Arctic Coast Way: Siglufjordur to Raufarhofn

Waypoint introductions and full write-ups

1. 1. Siglufjordur

   Siglufjordur is as far north as you can reasonably get on a paved road in Iceland, a small fishing town squeezed between steep mountains and a long narrow fjord on the Troll Peninsula. In the first half of the twentieth century it was the herring capital of the country, and during the summer the harbour was so crowded with boats and the town so full of seasonal workers that the population swelled well beyond what you see now. When the herring disappeared in the 1960s, the boom ended almost overnight. The Herring Era Museum, in a group of old waterfront buildings, tells the story well, with a salting station, workers' quarters and plenty of old photographs.

   Read the complete Siglufjordur write-up.

   Recorded stop-planning note

   May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.

   Planning note

   Siglufjordur is where the day begins. Next is Husavik.

2. 2. Husavik

   Húsavík is the town that decided to make whales its trade and has done very well from the decision. It sits on the shore of Skjálfandi bay in north Iceland, facing across the water to the snowy peaks of the Tröllaskagi range, and a row of brightly painted wooden boats waits at the harbour for visitors. The bay is one of the best places in Europe to see humpback whales, along with minke whales, porpoises and sometimes blue whales, and tours run from spring to autumn, sailing out on old oak fishing boats. Many boats provide warm overalls, and you will be glad of them.

   Read the complete Husavik write-up.

   Recorded stop-planning note

   May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.

   Planning note

   Husavik comes up about 153 km into the recorded legs. Next is Raufarhofn.

3. 3. Raufarhofn

   Raufarhofn is a small fishing village on the north-east coast of Iceland, on the flat, empty Melrakkaslétta peninsula, a few kilometres south of the Arctic Circle. It was once one of the busiest herring ports in the country, and in the middle of the twentieth century the harbour was crowded with boats and the surrounding area full of salting stations. Today only a couple of hundred people live here, and many of the old buildings stand empty, which gives the place a faintly wistful atmosphere.

   Read the complete Raufarhofn write-up.

   Recorded stop-planning note

   May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.

   Planning note

   The route ends here after 284 km.