Tröllaskagi: Troll Peninsula

Tröllaskagi is a peninsula in northern Iceland, located between the fjords of Eyjafjörður and Skagafjörður. If you arrive in Reykjavik by the number one road, you will reach Tröllaskagi passing the stretch of road Öxnadalsheiði, which can be problematic in the winter months.

The peninsula is full of mountains, deep valleys, and a few glaciers; Kerling is the highest mountain on the peninsula reaching a height of 1538 meters. The peninsula has been easily accessible since the 1970s but is just beginning to gain popularity thanks to its charming and typical villages, hiking opportunities and breathtaking beauty.

Your first stop is the village of Hofsós with 200 inhabitants which is popular for the magnificent view from its public pool. You can then stop at Hólar, a former major diocese, that today is a small lively village, thanks to its university; one can study aquaculture, marine biology, equestrian studies or tourism - amazing study options for a village of just 100 inhabitants!

Continuing your way on the road number 76, you will find the charming village of Siglufjörður. In the 1940s and 1950s, the village population reached 3,000 inhabitants and prospered thanks to the fishing industry and, in particular, herring fishing. Today, the population is 1,200 inhabitants and lives mainly from fishing and the growing tourism. Access to Siglufjörður until 1967 was by a small mountain road accessible only during the summer months.

Then a road was open to the west and allowed people to travel to Siglufjörður all year. In 2010, the town was connected by a tunnel until Ólafsfjörður, bringing the town out of isolation by joining it to other towns in the region and Iceland in general.

The road between Siglufjörður and Dalvík known for its two one-way tunnels is a special adventure for travellers. Ólafsfjörður and Dalvik are two small towns where fishing remains the main activity. Dalvik is famous for being the host town of the annual Fish Festival, Fiskidagurinn Mikli, that takes place in August, where about 30,000 people attend (almost 10% of the Icelandic population). The three towns, Siglufjörður, Ólafsfjörður and Dalvik, offer great opportunities for hiking, skiing and excursions on the sea or in the mountains.

From Árskógssandur, you can take the boat to the island Hrísey or sample the local beer at the small brewery Kaldi.  Hauganes is a point for whale watching, and you can also see whales from Hjalteyri if you're lucky. Hjalteyri has a vivid and artistic life that offers exhibitions throughout the year despite its appearance of being a quiet little community. The end of the peninsula will lead you to the town of Akureyri, the capital of North Iceland, and Hrafnagil, a small village known to house "the home of  Father Christmas" and a popular annual crafts festival in Iceland, every August.

Joanne, Visiticelands.blogspot.com
Mars 2016