Litlabýli Guesthouse

If you've ever visited the town of Ísafjörður, you will certainly have noticed the immense rim of flat-topped mountains which surround the fjord. A notable feature of the mountains is a massive depression, like half a bowl, just over the road from the airport. This is Naustahvilft - often known by its nickname: 'the troll seat'. The story goes that a troll was hurrying home before the morning sunlight could turn her to stone. Having run fast and got back early, she sat and rested with her aching feet in the fjord. What was left was the peninsula of Ísafjörður town between her feet, the deep harbour where her feet had been, and the "seat" where her backside had been. Either that or it's a hanging valley left over from the last Ice Age. It's a short but challenging climb, so why not go up there and decide for yourself and don't forget to sign the guest book.

Önundarfjörður is a 20 km long fjord, located between Dýrafjörður and Súgandafjörður. The fjord has a few small green valleys and quite a few farms, far out in the fjord stands the village Flateyri. Önundarfjörður is beautiful to look at and it is surrounded by magnificent mountain range. In the fjord is a golden sand beach, Holtsfjara, which is a sweeping golden-sand beach and dune system which curls out into the fjord. On the golden beach stands a large wooden pier, Holtsbryggja.

To get to Önundarfjörður from Ísafjörður, drive through the Vestfjarðagöng tunnel.

Sæunn the wonder-cow is a special cow which saved her own life from getting slaughtered by swimming over the cold Atlantic ocean fjord of Önundarfjörður in october 1987. The cow lived sex years after the big achievement but when it died this wonder-cow was buried near the ocean where it reached shore. Now this area has the name Sæunnarhaugur or Sæunn burial ground. This swim achievement was in Icelandic news as well as world news because of the rareness of cows willing to swim such a long distance in the cold Atlantic ocean.

Önundarfjörður is a particularly pretty fjord, even by Westfjords standards. This is partly due to Holt beach, which is a sweeping golden-sand beach and dune system which curls out into the fjord and is a bit likeSpainfor a few hot days of the year. The rest of the time it's a great walk and the dunes are a protected eider duck nesting area.

The town of Ísafjörðurlies in Skutulsfjörður fjord. The fjord ends in two distinct valleys: Engidalur to the left and Tungudalur to the right. Tungudalur is the playground of Ísafjörður - and a very pretty place to boot. This is where you'll find a small but perfectly formed waterfall, one of the region's best established and maintained forests, a full scale golf course, dozens of beautiful summerhouses, and the town's famous skiing centre. The towns excellent campsite is located in Tungudalur, great camping facilities, a playground and a beach volleyball course.