HEIMAEY, WESTMAN ISLANDS

Enjoy this short but comprehensive tour of Heimaey – an island simply buzzing with wildlife.  

We leave the perfectly formed natural harbour area, with its tall cliffs tenanted by multitudes of puffins, fulmars and guillemots, before making our first stop at Sprangan – a cliff where young islanders are taught the local sport of rope swinging.

Continuing on to Herjólfsdalur Valley, ruins of old farmhouses dating back to 650 AD will be pointed out from the coach. We then travel along the western part of Heimaey, providing us with an opportunity to view the outer islands.

Our next stop is at Stórhöfdi, with its magnificent views (on a clear day) over the island and majestic glaciers of mainland Iceland. Driving back towards the harbour, we travel between two volcanoes – the 5,000 year old Helgafell (‘Holy Mountain’), and the considerably younger Eldfell (‘Fire Mountain’). We shall stop briefly at a viewpoint located at the base of Eldfell.

Over the new lava fields, we journey into the very centre of Eldfell’s crater before driving into town, passing the ruins of a house buried in the lava. Before our tour is complete, we briefly stop at the Skansinn wooden church. The church was donated to the people of the Westman Islands by the state of Norway, to commemorate the millennium of Christianity in Iceland.

TOUR NOTES: This tour involves a limited amount of walking, at the short photo stops, where passengers may stay on the coach if they prefer. It is worth considering that Heimaey is only some 14 ½ square kilometres (5 ½ square miles) in area. The best available transport is used for this tour, however, please note that in such an isolated area, the quality of vehicles and standard of driver/guides may be less than we have come to expect elsewhere. There are no toilet facilities on the coach and, if available at the photo stops, they will be limited. It may not have air conditioning.

DESCRIPTION CORRECT FOR 2009 SCANDINAVIA & BALTIC CRUISES