Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
ARRIVAL AND INFORMATION
RAUFARHÖFN
By bus
SBA's Akureyri-Þórshöfn service (
T
858 0721,
W
sba.is) detours to Raufarhöfn on demand only; phone in
advance to arrange either set-down or collection,
otherwise the bus cuts straight across Melrakkaslétta
between Kópasker and Þórshöfn on Route 85.
Destinations
Akureyri (3 weekly; 4hr 10min); Ásbyrgi
(3 weekly; 1hr 15min); Húsavík (3 weekly; 2hr 10min);
Kópasker (3 weekly; 45min); Þórshöfn (3 weekly; 1hr 15min).
Services
Raufarhöfn's bank, fuel station and general store
are all on the 150m-long main road as it runs through town.
ACCOMMODATION
6
Campsite
Skólabraut
T
465 1144.
Free site at
Raufarhöfn's south exit with the usual no-frills, basic
facilities: level ground, showers and toilets, sink for
washing up and electricity hook-ups for campervans.
Hótel Norðurljós
Aðalbraut 2
T
465 1233,
W
hotelnordurljos.is.
This bleak, stormproof box of a
building overlooks the harbour, but the charming husband
and wife owners have done their best to make it a
welcoming place to stay. Rooms are ordinary but clean and
warm, and there's a looko
ut deck fro
m the restaurant - the
only place to eat in town.
16,500kr
Rauðanes
About halfway along the 60km coastal strip between Raufarhöfn and Þórshöfn, at
Melrakkaslétta's southeastern corner, an attractive headland named
Rauðanes
pokes out
to sea, and is a great spot to stretch your legs for few hours. An easy 7km marked
footpath
takes you to tall, layered cliffs, caves, a couple of beaches and plenty of surf
and birdlife (there used to be a huge puffin colony here too, but they were cleared out
by feral minks).
Þórshöfn
Likeable
ÞÓRSHÖFN
is a compact, busy place, though it's nothing more than a knot of
essential services grouped around a T-junction, just north of Route 85. Though the
harbour and fish factory are pretty much inactive nowadays, Þórshöfn has the only fuel
and well-stocked supermarket for a fair way in any direction; the town is also set at the
base of the goose-necked
Langanes peninsula
, which stretches northeast from here,
offering hikes across grassy fells and moorland out to an uninhabited coast.
ARRIVAL AND INFORMATION
ÞÓRSHÖFN
By bus
SBA buses (
W
sba.is) on the thrice-weekly
Akureyri-Þórhöfn run terminate at the fuel station.
Destinations
Akureyri (3 weekly; 5hr 10min); Ásbyrgi
(3 weekly; 2hr 35min); Húsavík (3 weekly; 3hr 20min);
Kópasker (3 weekly; 1hr 45min); Raufarhöfn (on demand
only, 3 weekly; 1hr).
Services
The road enters Þórshöfn from the south, and
runs past the bank
(ATM) and N1 fuel station (which
has the last fuel for at least 80km), to an intersection. Turn
right here, and the road heads uphill towards Langanes
past the Samkaup
supermarket
(Mon-Fri 9.30am-6pm,
Sat 10am-2pm),
vínbúð
(Mon-Thurs 5-6pm, Fri 2-6pm),
and modern swimming pool (Mon-Thurs 8am-8pm, Fri
8am-7pm, Sat 10am-2pm).
ACCOMMODATION AND EATING
Campsite
Free site up near the church on a flat, grassy
area; there's a toilet and sink, but you'll need to head to the
pool for a shower.
Hótel Jorvík
Langanesvegur 31
T
468 1400,
E
jorvik
@netfang.com.
Set in the last house in town on the
Langanes road, this is actually a guesthouse, not a hotel,
offering chintzy furnishing
s, home-
cooked meals and
fantastic views over the sea.
15,000kr
Lyngholt Guesthouse
Langanesvegur 12
T
468
1238,
W
lyngholt.is.
Close to pool, this recently
refurbished, timber-clad guesthouse sports large doubles
with shared bathrooms. Contact them in advance to
arrange sleeping-bag accommodation.
16,000kr
N1 roadhouse
The fuel station roadhouse is the only
place to eat in town, with a fast-food menu of burgers,
pizza and
pýlsur
.
Daily 8am-8pm.
Ì
Ytra Lón
T
846 6448,
W
visitlanganes.com.
Some
15km northeast of Þórshöfn along the Langanes road, this
snug and friendly self-catering IYHA youth hostel is located
on a working sheep farm. They have four-bed dorms and
doubles (both with shared bathroom) and self-contained
apartments. Open year-roun
d; they'll
collect fro
m Þórshöfn
with advan
ce notice.
Dorm
s
3500kr
; doubles
12,200kr
;
apartments
15,000kr
