The Green Cliffs of Hornstrandir trip is an excellent blend of the unspoiled nature and the fascinating history of the Hornstrandir Nature Reserve.
We’ll discover remains from a British radar station from WWII, see many species of Icelandic birds and walk along the top of some of the most beautiful cliffs in Iceland.
The route begins on a beautiful sandy beach and steadily climbs up along the sheer cliffs of Grænahlíð, which for many decades was the best shelter for fishing trawlers when storms reigned in the Atlantic.
On a clear day, we’ll be able to see views across the whole of Ísafjarðardjúp bay and into the Jökulfirðir glacial fjords. And remember to keep an eye open for the elusive Arctic Fox!
We meet at our office in Aðalstræti 17 (downtown main street) for a briefing, where we will answer any questions and make final preparations. We depart at 9 am from the harbour in Ísafjörður on one of our passenger boats.
After about an hour of scenic boat ride over fjords and along mountain cliffs, we will be dropped off at Slétta, where there is a beautiful sandy beach and a lighthouse, and we often see curious seals swimming along the shore.
We begin our hike by making our way slowly up to a small lake called Teistuvatn, where we can see graceful Whooper Swans and Kittiwakes swimming in the water.
We continue over a mixture of easy grassy terrain and some rocky patches along the tops of the cliffs. This is where we can peek over the edge and see the waves crashing against the rocks, almost 500m below. Many bird species nest on the cliffs. Birds such as Fulmars, Gulls, Guillemots and even the colourful Puffins can be seen soaring high above the ocean, using the updraft from the cliffs to fly effortlessly.
We then reach the British naval radar station, constructed in 1943. We can explore the ruins of the generators, warehouse and barracks and even see the turret which housed the Oerlikon 20mm cannon. This was a secret operation during the war, and the purpose was to watch out for enemy planes or ships coming into Icelandic waters.
From here, we follow the jeep track, which leads down the mountain towards the bay of Aðalvík. We reach the shore at Látrar, which was once a thriving village, where we will take the boat back to Ísafjörður. Keep your eyes open for whales on the way home!
This itinerary is a guide only and is subject to change depending on the weather and the group’s ability.
Meeting point: Our office at Aðalstræti 17, Ísafjörður.
Departure: 09:00 am. Be there half an hour before departure time.
Guaranteed departures: We have guaranteed departures every Thursday and Sunday.
Minimum age: 16 years.
Group size: We need a minimum of 2 participants to operate the tour. The maximum group size is 10, but most tours are between 4 and 6 people.
Trip Difficulty: Challenging.
Duration of trip: 11 hours.
Included: Boat ride both ways and a professional guide.
Hornstrandir is one of the most magical places in Iceland! As unspoilt nature as you will find it. There are no roads to the area so you will have to take a boat there. The cellular connection is also patchy at best, so you will be alone with nature! Just a dream!
