Iceland review - 2016, Page 101

ICELAND REVIEW 99
SPECIAL PROMOTION WEST ICELAND
farm Borg, where Egill Skallagrímsson (904-995), the warrior
Viking and poet lived, and Reykholt, home to Snorri Sturluson
(1179-1241), the author of Snorra-Edda.
Snæfellsnes peninsula is a different world. It’s Iceland in
miniature. The area is crowned by the glistening ice cap of
Snæfellsjökull, at the western tip of this 100-km (60-mile)-
long peninsula. Approaching the glacier, you drive through
diverse and fascinating landscapes, sheer sea cliffs, gold-
en beaches, lava fields, and farming landscape like no other.
On the northern side of the peninsula, you have five fishing
villages with very different charm. The biggest, Stykkishólmur,
is the gateway to the ‘uncountable’ islands, islets and skerries of
Breiðafjörður bay (there are reportedly several thousand).
The Dalir area is farthest north in West Iceland and is rich in
history. Here, many of the most famous sagas took place. This
is also where Leifur Eiríksson, the European discover of Ameri-
ca, was born. Today in Dalir, there are more sheep, horses and
cows than people. And in the only village, Búðardalur, many of
Iceland’s best cheese is produced.
West Iceland is a world of its own, waiting to be discovered.
From left: Reykholt; The settlement farm Hvammur in Dalir; Akranes harbor; Hraunfossar; Ingjaldshóll church, Snæfellsnes.
Sunset at Álftafjörður, northern Snæfellsnes.