What’s the best thing about Snæfellsnes peninsula?
“The light and the silence that surrounds you there. Time seems to disappear there, and it’s the best feeling when you suddenly realize you haven’t looked at a clock all day long. I spend as much time there as possible during summer. My family owns an old farm in the area, called Hnúkur. My father grew up on the farm and lived there until 1974, and I used to spend all my summers there as a child.
“For the last three summers my father and I have been renovating an old slaughterhouse, a fish-processing plant, a freezing plant, and an old grocery store near Fellsströnd, West Iceland – many farms in that area have been deserted over the past decades. The houses will be ready this summer, and the plan is to host various cultural events there in July and August.”
Favourite restaurant:
“Narfeyrarstofa in Stykkishólmur offers amazing food and service. The last time I dined there I had paddled all the way over the bay with my father and two friends, which probably played some part in the fact that the meal was one of the best ones I’ve ever had!”
Best place for a picnic:
“I recommend a nice picnic on the mountainside near Fellsströnd. There you’ll have an amazing panoramic view over Breiðafjörður bay, which is dotted with by countless little islands. Make sure you’re not pressed for time, the view is so breath-taking that you’ll have a hard time tearing yourself away from it.”
Your favourite spot in Breiðafjörður:
“Anywhere near the ocean, really. I can spend forever just gazing out onto the horizon, observing the ocean’s movements and the wildlife. My family owns a Zodiac and some kayaks, and one of my favourite past times is paddling between the islands.”
Mention three interesting things one should not miss when visiting the area:
“Erpsstaðir farm is among my favourite places to visit. They are known for their home-made ice-cream and cheese. Delicious!”
“The Breiðafjörður Boat Museum in Reykhólar, Westfjords, is well worth a visit. The museum has over thirty old boats from different eras on display and I love examining them and imagining life during that time.”
“I try to visit Flatey island whenever I get the chance. Two years ago I went there with my great-aunt. She grew up on an island nearby and went to school on Flatey. She told me many wonderful stories from her time on the island.”
What can one do in the area when travelling with children:
“It’s all about getting out of the car to explore. My daughters love Eiríksstaðir Heritage Museum in Haukadalur valley, West Iceland. The museum is built around old house -ruins from the Viking era and is dedicated to the life and adventures of the Viking Eric the Red.”
Elsa Sigurðardóttir, a nursing student, has roots in Breiðafjörður bay and spent her childhood summers in the area. She says time seems to disappear when in Breiðafjörður – it’s a wonderland in which time does not exist. The Snæfellsnes peninsula’s most famous landmark, according to Elsa, is the majestic Snæfellsjökull glacier, which seems to alter its shape depending on the viewer’s location.
What’s the best thing about Snæfellsnes peninsula?
“The light and the silence that surrounds you there. Time seems to disappear there, and it’s the best feeling when you suddenly realize you haven’t looked at a clock all day long. I spend as much time there as possible during summer. My family owns an old farm in the area, called Hnúkur. My father grew up on the farm and lived there until 1974, and I used to spend all my summers there as a child.
“For the last three summers my father and I have been renovating an old slaughterhouse, a fish-processing plant, a freezing plant, and an old grocery store near Fellsströnd, West Iceland – many farms in that area have been deserted over the past decades. The houses will be ready this summer, and the plan is to host various cultural events there in July and August.”
Favourite restaurant:
“Narfeyrarstofa in Stykkishólmur offers amazing food and service. The last time I dined there I had paddled all the way over the bay with my father and two friends, which probably played some part in the fact that the meal was one of the best ones I’ve ever had!”
Best place for a picnic:
“I recommend a nice picnic on the mountainside near Fellsströnd. There you’ll have an amazing panoramic view over Breiðafjörður bay, which is dotted with by countless little islands. Make sure you’re not pressed for time, the view is so breath-taking that you’ll have a hard time tearing yourself away from it.”
Your favourite spot in Breiðafjörður:
“Anywhere near the ocean, really. I can spend forever just gazing out onto the horizon, observing the ocean’s movements and the wildlife. My family owns a Zodiac and some kayaks, and one of my favourite past times is paddling between the islands.”
Mention three interesting things one should not miss when visiting the area:
“Erpsstaðir farm is among my favourite places to visit. They are known for their home-made ice-cream and cheese. Delicious!”
“The Breiðafjörður Boat Museum in Reykhólar, Westfjords, is well worth a visit. The museum has over thirty old boats from different eras on display and I love examining them and imagining life during that time.”
“I try to visit Flatey island whenever I get the chance. Two years ago I went there with my great-aunt. She grew up on an island nearby and went to school on Flatey. She told me many wonderful stories from her time on the island.”
What can one do in the area when travelling with children:
“It’s all about getting out of the car to explore. My daughters love Eiríksstaðir Heritage Museum in Haukadalur valley, West Iceland. The museum is built around old house -ruins from the Viking era and is dedicated to the life and adventures of the Viking Eric the Red.”
