Skagaströnd: Harbor, Nature and Stories

In Skagaströnd, everyday harbor life, nature and stories of times gone by come together. Fishermen often land their catch from colorful boats in the harbor. On the seaward edge of the built-up area lies Spákonufellshöfði, where marked walking trails wind through a landscape you can explore on foot while looking out for birds and plants. There are also cultural sites, a small outdoor swimming pool, and opportunities for golf and hiking. Depending on whether your family is looking for short walks, history or activity, different aspects of the town may shape your trip.

Seaside Walking Trails and Mountain Paths

There are several marked walking trails at Spákonufellshöfði; most are short and easy to walk. Signs along the marked trails provide information about birds and plants. This lets you combine a walk with small-scale nature watching, without implying any particular route or walking time. For people traveling together, this offers a different focus from a longer hike: here, the emphasis is on the trails at the seaward edge of the built-up area and the topics highlighted by the signs.

The 646-meter-high Spákonufell is a prominent and clearly visible feature from Skagaströnd. Marked hiking trails lead up the mountain above the town. These routes on Spákonufell are distinct from the walking trails at Spákonufellshöfði: if you want to go for a hike, you’ll find a mountain destination here, while the trails at Höfði are mostly short and easy to walk. The different trail descriptions can help you choose the focus of your outings based on how you would like to spend your time outdoors.

Stories from Skagaströnd

Árnes is the oldest house in Skagaströnd and a vivid example of living conditions in the first half of the 20th century. This offers a look at a more recent historical period than the story of Þórdís the seer. At Spákonuhof, an exhibition tells her story: Þórdís was the first known resident of Skagaströnd whose name has been recorded, and she lived in the second half of the 10th century. Visitors can also have their future told or receive a palm reading there.

A monument to Jón Árnason, one of the most important collectors of folktales in Europe, stands at Spákonufellshöfði. Together with the exhibition about Þórdís and the town’s oldest house, it offers further ways to explore history and tradition. Visitors can drop by Nes Artist Residency (Nes Listamiðstöð) and see what the resident artists are working on. These places appeal to different cultural interests: historical living conditions, tales of an early resident, folktales and the work of artists living in Skagaströnd.

Golf, an Outdoor Pool and a Woodland Trail

Háagerðisvöllur in Skagaströnd is a lovely 9-hole golf course. If you’d like to include golf in your trip, it offers a specific sporting activity in town. Sundlaugin Skagaströnd is a small outdoor pool heated with geothermal energy. It offers a different focus from walking and hiking: instead of heading out on trails, you can plan a visit to the pool.

The roughly one-kilometer-long Jónsstígur leads through a wooded area from the campsite in Skagaströnd. Its approximate length and route through the woods give it a character of its own alongside the walking trails at Spákonufellshöfði and the marked paths on Spákonufell. Whether you prefer to explore different trails, visit an exhibition, or include golf and the outdoor pool can be decided according to the interests of your travel group.

Which side of the town suits your trip?

When choosing a holiday apartment or holiday home in Skagaströnd, you can consider which of these interests you want to shape your trip. The experiences described differ in character, offering practical guidance for planning your holiday without having to combine every activity into a single itinerary.

More places to discover: Svínavatn, Hvammstangi, Laugarbakki, Miklibær, Undirfell, Ríp, Varmahlíð, Húnavatn.

Back to the regional travel overview: Norðurland Vestra.