Laugarbakki: River Routes and Grettisból

Laugarbakki lies just east of the Miðfjarðará river. The village is of interest to travellers who want to combine nature with Icelandic cultural history: the Langafit walking trail leads to the river, while Grettisból and the stories of Grettir the Strong provide a distinct cultural focus. When choosing a holiday destination, it may therefore be helpful to ask yourself whether you would prefer to spend time by the water, discover historical connections, or experience both. The road to the Arnarsvatnsheiði heath also passes through Laugarbakki, giving the village a clear place in the landscape.

Exploring the Miðfjarðará

The Langafit walking trail leads to the banks of the Miðfjarðará and then continues south along the river. Its route is therefore clear: first to the riverbank, then south alongside the river. The birdlife along the Langafit trail is diverse in summer. Those out and about at this time of year can therefore also choose the trail because of their interest in birds and nature. The Langafit walk begins in front of the Ásbyrgi community centre in Laugarbakki. From there, a path leads down to the Miðfjarðará. This means that local options for outdoor activities include both a named walking trail by the river and the path from the community centre to the water.

Grettisból and the stories of Grettir

Grettisból is a play area with a group of buildings in Laugarbakki, in Miðfjörður, managed by Grettistak ses. Guided tours and various Viking games are available outdoors. The annual Grettishátíð festival is held mainly at Grettisból from 25 to 27 July. Those interested in Icelandic storytelling traditions and historical connections will find several points of interest here: the site combines a managed area with a recurring festival and outdoor activities. In the story of Grettir the Strong, the historical horse competition also took place at Langafit.

Crafts and regional products

The Langafit craft market in Laugarbakki offers handicrafts made by people from Laugarbakki and the surrounding farms. It provides a distinct insight into local crafts. This is separate from the farmers’ market held at Grettisból in summer, where regional food and handicrafts with historical connections are sold. Participants include Spes-Sveitamarkað and the Bardúsa-Verslunminjasafn. If you would like to discover local products as well as trails and culture on your trip, these two markets offer different things: one focuses on crafts from the village and surrounding farms, while the other features food and works with historical connections.

More traces in the surrounding area

About 10 km south of Laugarbakki lies Bjarg í Miðfirði. Remains connected with Grettir the Strong have been preserved there. Together with the historical horse competition at Langafit, this gives the Grettir story a connection both to Laugarbakki and to a place to its south. Another distinctive feature of the village is its geothermal water: hot water from the Laugarbakki geothermal area is used to heat houses in Laugarbakki. Thus, alongside its river landscape, birdlife, and culture, the local character also includes the use of geothermal heat.

More local pages to explore: Húnavatn, Hólar, Lækjamót, Ríp, Skagaströnd, Miklibær, Undirfell and Svínavatn.

For the broader travel overview: Norðurland Vestra.