Hornstrandir - Pure Wilderness
The nature reserve Hornstrandir, the northernmost part of the Westfjords, offers pure wilderness to all visitors. Comparatively densely populated in earlier days, these fjords are now left to natures firm grip. Arctic foxes, lush meadows covered with flowers, majestic cliffs with screaming seabirds, deep fjords and vast remote bays make Hornstrandir a real paradise for all nature lovers.
Travellers to the Hornstrandir Nature Reserve should contact Tourist Information Centres in the Westfjords for further information regarding the trip, to check out the weather forecast and to gather last minute information. Safety should always be number one when planning trips to Hornstrandir and other remote areas in the Westfjords peninsula, as weather and other conditions change quickly.
Grunnavík
Grunnavík cove is at the mouth of the southern site of Jökulfirðir, located in between Staðarhlíð and Vébjarnarnúpur mountain. Staðarhlíð slopes are fenced by cliffs at the top. Below screes continue down to the sea. At the westernmost area in Staðarhlíð the rock formations Maríuhorn and Ófæra decorate the landscape. Ófæra is a strange basaltic dyke with two holes. It is possible to walk through the hole which is closer to land and sail boats through the hole further from shore during high tides.
Hrafnsfjörður
Hrafnsfjörður is at the bottom of Jökulfirðir. At its mouth are the borders for the nature reserve in Hornstrandir. On both side of the fjord, stand high mountains decorated with cliffs and screes. On the west side of the fjord lies Kjósarnes which separates Hrafnsfjörður from Leirufjörður.
Hrafnsfjarðareyri is an abandoned farm at the south side of the fjord. Part of the Fóstbræðra Saga takes place at the estate, where Þorgeir Hávarsson and Þormóður Kolbrúnarskáld meet the widow Sigurfljóð, who lived at Hrafnsfjarðareyri. The saga also tells about their conflicts with Ingólfur Sviðinn and his son Þorbrandur in Sviðinsstaðir, which was a farm on the north side of the fjord.
Hesteyri in Hesteyrarfjörður
Hesteyrarfjörður is the westernmost fjord of Jökulfirðir on its northern side and, like most of the other fjords, it is surrounded by rocky mountains and steep screes. Lowland is rather limited. At the mouth of the fjord Lásafjall mountain rises at the east side and Nóngilsfjall mountain at the west side. Inward on the west side one can see Innri-Hesteyrarbrúnir and above them Kistufell mountain. The abandoned large farm Slétta is on the west side closer to the fjords mouth.
Aðalvík, Sæból and Látrar
Aðalvík cove faces the open seas, being the outermost cove in Hornstrandir Nature Reserve. The cove is rather big, with about 5 miles between the impressive mountains that surround it. Both sides fall steeply into the ocean and there is a considerable lowland area within the cove. North of Aðalvík is Straumnes and Straumnesfjall mountain. Further in the cove is Látrafjall mountain.
Hornvík
The cliffs of Hornbjarg and Hælavíkurbjarg surround the Hornvík cove, Hornbjarg in the east and Hælavíkurbjarg in the west. On the west side of Hælavíkurbjarg is Hælavík cove. The nearest cove further east of Hornbjarg is Látravík with Hornbjargsviti lighthouse.
Hælavíkurbjarg is a 258 m. high sheer cliff. It is named after Hæll, which is a freestanding rock in the sea just off the coast. Above the brink is a valley called Hvannadalur. Below the valley are two beautiful freestanding dikes, Langikambur and Fjöl, in the sea, with a small cove named Kirfi in between them. Not far away is the third dike, Súlnastapi, standing in the sea close to the cliff.
Bolungavík
Bolungavík is a wide and short bay surrounded by high cliff mountains. On the north side is Skarðsfjall which is 502 metres high, and at its side is Straumnes. Once upon a time a whale drifted to shore by Skriða which is a rocky slope in Straumnes. While farmers were arguing about the ownership of the whale a landslide (the Skriða) came rushing down the hill and covered the whale. On the south side of Bolungavík one can see Bolungavíkurbjarg and further on Drangsnes, but on the west coast the landscape is milder, leading up to the moor lands of Bolungavík.
In Bolungavik there is a guesthouse with sleeping bag accommodations during the summer.
Reykjafjörður
Reykjafjörður is a short and wide fjord in northern Strandir. It was abandoned by its last inhabitants in 1959. The buildings have been well taken care of and they still stand on the lowland at the northwest side of the fjord. The old farm houses are on a hill just by the ocean and other houses, in which people stay during the summer, are further in the fjord.
Here in Reykjafjörður, there is a guesthouse with sleeping bag accommodations, a summerhouse and a big campsite, which are open during the summer. The swimming pool is open for all guests. Reykjafjörður can be accessed by foot or boat.
Drangajökull
The fifth largest glacier in Iceland, Drangajökull, is located outside the nature reserve in Hornstrandir, on the borders of North-Ísafjarðarsýsla and Strandir. The glacier has been shrinking for the last few decades, like most other glaciers in Iceland. Today it is around 200 miles square. Drangajökull takes its name from Drangar and Drangaskörð in Strandir.
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