Varmahlíð
Varmahlíð is a small village on the Ring Road in the Skagafjörður region of North Iceland, sitting in a broad valley surrounded by mountains and glacier rivers about 200 kilometres east of Reykjavík. It serves as the main service hub for the Skagafjörður area and is best known to visitors as the home of Hestasport, one of Iceland's most established Icelandic horse riding centres. Skagafjörður is considered the heartland of Icelandic horse culture, with more horses per capita than almost anywhere else in the country, and riding tours from Varmahlíð range from one-hour introductions to multi-day expeditions through the valley landscapes.
The Gateway to Skagafjörður, Iceland's Horse Country, on the Ring Road in North Iceland
Skagafjörður is a wide fjord valley in North Iceland with a long history of horse breeding, and Varmahlíð sits at its centre as the main crossroads for the region. The Icelandic horse has been bred here for over a thousand years, shaped by the harsh winters and open terrain of the valley into the compact, double-coated, sure-footed animal that is unique to Iceland. A key characteristic is the tölt, a smooth four-beat gait that the breed has retained since the Viking age and that makes riding comfortable even over rough ground for long distances. Hestasport, based in Varmahlíð on Road 752 just off the Ring Road, is one of the country's most experienced riding operations, offering tours from one hour to full multi-day riding holidays through the Skagafjörður landscape. Several other farms in the surrounding valley, including Lýtingsstaðir and Syðra-Skörðugil, also run riding tours from the area.
Beyond horse riding, the Skagafjörður region around Varmahlíð has a strong reputation for white-water river rafting on the Austari-Jökulsá and Vestari-Jökulsá glacial rivers, both of which drain from the Hofsjökull ice cap to the south. The rivers offer a range of grades suitable for first-timers and experienced paddlers alike, and rafting trips are a popular addition to riding itineraries. The valley also has a rich saga history; the farm at Hólar, about 25 kilometres north of Varmahlíð, was the seat of Iceland's northern bishopric from 1106 until the Reformation, and its cathedral and historical museum are worth a stop for anyone spending time in the area.
Varmahlíð itself is small, with a petrol station, a hotel, a guesthouse, a swimming pool, and basic services that make it a practical overnight stop on a Ring Road journey. The village is on Route 1 roughly halfway between Akureyri to the east and Blönduós to the west. From Reykjavík the drive takes around two hours heading north. The Hestasport cottages above the village offer self-catering accommodation with hot tub access and views across the valley.
