s a se-
rious hike, so do some research first. I8
Easy Option
Hallormsstaðaskógur, Lagarfljót
On the other end of the spectrum is
a light, free-form hike through the
lakeside forest of Hallormstaðaskógar.
You can park and explore Iceland’s big-
gest forest, characterised by gushing
streams, tucked away cabins, views
over Lake Lagarfljót, and the famously
picturesque and mild-weathered
Atlavík camping ground. G10
Best Road Trip
Kárahnjúkur
Highlands
The Kárahnjúkar area lies just north of
Vatnajökull National Park, and is famous
for a controversial dam that was widely
protested. But as well as this monolithic
structure, our panel said that there
are also many beautiful canyons to
be explored in the area, such as the
dramatic Hafrahvammagljúfur and
Dimmugljúfur. “The dam is a crazy piece
of architecture,” said the panel. “It's so
enormous, it's breathtaking—maybe
not in a good way.” Added another,
mysteriously: “See if you can find the
secret pool.” It’s in the Highlands, so it’s
a summer-only drive—check road.is for
the road conditions. E10
Runners Up
Hellisandur & Hellisheiði Eystri
Driving from the north, this trip is a
great detour from the beaten track.
Turn off Route One towards Vopna-
fjörður, where “There’s a rustic swim-
ming pool, a turf-house museum, and a
nice café in the village,” said the panel.
After that, if the road is open, you can
continue across the Hellisheiði Eystri
mountain pass. “On a clear day, the view
makes the old gravel road well worth it.
And after the adventure, you’ll be back
on Route One.” G6
Öxi, Lagarfljót to Berufjörður
This mountain road used to be
part of Route One. “They realised that
was a bad idea,” said one panellist,
“as in the Winter it’s almost always
closed.” But in the Summer, it’s a beau-
tiful drive, with very few dwellings or
intrusions on the route—”just glorious
mountains, lakes, waterfalls, and
valleys at each end.” G11