Breiðdalshreppur

Íbúar í Breiðdalshreppi er u.þ.b. 200. Fiskvinnsla og landbúnaður hefur löngum verið aðal atvinnugreinin á byggðarlaginu, en á síðustu árum hefur ferðaþjónusta farið mjög vaxandi.

Í sveitarfélaginu eru fjögur heilsárshótel, með gistirými fyrir u.þ.b. 140 manns. Þar til viðbótar er einnig sumarbústaðir og önnur sveitagisting. Tjaldstæði eru við Staðarborg og á Breiðdalsvík. Á Breiðdalsvík má finna alla helstu þjónustu svo sem: sundlaug með heitum potti, íþróttahús, bensínstöð, bifreiðaverkstæði, verslun, útimarkað, banka og póstafgreiðslu.

Visiting Breiðdalur and Breiðdalsvík

The area has the setting for the most picturesque and wonderful visit in the warm embrace of the mountains, the valley and village. For nature lovers this is the perfect place.

In Breiðdalur one can get up close and personal with the geology of the area. Minerals such as zeolite, crystals and rhyolit are among the many that create the very colorful mountains and river beds.

Here you can get close to nature without the effort. Get back to basics, meet the elements of nature, explore and discover. Breiðdalur welcomes you with open arms.

Breiðdalsvík

The small town of Breiðdalsvík lies at the entrance to the valley between the headlands of Kambanes and Streitishvarf. The name of the town means ´Broad Valley Bay´ and there is a wide beach of black sand across the end of the bay perfect for walks and sandcastles. Traditionally the main fields of work are in agriculture and fishing and the combination between the two have shaped the surroundings and the way of life of the valley.

The first house in Breiðdalsvík was built in 1883 by the Gránufélagið association. The community developed slowly at first, but grew rapidly when major harbor improvements were made in the mid 20th century. Nothing is known for sure about the settlement until about 1880 when the Gránufélagið built a warehouse. Yet full-time settlement did not begin until 1896, when the Brynesverslun store in Seydisfjörður built a branch store at the top of Selnes at the eastern corner of Selnesbót.

In the spring of 1906 the store burned down, and the same year a new store was built to the west of the inlet. That building exists today, making it the oldest in Breiðdalsvík. The old co-op has been rebuilt as a research and heritage centre for geology, culture and linguistics.

Today Breiðdalsvík is a village based on the fishing industry for the most part. It holds all the characteristics of a fishing village with a strong connection to farming and a relatively new tourism industry baced on the surrounding nature and caractaristics of the area.

Autumn is especially fascinating in this area of the country. While on a walk in search of berries, you'll undoubtedly witness the many shades of brown and moss-green. Breiðdalur is said to be one of the most genial areas of Iceland, known for the colourful rhyolite mountains which surround it, rising to a height of some 1,100-1,200 m.

A good variety of marked trails can be found around Breiðdalsvík, both for longer and shorter tours. In Breiðdalur, you will find three of Iceland's most beautiful fishing rivers, Breiðdalsá, Tinnudalsá and Norðurdalsá. Down the river Breiðdalsá you will find Beljandi, the most beautiful waterfall in the area. Autumn is the ideal time for hunting geese, ptarmigan and even reindeer - while fishing for brown trout is possible throughout the year. Driving east on highway No.1, you’ll come across Breiðdalur, or ‘the Broad Valley.’ In this beautiful valley, surrounded by lofty peaks and sheer cliffs, lies the village of Breiðdalsvík, whose broad and fertile area offers visitors many great outdoor activities and its village, a vibrant cultural life.