Remote places in North Iceland

Flatey is a beautiful island and an unforgettable experience to visit. You have the feeling time stops here or even goes back in history. Many residents in Húsavík have houses on Flatey, which though uninhabited since 1968, was once a lively village with a church, a schoolhouse, and a lighthouse. Residents slowly left once electricity began to arrive on the mainland. Spread flat, the island is rich in bird fauna, with over 30 different types of bird to watch, including among others Arctic Tern and the Puffins.

Mt. Herdubreid on the Oskjuleið Route is a 1682m high table mountain. It is the national mountain of Iceland and often called the “Queen of Icelandic mountains”. There is a hiking trail to the top of the mountain, but due to loose rock it´s difficult and steep.

Hljóðaklettar in the canyon Jökulsárgljúfur is a distinctive cluster of columnar rock formations standing at the entrance to Vesturdalur, down by the Jökulsá á Fjöllum River. The columns lie at all angles and it’s an entertaining exercise for one's imagination to interpret their patterns. The road to Hljóðaklettar (862) is closed over the winter months.

Hraunhafnartangi and Rifstangi are the northernmost points of Iceland, at the edge of the arctic circle. Hraunhafnartangi derives its name from the natural harbor which is mentioned in 13th century literature. Þorgeirsdys, a stone mound found on Hraunhafnartangi, is believed the burial mound of Þorgeir Hávarsson who was slain there in an epic 11th century battle chronicled in Fóstbræðrasaga. Visitors who bring pictures of themselves by Hraunhafnartangi lighthouse can receive a certificate from local service providers of having been to the northernmost point of the Icelandic mainland. Please note that the elder duck is protected under Icelandic law and all access to the nesting area and its surroundings is prohibited between April 15th and July 14th.  

Hólmatungur is an expanse of rich vegetation in the Jökulsárgljúfur area, and there are many beautiful columnar rock formations to be found there. The footpath between Hljóðaklettar and Hólmatungur, alongside Jökulsá á Fjöllum, is among the most beautiful in Iceland. The waters of countless streams bubble up in Hólmatungur, which then tumble over ledges into Jökla. Here you will also find Gloppuhellir cave in Gloppa, which is a very special natural creation.

Kálfshamarsvík is a small cove in the northern part of Skagi, with unusual, beautifully formed sea cliffs of columnar rock, created about 2 million years ago. At the beginning of the 20th century, fishing boats plied the waters and there was a small community of about 100 inhabitants at Kálfshamarsvík. However, by around 1940 the village had become deserted.

The Kverkfjöll mountain range, Iceland's third highest mountain group, is a cluster of peaks formed by a large central volcano on the northern edge of the ice cap.One of Iceland's most active high-temperature geothermal areas is located in the western Kverkfjöll Mountains. Its existence is due to a fault scarp. An area of hot springs 3 km long and nearly 1km wide can be found at an altitude of 1600-1700 m. More information about the National Park is at the webpage: www.vatnajokullnationalpark.is

  An oasis in the barren land between the glacier Hofsjokull and Vatnajokull. The site is about 25km to the west of the best known highland route “Sprengisandur”. On the north-western slopes of the mountain Laugafell, there are geothermal hot springs bubbling and three mountain huts open in summer, with kitchen facilities and a nice geothermal nature pool outside.

At an altitude of 469 m, Möðrudalur farm lies higher than any other Icelandic farm. The remarkable, tiny church was built by the farmer himself, Jón Stefánsson, in 1949. The tourist services here operate year-round. Various trails have been marked through the area, which prides itself on wide panoramas and amazing silence. The majestic Mount Herðubreið, looming in the near distance, has long been referred to as the Queen of Icelandic Mountains, but its image was further cultivated in the last century by a self-made painter from Möðrudalur farm, Stefán Jónsson (Stórval).  

It's a unique feeling to walk around the green island of Grímsey. Look to the horizon on the Atlantic ocean in the north, or turn your head to the south to see the glistening mountain tops of the shoreline of North Iceland. In this remote place, it's easy to imagine you are alone in the universe, even though roughly 70 people call this island their home. Feel the birds' vibrating sounds in the cliffs, see the puffins poke their head up from their nests, and the roaming sheep eating the green grass. There is no place quite like Grímsey. The travel to the island is an adventure in itself. Either you fly for about 20 minutes from Akureyri or take the ferry from Dalvík that gets you there in 3 hours. Some only stop for a few hours, but many choose to stay for a few days, disconnect from the busy life, find their connection to nature, and relieve stress. In Grímsey, two guesthouses are open year-round, but it is best to book your stay in advance, especially during summer. In the small village, you'll also find a small convenience store, a café, and a restaurant (pre-booking recommended during the off-season.) One of the major attractions of Grímsey is the puffin that makes its nest in the cliffs in April and goes back to sea in August. Another one is the Arctic Circle, with many visitors aiming to step over the circle. In 2017 a new landmark was revealed that signifies where the Arctic Circle goes through the island. It's a giant ball and is called "Orbus et Globus. " Weighing almost 7 tons, it is moved each year to align to the Arctic Circle. A visit in the summertime is highly recommended, but a visit during winter will not disappoint.  With little sunlight, the isolation from others almost becomes tangible, with the Northern Lights dancing around in the sky. 

What remains of the village of Skálar are remnants of a life that used to be: a thriving community whose livelihood depended on the sea. Changing conditions in the fishing industry and transportation, the explosions of maritime mines, and other factor led to the abandonment of the settlement in the 1950s. Interwined with the village´s history are the factors that made Skálar an appealing place to live, its role in World War II, changes in transportation, the lives of individual families, and much more. Some of the ruins have been marked with a number and name.

Langanes is a veritable outdoor paradise teeming with birdlife, great for nature study and hiking. Skoruvíkurbjarg, located mid-way out on its northern shore, is a great place to view and photograph sea birds such as auks. A viewing platform extending some 10m out from the cliff offers a close range view of a colony of the magnificent Northern Gannets on the sea stack Stórikarl. It´s Iceland’s second largest Gannet colony, while nearby are colonies of auks, including guillemots and puffins in the bird-filled cliffs at Skoruvíkurbjarg. The Gannet is the largest seabird in the North Atlantic and has earned the nickname Queen of the Atlantic. Langanes peninsula is a treat for birdwatchers.