Thingeyri: Blacksmith workshop, fjord and cycling routes

In Thingeyri, unusual local history and experiences by the fjord come together. The Old Blacksmith Workshop is Iceland’s oldest still-operating machine workshop and is now run as a living museum. There is also a nature trail along the shore, a cycling route around Sandafell and a warehouse built in 1734. So if you are planning a trip to the Westfjords, you will find several ways to explore culture, nature and outdoor activities here.

Workshop and trading history

The Old Blacksmith Workshop has been preserved almost in its original condition. Its history also reaches back to a time when it made spare parts for foreign and Icelandic ships of all sizes and types. Today, the workshop is a living museum dedicated to a distinctive part of Þingeyri’s history: craftsmanship and machine work are part of the town’s heritage, rather than appearing only as an abstract past.

Þingeyri is a very old trading post. One tangible historical landmark is the warehouse built in 1734, considered one of Iceland’s oldest houses. Together with the workshop, it offers a trip idea for anyone who would like to learn about the town’s history as well as go on excursions.

Koltra also brings local history and craftsmanship together: the gallery and craft house are located in the old Salthúsið in Þingeyri. Crafts from the Westfjords and Dýrafjörður are offered for sale there. Koltra also features Vattasaumur, one of Iceland’s oldest wool-working techniques. A tourist information office at Koltra has information about leisure activities in the nearby area.

By the fjord: nature trail and seal resting place

The nature trail along the shore starts at Tankur and follows the fjord. Information boards focus on the fjord’s nature and wildlife; along the way, there are also entertaining puzzles for the whole family. The trail ends at a seal resting place where the seals of Þingeyri gather.

There is an important limitation to bear in mind when planning your day: the nature trail is impassable at high tide. So if you plan to walk it, take this condition into account. The information about nature and wildlife, along with the puzzles, makes the route an opportunity for discovery in its own right; its tide-dependent access also sets it apart from the cycling routes described here.

Another striking connection to the area’s working history is the Tankur outdoor mural. It links an oil tank with Þingeyri’s working history. The town is also located by a striking mountain range in the Westfjords, often called the “Westfjords Alps.” At 998 m, Kaldbakur is the highest mountain in the Westfjords.

Cycling routes and trails around Sandafell

The cycling route around Sandafell, Þingeyri’s local mountain, is suitable for the whole family. It follows a road or trail all the way and has only gentle inclines. On a stretch between Þingeyri and the stockfish drying racks, you can walk along the shore. This lets you consider cycling and a walk by the water as separate parts of your stay, without treating the entire route as a coastal section.

Another cycling option also starts in Þingeyri: the route over Hrafnseyrarheiði first follows the old road across the heath towards Hrafnseyri. The annual running and cycling festival in the Westfjords is also of interest to runners and cyclists; at Þingeyri, it includes a 55 km route.

More things to do in town

Þingeyri has a swimming pool. There is also a campsite, a beach volleyball court and a Viking area with barbecue spots, benches, tables and a large stage. These varied facilities add more possible activities to a stay alongside the trails and historic sites.

When choosing your destination, you can weigh up whether you would like to focus on the workshop and trading history, the tide-dependent fjord trail or cycling activities. The Sandafell cycling route is explicitly suitable for the whole family; for the coastal trail, the high-tide restriction is the key factor in planning your day. If this mix suits your travel plans, you can consider Thingeyri as a place to look for a holiday apartment in the Westfjords.

More destinations

More destinations: Patreksfjördur, Bolungarvík, Saurbær, Súðavík, Reykhólar, Garpsdalur, Hólmavík and Tálknafjörður.

For the broader travel overview: Westfjords.