Why this ride
A one-way ride of 186 km, Borgarnes to Ólafsvík - roughly 3 h 10 in the saddle. It goes by way of Budir, Arnarstapi and Snaefellsjokull. It suits an unhurried touring pace.
CURVESCOUT / MOTORCYCLE RIDE
Snaefellsnes Peninsula Loop: Borgarnes to Kirkjufell
Plan this ride
- Recorded distance
- 186 km
- Riding-time estimate
- 3 h 10
- Journey
- One way; return travel is separate
Distance and timing basis
Ordered leg totals agree within rounding. Stop distances are approximate sums of rounded legs. Stops, delays, approach and any separate return travel add time. Basis: producer-declared routed record.
Reading history stays on this device. My road watch requires a separate selection; opening it does not subscribe this ride.
Distance and riding time are measured on the routed road. Check local closures and conditions before you ride.
Scenic road chapters
Snaefellsnes Peninsula Loop
Expect company on a summer weekend. Early is better than fast. For about 19 km this is Snaefellsnes Peninsula Loop, a road with a name of its own and a reason for it.
Chapter facts
- Length
- 19 km
- Named road
- Snaefellsnes Peninsula Loop
Waypoint introductions and full write-ups
1. Borgarnes
Borgarnes sits on a narrow peninsula pushing out into a wide, shallow fjord, and when the tide is out, the water turns into a shining flat of sand and mud with birds feeding in it. The town is small, about 1,800 people, and it is the main settlement of the Borgarfjordur district in west Iceland. It is a natural stopping point on the way north from Reykjavik, and most people use it for a quick coffee or fuel before heading on, which is a pity, because there is a good story here.
Read the complete Borgarnes write-up.
Recorded stop-planning note
May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.
Planning note
Borgarnes is where the day begins. Next is Budir.
2. Budir
Budir is barely a place at all, a handful of buildings on the south coast of the Snaefellsnes peninsula, but it has one of the most photographed churches in Iceland. The little black wooden church, Budakirkja, stands alone on the edge of a lava field with the glacier far behind, and its tarred walls and white-framed windows look dramatic against the green moss and grey sky. The present building dates from the nineteenth century and was restored in the 1980s, and it has served the surrounding farms for generations.
Read the complete Budir write-up.
Recorded stop-planning note
May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.
Planning note
Budir comes up about 105 km into the recorded legs. Next is Arnarstapi.
3. Arnarstapi
Arnarstapi is a tiny fishing village on the south side of the Snaefellsnes peninsula, and the best thing about it is the coast. Basalt cliffs rise from the sea in stacks, arches and hexagonal columns, and thousands of kittiwakes and fulmars nest on the ledges, wheeling and shrieking above the surf. A footpath runs along the top between Arnarstapi and the neighbouring settlement of Hellnar, about two and a half kilometres long, and it is one of the best short walks in west Iceland.
Read the complete Arnarstapi write-up.
Recorded stop-planning note
May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.
Planning note
about 124 km into the recorded legs you reach Arnarstapi. Next is Snaefellsjokull.
4. Snaefellsjokull
Snaefellsjokull is a glacier-capped volcano at the western tip of the Snaefellsnes peninsula, rising to 1,446 metres above the sea. On a clear day you can see it from Reykjavik, across the bay, a white dome floating above the horizon, and it is easily the most striking sight on the peninsula. Jules Verne chose it as the entrance for his Journey to the Centre of the Earth, which has helped to cement its fame, and many Icelanders believe the mountain has a special energy.
Read the complete Snaefellsjokull write-up.
Recorded stop-planning note
May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.
Planning note
Snaefellsjokull, late in the day. Next is Kirkjufell.
5. Kirkjufell
Kirkjufell, which means Church Mountain, is a steep, isolated peak of about 460 metres beside the sea on the north coast of the Snaefellsnes peninsula, and it is probably the most photographed mountain in Iceland. It rises close to the little fishing town of Grundarfjordur, with a smooth, pointed outline that looks something like a witch's hat or an arrowhead, depending on the angle. You may recognise it from television, where it appeared as a mountain in a famous fantasy series.
Read the complete Kirkjufell write-up.
Recorded stop-planning note
May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.
Planning note
Finish at Kirkjufell. That is the ride.
Leg by leg
Borgarnes to Budir
Borgarnes → Budir is 105 km of getting across. Ride it tidily and keep the enthusiasm for what comes after.
Budir to Arnarstapi
Budir → Arnarstapi is 19 km of rhythm rather than effort. Let it flow and let the view breathe.
Arnarstapi to Snaefellsjokull
Arnarstapi → Snaefellsjokull is 8 km of rhythm rather than effort. Let it flow and let the view breathe.
Snaefellsjokull to Kirkjufell
Snaefellsjokull → Kirkjufell is 54 km of rhythm rather than effort. Let it flow and let the view breathe.