It was strange to have our Icelandic passport inspection in Grundarfjordur, especially as we had been in Akureyri the day before! For our early start we had muffins delivered at 6:15am to our cabin. The Icelandic officials had come onboard with the pilot boat. As we had our trip around the Snæfellsnes peninsular we made sure to get our passports checked early. This meant about a 15 minute wait in the queue just after 7 am.
The Captain updated us that in the early morning whales had been all around the ship.
Day 23: Thursday 20th July 2023: Grundarfjordur, Iceland
Just after 9:10 am we were on one of the early tenders to get ashore ready for our trip.
The mini-bus was waiting for us on the quay opposite where the tenders were landing passengers. There was time to go back to the quay and look down and watch the birds feeding – Arctic Terns and Puffins!
The Puffins were being harassed by the Arctic Terns. As I watched they would dive back down under the water with their beaks full of sand worms.
The trip was still short of one couple. They hadn’t reckoned with the passport checks, breakfast and then queueing for tenders. After a flurry of calls it was decided to leave them behind.
The tour of the peninsular
The bus followed 54 (Snaefellsnesvegur)out of town.
Then we turned onto 56 towards Selvallafoss.
Selvallafoss
We walked as a group towards Selvallafoss.
Back in the bus we followed 56 South until we turned and joined 54 again, now heading West.
Ytri Tunga
From the car park we came to this whale skeleton.
Bjarnarfoss
After the waterfall we were back on 54 going West.
Arnarstapi
After quite a while in the bus we were now on 574 and turned off to Arnarstapi. Lunch for us was at Samkomuhúsið.
We had quite some time to explore – first we walked to the Monument to the Bard of Snæfellsás.
The cliffs were full of sea birds.
This stone arch is called the Gatklettur.
I have learnt subsequently that this house is one of those places often photographed in Iceland.
This is the harbour.
I now know that getting the white house with Stapafell in the background is “the shot”.
Djúpalónssandur beach
Back on the road we passed these rocks looking inland close to the Londrangar view point.
On the road down to the beach.
Down on the beach were the remains of the Epine, a Grimsby trawler.
Saxhóll Crater
We stopped for a quick picture of the Saxhóll Crater.
Skarðsvík Beach
Our next stop was at Skarðsvík Beach.
And wow the beach was full of surprises as all around us were Arctic Terns.
Radio mast – Útvarpsmastrið á Gufuskálum – from the road.
Hellissandur
We then had a quick stop at a petrol station for coffees in Hellissandur.
Back on the 54 going North.
Another beach
After the Bulandshofdi view point the bus pulled off to a small car park and we walked down to the beach. This beach was one of our driver’s favourites especially as not many came to it!
Back on 54 we were now going East back towards Grundarfjordur.
Kirkjufellsfoss
This was my first view of Kirkjufell mountain.
Regular buses run from Grundarfjordur to Kirkjufell.
I followed the rocky path to the Kirkjufell waterfall. The path was busy with other visitors.
Grundarfjordur
Once we were back in Grundarfjordur we said goodbye to our driver and guide for the day. The queue for the tender back to Island Princess was short and we were soon back onbpard the ship.
Leaving Grundarfjordur
After our busy day we chose to eat alone. ALong with our US friends we were disappointed that there were none of the games we like to play together left in the library. Instead we went to a bar and had a restful evening chatting.
