Iceland review - 2014, Síða 76

74 ICELAND REVIEW
We are headed west, on Ring Road 1. Instead of the Hvalfjarðar-
göng tunnel, we choose road 47, which takes us along Hvalfjörður.
A big waterfall, beautiful nature, an interesting church and a
great hotel are among its attractions. Not to forget Laxá í Kjós,
one of the most important of Iceland’s 23 main salmon rivers with
that same name.
After a rest stop in Borgarnes, we enter the Snæfellsnes pen-
insula, renowned for its unique nature and the volcanic glacier
Snæfellsjökull—part of a national park with the same name.
On the northern side of the peninsula you have typical fishing
villages. Beautiful and quaint, Stykkishólmur is the ideal place to
relax and enjoy a good meal before heading to the Westfjords.
The Westfjords, Europe’s westernmost area, are Iceland’s best
kept secret. Here you have the spectacular Látrabjarg bird cliff,
where the puffins flash you a little smile, one of the country’s
most stunning waterfalls, Dynjandi, deep fjords, small villages,
history in the town of Ísafjörður and small fishing boats at Bol-
ungarvík. With every turn, there is a new mountain, new scenery
to be found. And the Hornstrandir region is the best place to
hike: No people, no roads, only you and the constant wind.
After all those fjords, you will pass through the Strandir re-
gion. Don’t go too fast, there are a lot of things to discover.
More than you can imagine. Back on Ring Road 1, you will
reach Northwest Iceland: seal country, horse country and sheep
country, with the most beautiful turf houses in Iceland at Gla-
umbær. And after taking road 76, you must take a dip in the
stunning Hofsós swimming pool, which offers the best view in the
country over Skagafjörður bay. On we go, next stop: Siglufjörður,
located at the tip of Tröllaskagi peninsula, which once was the
world’s herring capital. Few places are better to see yesteryear’s
Iceland than at the award-winning herring museum.
Tröllaskagi is ideal for hiking and skiing, but even if you are
not an outdoor person the short ferry ride to the island of Hrísey
is well worth it. There, time has stood still for decades, which is
definitely not the case in charming Akureyri, the largest town
outside the capital region. Thriving cultural life and fine dining
make it the perfect base for exploring North Iceland.
Eastward we go. After a 90 minute drive we reach Lake Mý-
vatn, one of the true top spots in Iceland. Enough said.
Next up is Húsavík, the whale watching capital of Europe, and
Getting Around, Around Iceland
around iceland
langanes peninsula, northeast iceland.reynisfjara beach, near vík, South iceland. the hidden lambafitjarhraun lava field, South iceland. jökulsárlón glacial lagoon, Southeast iceland. vigur island, the Westfjords.
the geothermal pool in Hveragerði, South iceland. Selfoss waterfall, northeast iceland. the scenic Þvottárskriður, East iceland. Hólmavík, Strandir, Westfjords. króksbjarg cliff, northwest iceland.