Borgarfjordur Eystri (Borgarfjörður Eystri)
Borgarfjordur Eystri (Borgarfjörður Eystri)
This remote and peaceful village is located in the most northerly part of the East Fjords. It is accessed from Egilsstaðir on road 94, but check the road conditions before setting off as early or late in the season the road may be slippery or even closed. It is not advisable to drive this route in winter. On the drive to Borgarfjörður Eystri (also known as Bakkagerði) take in views of the cleft mountain Dyrfjöll, one of Iceland’s most distinctive peaks. Before reaching the village, the road climbs to Vatnsskarð pass and then descends sharply to the bay of Njarðvík.
For the final 8km, the road hugs scree slopes but the gradient eases as the next bay comes into view. There is plenty of interest in this isolated village: the church, with its altarpiece by artist Kjarval, who grew up here; Álfaborg, the rocky hillock east of the church, which is said to be the home of the Elf Queen; Hafnarhólmur, a few kilometres beyond the village on the other side of the bay, with a small harbour and bird sanctuary, where puffins and kittiwakes breed. The village has a grocery shop, two cafés and a gift shop selling items made from local stone.
Blábjörg spa offers a hot tub overlooking the shore.
Take a stroll through the village and you can't miss the perfect little turf cottage Lindarbakki. The oldest part of the house dates from 1899 but the current owner, who comes every summer to spend time there, and her late husband restored it after they bought it in 1979.
The village is ringed by colourful rhyolite mountains and many hiking trails are found in the area. A map of the hiking trails can be purchased in the village.
Seals, sea birds, wading birds and ducks can be observed from the shore in the village.