Grenivík
Grenivík is a small fishing village of around 300 people on the northern shore of Eyjafjörður, one of Iceland's longest fjords, about 38 kilometres east of Akureyri. The village sits at the foot of Kaldbakur mountain and looks out across the fjord from a setting of steep hillsides, coastal meadows, and clear rivers. It is best known to visitors as the base for Pólarhestar, the horse farm at nearby Grýtubakki that has been offering Icelandic horse riding tours for over 30 years, and as a quiet, unhurried example of everyday fishing village life in the north.
A Quiet Fjord Village in North Iceland, and the Gateway to Icelandic Horse Country
Grenivík sits on the eastern shore of Eyjafjörður, the longest fjord in Iceland, in a landscape defined by the mountain wall of Kaldbakur rising to 1,173 metres directly behind the village and the broad waters of the fjord in front. The village began to take shape around 1900 as a fishing settlement and has remained small and working ever since, with a population of around 300. It has a primary school, a swimming pool, a small restaurant, a grocery store, and the kind of infrastructure that reflects a community that exists for its residents first and visitors second. The Arctic Coast Way, the scenic driving route that connects the north coast from Hvammstangi to Bakkafjörður, passes through the Grenivík area, bringing the village onto the radar of travellers doing longer north Iceland loops.
The main draw for visitors is Pólarhestar, the horse farm at Grýtubakki a few kilometres south of the village. The farm has around 150 Icelandic horses and has been running riding tours for over 30 years, offering everything from one-hour introductory rides to multi-day tours that travel along the coast of Látraströnd and through the fjord valleys. The Icelandic horse is bred for the tölt, a smooth four-beat gait unique to the breed that makes for a comfortable ride even over rough terrain. Whale sightings in Eyjafjörður have been recorded from horseback on the coastal routes here. For hikers, Kaldbakur mountain offers a challenging ascent with wide views over the fjord system, and the Fjörður peninsula to the north has a four-day waymarked route through remote coastal terrain organised by the local walking club.
Grenivík has guesthouses and a camping ground for overnight stays. The village is reached via Road 83, turning off the Ring Road north of Akureyri and following the eastern shore of Eyjafjörður for about 38 kilometres. The drive from Akureyri takes roughly 35 to 40 minutes. From Húsavík to the east, Grenivík is about 93 kilometres along the coastal roads.
