A natural paradise close to Reykjavík
Hvammsvík in Hvalfjörður is a natural paradise not far from Reykjavík. Photo/Sent to mbl.is
Hvammsvík is a unique natural paradise in Hvalfjörður, less than an hour from the capital area. The history of Hvammsvík dates back to the twentieth century, as mentioned in Landnáma when Hvamm-Þórir settled in the area. Hvammsvík was a long-standing farm, with a military base during World War II, a golf course, a campsite, and fishing for a while.
“Hvammsvík offers accommodation, meeting rooms, restaurants, and sea baths that offer visitors a raw Icelandic natural experience. A lot of the effort is made with sustainability in mind, for example, all water is sourced from the area, hot, cold, and seawater used for breeding, in the pools, and as drinking water,” says Hilmar Þór Bergmann, operations manager of Hvammsvík.
Hvammsvík is a popular destination among those who like swimming in the sea or hiking out in nature. Photo/Sent to mbl.is
Beautiful hiking trails
He says that with the introduction of the Hvalfjarðargöng tunnel, Hvalfjörður has become a forgotten pearl. “There are a lot of beautiful hiking trails in the fjord, not to mention the beauty of the fjord as a whole and the nature that surrounds you when you drive around the fjord.”
There are many activities in the area. “For example, it’s perfect to take a look at the sea baths after a golf course in Brautarholt in summer or after hiking up to Glymur waterfall. In my opinion, it’s one of the most beautiful hiking trails in Iceland. Glymur is now the second highest waterfall in Iceland and was considered the highest for a long time; the view of the ravine the waterfall falls into from almost 200 meters high is priceless,” Bergmann says. He also mentions other hiking trails in the area such as Þyrill, Síldarmannagata, Botnssúlur to Þingvellir, through the forest in Fossárdalur or to Þórufoss waterfall.
“It is also worth mentioning that the drive to Þingvellir from Hvammsvík is less than thirty minutes when driving through Kjósarskarð. The Laxnes Horse Rental is also nearly thirty minutes away and the Hernámusetur in Hlöðir is visible from Hvammsvík on the north side of the fjord. For hunters, starting or ending the day in Hvammsvík is the perfect place to go when you are on your way to Meðalfellsvatn Lake or Þingvallavatn Lake.”
Photo/Sent to mbl.is
Take pride in the guests' comments
On the day, Hvammsvík celebrated its second anniversary, but the reception from the establishment has exceeded expectations, Bergmann says. “The comments of visitors are something we are incredibly proud of. We also love to see how many Icelanders have come to us more than once and more than twice since the establishment,” he adds.
“You always feel like we opened yesterday, even though a lot of water has run to the sea at the same time. The reception has been great from day one and we are extremely proud of our staff, who have helped make the reviews so far as good as ever.”
Hvammsvík has been extremely popular with outdoor recreation, sea swimming, for small groups as a group activity, and for those who simply want to relax in hot tubs with great views. “The tranquility and nature that surrounds us, the wildlife that thrives on land and in the sea, and the ever-changing environment in which the seaside resorts are located, is the best thing about Hvammsvík in my opinion,” he says.
“It’s extremely fun to see and experience the difference between the area’s appearance and visitors’ experience depending on the time of year, time of day, and flood stage, to name a few.
