Heydalur
Heydalur is a remote farm and hotel in the valley of the same name at the head of Mjóifjörður, a narrow fjord in the northern part of the Westfjords. It is best known for three geothermal pools: an indoor greenhouse pool, a larger outdoor hot pot, and a natural spring pool that has been documented since at least the 12th century and is believed to have been blessed by Bishop Guðmundur the Good, a figure venerated in medieval Icelandic Christianity. The valley sits within a landscape of dramatic fjord walls, Arctic birdlife including the Icelandic falcon, and walking routes accessible from the property. The hotel serves as a remote Westfjords base for horse riding in the valley, sea kayaking on Mjóifjörður, and hiking to the mountain lake Ausuvatn. It is approximately 320 kilometres from Reykjavík and 130 kilometres from Ísafjörður.
A Remote Westfjords Valley with Three Hot Springs, One of Them Blessed by a Medieval Bishop
Heydalur sits at the inner end of Mjóifjörður, meaning Narrow Fjord, in the northeastern part of the Westfjords. The valley is green and sheltered compared to the exposed coastal terrain of much of the Westfjords, and the geothermal activity beneath it has produced hot spring water that has been used for bathing for centuries. The oldest of the three pools is documented in medieval Icelandic sources and is associated with Bishop Guðmundur Arason, known as Guðmundur the Good, who lived from 1161 to 1237 and was widely credited with healing powers and blessings. His veneration in the medieval Icelandic church was such that an attempt was made to have him canonised, and sites associated with him carry a particular resonance in Icelandic folk history. The spring at Heydalur is one of these sites. The indoor greenhouse pool and a larger outdoor hot pot are more recent additions, maintained by the hotel.
Hotel Heydalur operates as a farm stay and activity base, offering accommodation, a restaurant that uses ingredients from the valley and nearby farms, and a range of guided and self-guided activities. Horse riding takes place in the valley itself, with Icelandic horses bred and kept on the farm. Sea kayaking tours explore Mjóifjörður fjord, a body of water with virtually no motorised boat traffic and fjord walls that rise steeply on both sides. Trout fishing is available at the mountain lake Ausuvatn, accessible by a trail from the property. The valley is documented as habitat for the Icelandic falcon, and golden plover, puffin, and oystercatcher are all reliably present in summer. The hotel provides a walking app with guided route maps for the surrounding terrain.
Heydalur is reached via Route 61 and then Route 633, a combination of sealed and gravel roads that does not require a 4WD vehicle in summer. The drive from Ísafjörður takes about two hours and from Hólmavík about 90 minutes. From Reykjavík the total drive is around five to six hours. The hot springs are open to day visitors for a fee; access is included for hotel guests and campsite users. Camping is available on the farm. The Westfjords as a region are best visited between May and September when daylight is long and most roads are clear.
