Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
there are no shops nearby. Members get a discount of Ikr700 per person; linen hire costs
Ikr1500.
Ósar is also home to public toilets and a bar (in the reception area) serving beer, coffee
and snacks.
Hvammstangi to Blönduós
Iceland's northwest is real horse territory, and horse-lovers will be in heaven at
Gauks-
mýri
( 451 2927;
www.gauksmyri.is
;d with/without bathroom incl breakfast Ikr21,600/14,800;
)
, a highly regarded horse farm and lodge on the Ring Road 3km east of the turn-off to
Hvammstangi. Two-hour horse rides (Ikr10,000) leave four times a day in summer.
Gauksmýri's restaurant does a full dinner buffet (Ikr5200; open mid-May to mid-
September; bookings advised) where the variety of meats may rankle (it includes whale
and foal, but also local salmon, lamb and trout). A soup-and-salad buffet is offered at
lunchtime, while snacks and coffee are served in the afternoon.
Two hours on horseback isn't enough? Serious horse riders should book ahead with
multiday trips (€1340 to €3190 for eight to 15 days). The farm (with guesthouse) is 9km
south of the Hvammstangi turn-off on Rte 704.
Travelling east past Gauksmýri, take Rte 715 south for 6km to reach the scenic water-
falls at
Kolugljúfur
, an enchanting canyon that was once home to a beautiful trolless.
Around 19km before you reach Blönduós, another quick 6km detour (this time along
Rte 721) leads you to a precious stone church,
Þingeyrar
(adult/child Ikr600/free;
10am-5pm)
, sitting quietly and photogenically on Hóp lagoon. The current structure was
erected in the 1860s, but 800 years earlier the site hosted a district
þing
(assembly) and a
Benedictine monastery. There's a small museum here too (free admission).
