Why this ride
332 km from Borgarnes to the finish, about 4 h 33 of riding. It suits an unhurried touring pace.
CURVESCOUT / MOTORCYCLE RIDE
Westfjords Route 60 and 61: Borgarnes to Holmavik
Plan this ride
- Recorded distance
- 332 km
- Riding-time estimate
- 4 h 33
- 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: planning record, not independently verified geometry.
Reading history stays on this device. My road watch requires a separate selection; opening it does not subscribe this ride.
Distances and riding times are planning figures. Check local closures and conditions before you ride.
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 Budardalur.
2. Budardalur
Budardalur is a very small settlement at the head of Hvammsfjordur in western Iceland, and it serves as the centre of the Dalir district, whose name simply means the Valleys. Only a couple of hundred people live here, but it is an important stop on the road, because the nearest fuel for a long distance is found here, along with a shop, a cafe and a few services. A small dairy is based in the town, and local cheese and skyr are a good thing to try.
Read the complete Budardalur write-up.
Recorded stop-planning note
May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.
Planning note
Budardalur comes up about 163 km into the recorded legs. Next is Holmavik.
3. Hólmavík
Hólmavík is a small fishing village on the eastern shore of the Westfjords, and for many riders it is the gateway to the wildest part of Iceland. It sits on a little peninsula in Steingrímsfjörður, with a harbour full of boats, a church and a handful of colourful houses, and it has barely three hundred and fifty people. The landscape around it is stark and beautiful: low, rounded hills, deep fjords and bare, dark mountains beyond. In summer the light barely fades, and at midnight the sky glows orange over the water.
Read the complete Holmavik 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 332 km.
Leg by leg
Borgarnes to Budardalur
Borgarnes → Budardalur is 163 km of getting across. Ride it tidily and keep the enthusiasm for what comes after.
Budardalur to Holmavik
Budardalur → Holmavik is 169 km of getting across. Ride it tidily and keep the enthusiasm for what comes after.