{"id":9923,"date":"2026-06-01T22:41:14","date_gmt":"2026-06-01T22:41:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/breiddalsvik.is\/?page_id=9923"},"modified":"2026-06-07T20:13:12","modified_gmt":"2026-06-07T20:13:12","slug":"nature-attractions-and-activities","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/breiddalsvik.is\/en\/nature-attractions-and-activities\/","title":{"rendered":"Nature Attractions and Activities"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Nature Attractions and Activities<\/h1>\n

Vi\u00f0 bj\u00f3\u00f0um \u00fe\u00e9r til a\u00f0 uppg\u00f6tva r\u00f3lega og fallega n\u00e1tt\u00faru \u00ed f\u00f6grum fjallasal Brei\u00f0dals.\u00a0 \u00deetta afskekkta horn Austurlands er ekki a\u00f0eins \u00feekkt fyrir broth\u00e6tta fegur\u00f0 heldur einnig fyrir fri\u00f0s\u00e6ldina \u00fear sem ma\u00f0ur getur raunverulega upplifa\u00f0 hreina \u201e\u00fe\u00f6gn\u201c. Brei\u00f0dalsv\u00edk er sta\u00f0sett \u00ed hjarta Austfjar\u00f0a og er fullkomlega sta\u00f0sett til a\u00f0 kanna n\u00e1tt\u00faruna, jar\u00f0fr\u00e6\u00f0i og d\u00fdral\u00edf. H\u00e9r fyrir ne\u00f0an er listi yfir nokkra skemmtilega sta\u00f0i til a\u00f0 heims\u00e6kja \u00e1 me\u00f0an dv\u00f6l ykkar stendur. Listinn er a\u00f0 sj\u00e1lfs\u00f6g\u00f0u ekki t\u00e6mandi.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1\/2″][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

In Brei\u00f0dalur\u2026<\/h2>\n

Beljandi waterfall<\/h3>\n

A short way outside the farm Brekkuborg is the Beljandi waterfall in the Brei\u00f0dals\u00e1 river. There are in fact two falls, an outer and an inner one, with pools of the same names. This is a very beautiful area and great for spending time outdoors.<\/p>\n

The Brei\u00f0dalur Volcano<\/h3>\n

The Brei\u00f0dalur volcano is an ancient central volcano in Brei\u00f0dalur and Berufj\u00f6r\u00f0ur, the site of detailed research by the English geologist George D.L. Walker, along with others in East Iceland. This volcano is adorned with large rhyolite intrusions and majestic, distinctive peaks: Fl\u00f6gutindur in Brei\u00f0dalur, Sm\u00e1tindar, R\u00f6nd\u00f3lfur, Sl\u00f6tti and St\u00f6ng. The southern slopes of Brei\u00f0dalur are especially colourful and the rock layers irregular, marked by extensive tephra formations. more information click here\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n

Brei\u00f0dals\u00e1<\/h3>\n

Brei\u00f0dals\u00e1 is an exceptionally beautiful 6 to 8 rod salmon river about 615 km from Reykjav\u00edk and about 80 km from Egilssta\u00f0ir. The river rises in the mountains where streams gather, forming where the rivers Tinnudals\u00e1, Su\u00f0urdals\u00e1 and Nor\u00f0urdals\u00e1 meet, and then flows to the sea by Brei\u00f0dalsv\u00edk. The surroundings of Brei\u00f0dals\u00e1 are spectacular, and it is said that few rivers are as beautiful to fish as Brei\u00f0dals\u00e1. For more information about fishing in Brei\u00f0dals\u00e1, click here<\/a><\/p>\n

J\u00f3rv\u00edkursk\u00f3gur Forest<\/h3>\n

J\u00f3rv\u00edk in Brei\u00f0dalur is an abandoned farm with large areas of scrubland. About 600 hectares are owned by the Icelandic Forest Service, and the woodland was protected in 1960. This is one of the few places in the country where aspen grows, and the tallest trees are about 4 m. Otherwise the land is mostly covered with natural birch scrub and partly with planted forest. The area is open to the public and a marked trail runs from J\u00f3rv\u00edk over into Nor\u00f0urdalur.<\/p>\n

Meleyri<\/h3>\n

Meleyri is a beautiful beach just inside the village of Brei\u00f0dalsv\u00edk. The area is well suited to walking and outdoor activities, and has rich birdlife.<\/p>\n

Fl\u00f6gufoss<\/h3>\n

Fl\u00f6gufoss is the highest waterfall in Brei\u00f0dalur, about 60 m. The waterfall is in the Fl\u00f6gu\u00e1 river which runs through Fl\u00f6gudalur. That valley is bounded by Sm\u00e1tindar and Sl\u00f6tti. From the road there is a short and easy walk to the waterfall.<\/p>\n

