Westfjords attractions at a glance
The people of the West Fjords have long been known for their very special social life, with culture and history highly esteemed. In addition, in recent years organized entertainment has increased markedly, with annual festivals such as Sæluhelgi (Family weekend) at Sudureyri, Bryggjuhátíð (Harbour Festival) at Drangsnes, Djúpavíkurhátíð (Djúpavík Festival), Þjóðahátíðinni (West fjords Feasts of Nations), the Ski Week at Ísafjördur, and Seamens Day at Patreksfjördur.
In the summer there are also all kinds of events for all the family. There is a sand castle competition by the shore, walks with experienced leaders
who know every bump in the landscape, evenings reliving the cultural heritage, family day on the shore - all of it unforgettable entertainment for
young and old. In order not to miss out on anything it is best to visit the West Fjord information centres regularly. Still others think the most fun is to poke around a good West Fjord handicrafts shop and look at the art treasures and mementoes made by the local people. The social life excites others and each town has its own charm and magnetism.
Fishing, golf and swimming
People who enjoy the great outdoors have ample opportunity in the West Fjords. Anglers, young and old, can fish the rivers and lakes, and golfers can usually find a golf course nearby. There are six 9-hole golf courses in the West Fjord Region, three in Ísafjardar County, two in Bardastrandar County and one in Strandir.
Then it is always possible to go for a dip in one of the West Fjord swimming pools. Those who have been there will well remember the large pool in
Reykjanes by Djúp or the Krossneslaug pool in Árneshreppur District in Strandir, the first by the Atlantic and the second with the mountain towering over the landscape.
Boat trips, sea fishing and kayaking
Boat trips afford the traveller an unforgettable chance to approach and experience the impressive natural environment of the West Fjords. In fine
weather taking the boat over Breidafjördur and stopping over on the island of Flatey is an unforgettable experience. Or reliving the atmosphere of
past ages and going for a day trip to Hornstrandir or sailing over the Djúp to visit the island of Vigur, where time has almost stood still. On the
Drangsnes Peninsula in Strandir groups can go sea fishing and sailing, or out to the island of Grímsey, known as the pearl of Steingrímsfjördur.
Little creates more feeling of freedom, peace and natural beauty in the West Fjords than to paddle silently and with little effort over smooth water
in a kayak. In several places it is possible to rent kayaks, and it is also possible to join longer organized adventure trips, among them in
Jökulfjördur in the northern part of the Djúp.
Walking and trips on horseback
The West Fjords offer many and varied possibilities for walking trips and riding horseback In fact, there are uncountable opportunities to go out on
ones own to enjoy the natural surroundings, discovering gems of nature and places of historical interest almost everywhere one looks. Everywhere
there are interesting walks, both along the shore and up into the mountains, both for those who want to climb a harder trail and those who want to
take it easy. The wide expanses are breathtaking and it is no trouble to go alone to enjoy the solitude or with your family for an evening stroll or a
walk along the shore.
The West Fjords Tourist Association has published a map for all areas that shows and describes short walks. The map can be obtained in tourist
centres in the West Fjords and other selected shops.
It is no less fun to ride horseback. There are several horse rentals in the West Fjords which offer both short and long trips. For the more
adventurous who are used to riding there is an 8-day trip over the uninhabited land around the Drangajökull Glacier, an area that is rewarding to see close-up.
The remains of bygone ages
The traveller in the West Fjords can easily discern the marks of previous habitation. Some of the remains go back to Commonwealth times in the Middle Ages, like the walls of Flókatóftir at Brjánslaekur, which may be the oldest remains of habitation in Iceland. Everywhere there are signs of the lives of past generations. Old boathouses to shelter the ships in winter and fishermens turf huts by the seaside, summer pastures and abandoned farms up the valleys.
There are interesting museums and exhibits that should not be passed over. There are a great many important artefacts in the Egill Olafsson Museum at
Hnjótur in Örlygshöfn that show the tools and equipment used for farming and fishing. There is also a museum of flight and in Bíldudalur the Melódíur
music museum in a home that is open to guests in the summer.
Hrafnseyri on Arnarfjördur boasts the Jón Sigurdsson Museum, where the life and work of this hero of Icelands dependence is well portrayed. A trip to
the doll museum in Flateyri, housing dolls from a great many countries, is fun for all the family. Nedstikaupstadur in Ísafjördur is the site of the
most complete grouping of houses from the 18th century in Iceland, all protected by law. There are both commercial buildings and dwellings. Everyone who goes to Ísafjördur should take a trip to Nedstikaupstadur to enjoy going through these houses and the associated Maritime Museum. Bolungarvík has a fine natural history museum. No one will be disappointed by a visit to Ósvör, the restored fishing hut from the time of using rowboats, where the museum director, Geir, will greet you, dressed like the fishermen of the old days. The atmosphere of the museum is impressive. There is an interesting museum north in Trékyllisvík in Strandir and a handicrafts house at Hótel Djúpavík which shows many of the old relics, pictures and mementoes from the years when the herring catches were huge. Very special is the Museum of Sorcery an Witchcraft at Hólmavík in the Strandir area, which demonstrates the seventeenth century belief in sorcery in an informative and lively way.
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