West Iceland - Iceland - page 379

Strætó bus 82 runs from Stykkishólmur in the northeast, around the peninsula's western
tip, and then back east as far as Arnarstapi. There is no public transport going further east
along the peninsula's southern side; private wheels are best.
GUÐRIÐUR ÞORBJARNARDÓTTIR: THE FAR TRAVELLER
Guðriður Þorbjarnardóttir was among Iceland's most celebrated explorers, and surely
earned her nickname The Far Traveller. Born in Hellnar before the year 1000 (a small
sculpture marks the site of her family's farm at Laugarbrekka ) , Guðriður had a serious
case of wanderlust. Not only was she one of the first Europeans to reach Vinland (thought
to be Canada's Newfoundland), she bore a child while she was there: the first European
born in North America! Later, Guðriður converted to Christianity and embarked on an
epic pilgrimage to Rome where some say she met the pope and recounted her experien-
ces.
For more about Guðriður, read Saga of Erik the Redand Saga of the Greenlanders,or
The Far Travelerby Nancy Marie Brown and The Sea Roadby Margaret Elphinstone.
Hellnar
Pop 8
Bárður, the subject of Bárðar saga Snæfellsáss was part giant, part troll and part human.
He chose an area near Hellnar, a picturesque spot overlooking a rocky bay, as his home
(called Laugarbrekka ). Towards the end of his intense saga, he became the guardian spir-
it of Snæfell. Today Hellnar is a tiny fishing village (once huge) where the shriek of
seabirds fills the air and whales are regularly sighted.
Sights
Bárðarlaug , up near the main road, was supposedly Bárður's bathing pool, though the
pond is no longer hot. Down on the shore, the cave Baðstofa is chock-a-block with nesting
birds. Nearby is the head of the trail to Arnarstapi . Ancient, velvety moss-cloaked lava
flows tumble east through the Hellnahraun .
Hellnar Visitor Centre - Gestastofa PARK, MUSEUM