Streitishvarf<\/h3>\n

There is a beautiful view from the Streiti lighthouse, south of Brei\u00f0dalur, out over the sea, and an enjoyable marked trail runs around Streitishvarf. This is an outdoor area for the whole family.<\/p>\n

Brei\u00f0dalssetur (the Old Cooperative)<\/h3>\n

Brei\u00f0dalssetur, the G.P.L. Walker Geology Museum, houses three kinds of activity: a geology centre honouring the research and scholarship of the English geologist G.P.L. Walker, who carried out extensive studies of the area’s geology; a linguistics centre in honour of Dr. Stef\u00e1n Einarsson and his research into the Icelandic language; and a heritage museum dedicated to Brei\u00f0dalsv\u00edk and the surrounding communities. Brei\u00f0dalssetur is in the Old Cooperative building in Brei\u00f0dalsv\u00edk, the oldest house in the village, built in 1906.<\/p>\n

Heydalir Church<\/h3>\n

There has been a church at Eydalir since the earliest days of Christianity. The parish was long among the more prosperous, and many respected ministers served there. The most famous of them is the hymn poet Rev. Einar Sigur\u00f0sson (1538 to 1626), best known for the Christmas hymn Kv\u00e6\u00f0i af stallinum Krist\u00ed sem kallast V\u00f6ggukv\u00e6\u00f0i<\/i>, but is most familiar to people today as N\u00f3ttin var s\u00fa \u00e1g\u00e6t ein<\/i>. Minnisvar\u00f0i um sr. Einar stendur \u00e1 grunni g\u00f6mlu kirkjunnar \u00ed kirkjugar\u00f0inum a\u00f0 Eyd\u00f6lum.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/2″][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

Near Brei\u00f0dalsv\u00edk\u2026<\/h2>\n

Hallormssta\u00f0ask\u00f3gur forest (one hour’s drive from Brei\u00f0dalsv\u00edk)<\/h3>\n

Hallormssta\u00f0ask\u00f3gur, considered the largest forest in Iceland (one hour’s drive from Brei\u00f0dalsv\u00edk), is about 740 hectares. It is mostly natural birch forest, but experiments with imported species have been carried out since 1905. The forest is a popular outdoor area with varied landscape. It has 11 marked trails. A trail map is in a box at the start of every trail, and the map is also available at H\u00f3tel Hallormssta\u00f0ur. The forest has an arboretum with over 80 species of tree.<\/p>\n

Hengifoss (one hour’s drive from Brei\u00f0dalsv\u00edk)<\/h3>\n

Hengifoss is in the northern part of Flj\u00f3tsdalur, opposite the inner end of Lagarflj\u00f3t. It is the second highest waterfall in the country, 128 m high. The lip of the falls has basalt layers with sandstone beneath. In the rock there are fossilised tree trunks that bear witness to a much warmer climate, as the sandstone formed in the Tertiary period. A little below Hengifoss is another waterfall, Litlanesfoss, framed by unusually beautiful basalt columns. It is easy to walk up to Hengifoss from the starting point, and it takes about 40 to 60 minutes to walk from the car park to the waterfall.<\/p>\n

Petra’s Stone Collection (15 minutes from Brei\u00f0dalsv\u00edk)<\/h3>\n

Lj\u00f3sbj\u00f6rg Petra Mar\u00eda Sveinsd\u00f3ttir had an interest in beautiful stones all her life and began collecting them in earnest in 1946. Most of her stones come from St\u00f6\u00f0varfj\u00f6r\u00f0ur and East Iceland, as Petra did not search much for stones in other parts of the country. In 1974 Petra decided to open her home to everyone who wanted to see her stones. Many people visit the collection every year, and Petra’s Stone Collection is one of the most popular tourist destinations in East Iceland.<\/p>\n

The Puffins at Borgarfj\u00f6r\u00f0ur Eystri (1.5 hr drive from Brei\u00f0dalsv\u00edk)<\/h3>\n

By the small-boat harbour in Borgarfj\u00f6r\u00f0ur Eystri is “Hafnarh\u00f3lmi”, an area especially well suited to birdwatching. Locals have developed Hafnarh\u00f3lmi well, and information is available about the birds that can be seen. Nowhere in Iceland is it as easy to get close to puffins. The islet itself and the path to it are a delight to the eye. Arctic tern nesting is abundant, and the harbour is lively as the boats come and go.<\/p>\n

Reindeer<\/h3>\n

There are many reindeer in East Iceland, and it is often easy to see them from the main road, though this can vary between seasons and days.<\/p>\n

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