Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
ACCOMMODATION
Akranes campsite
Kalmansvík
T
841 9960.
Located in
Kalmansvík bay on the outskirts of town, about ten
minutes from the centre beside Route 509 to Borgarnes,
the campsite looks out over the sea
and mak
es a great spot
for birdwatching. Closed Oct-April.
1000kr
Háholt
11
Háholt 11
T
431 1408,
W
haholt11.com.
A delightful homestay run by the endearing Ólína, who
has limited English but is extremely friendly. Rooms are
small, cosy and welcoming and share facilities. Fr
ee wi-fi
is also available. Breakfast is 1500kr per person.
6000kr
Litla gistihúsið við sjóinn
Bakkatún 20
T
695 6255,
W
leopold.is/gisting.
This new guesthouse is right by
the water and, on a clear day, enjoys uninterrupted views
across the sea to Snæfellsnessjökull. The smart rooms
are brig
ht and unfussy, sharing bathrooms and a kitchen.
1100kr
Youth hostel
Suðurgata 32
T
868 3332,
W
hostel.is.
Located in the town's grand old former pharmacy, the
hostel has both private rooms and dorms with shared
facilities, as well as two shared kitchens and a spacious
lounge. Reception a
nd check
-in are o
pen 8am
-10am and
5-10pm. Dorm beds
3500kr
; doubles
9200kr
EATING AND DRINKING
Gamla Kaupfelagið
Kirkjubraut 11
T
431 4343.
Decent
Mexican food is the best bet at this modern town centre
bistro: chicken burritos and quesadillas are 1490kr, whilst
burgers go for 1290kr. Also serves up a range of salads from
1590kr and pasta dishes for 1790kr.
Daily 11.30am-10pm.
Harðarbakarí
Kirkjubraut 54
T
431 2399.
The town's
bakery sells a good range of fresh, made-to-order
sandwiches, as well as cakes and buns in addition to the
usual fresh loaves and flatbreads, and is handy if you're
self-catering.
Mon-Fri 7am-6pm, Sat & Sun 8am-4pm.
Thai A
Stillholt 23
T
578 9595.
Akranes's new Thai
restaurant serves none-too-authentic southeast Asian
dishes, diluted down for the provincial Icelandic palate:
reckon on 1250kr for a curry dish. Lunch is 1200kr and
features a variety of noodle and stir-fry concoctions.
Daily
11am-11pm.
3
Mount Akrafjall,
On approaching Akranes from the Ringroad you'll have driven by
Akrafjall,
mountain; at 643m, it's 200m higher than Reykjavík's Mount Esja, and dominates
the skyline east of town. The mountain offers one of the best panoramas in the west
of Iceland, with spectacular
views
not only of Akranes but also, on a clear day, of
Reykjavík. On a sunny day you'll find most of the town out here, either climbing
the flat-topped mountain itself or picnicking in the lush meadows at its foot
- during summer you'll also find copious numbers of
seabirds
, especially kittiwakes,
nesting on Akrafjall's craggy sides. Of the mountain's two peaks, the southern one,
Háihnúkur
(555m) is easier to climb thanks to a well-defined
path
leading to the
summit from the car park below. The higher northern peak, Geirmundartindur, is
split from the other by a river valley, Berjadalur, through which most of Akranes'
water supply flows.
Glymur
From Mount Akrafjall, Route 47 winds its way east around the northern shore of
Hvalfjörður towards Iceland's highest waterfall,
Glymur
. The falls drop nearly 200m
from the boggy ground to the west of
Hvalvatn
lake, but it can be difficult to find a
vantage point from where to see the spectacle at its best. A rough
track
leads up
through Botnsdalur valley at the head of Hvalfjörður towards the falls - allow about
an hour from the road. Incidentally, according to Icelandic folklore, a mythical
creature, half-man, half-whale, which once terrified locals from its home in the dark
waters of Hvalfjörður, was tricked into swimming out of the fjord, up the river and
the Glymur falls, before dying in the waters of Hvalvatn - where, oddly, whale bones
have been found.
