The great north western peninsula is the oldest part of Iceland. The Westfjords are around 9% of the country’s area but its coastline is around a third of that of the whole country. During the last Ice Age the glaciers cut valleys and fjords into the layers of lava which previously had formed majestic mountains that rise hundreds of meters from the sea. Many of the cliffs are teeming with sea-birds.

When the glaciers melted they left spits of land in the fjords, usually dry and flat and making excellent harbours for the numerous villages. At times the Westfjords were the richest parts of Iceland because of the rich fishing grounds just off the coast. Lately the area has suffered from depopulation but the inhabitants have always lived in close contact with nature, among other things enjoying the many warm pools in winter and summer. In some of the parts where no one lives anymore there are no roads, just the many paths marked with cairns, ideal for self guided walks.