Journey Through the Langanes Peninsula: Iceland’s Hidden Wilderness
Embark on a journey to the remote and pristine Langanes Peninsula, where abandoned farms and untouched nature create a captivating tapestry of Icelandic landscapes. Our exploration guide delves into the secrets of this secluded region, revealing the allure of forgotten homesteads and the untouched beauty of nature. To fully embrace the rugged charm of Langanes, consider the convenience and flexibility of an Iceland camper van rental.
With Langanes Peninsula's rich history and wild scenery as your backdrop, an Iceland camper van rental becomes your gateway to an off-the-beaten-path adventure. It provides both mobility and comfort in this untouched corner of Iceland.
Quite possibly the furthest you can get from Reykjavik in a campervan, this windswept peninsula in Iceland’s northeast provides a remote and adventurous detour away from the country's crowds of tourists. It’s a great alternative destination for those looking to explore somewhere different in their campervan that not many others visit.
Filled with abandoned farms and untouched nature, beaches filled with driftwood, and some of the best birdwatching cliffs in the country, the Langanes Peninsula is an adventurous escape from the ring road. The landscape is mostly flat, filled with small lakes, large cliffs that dive into the water, and low-lying hills – but it all feels like it’s at the end of the world. Few people make the detour towards this quiet part of the country, and a lot of those who do stick to the main roads and towns, missing this quiet peninsula altogether. It’s completely uninhabited save for a few farms just east of the nearest town, Thórshöfn.
How to get to the Langanes Peninsula
The access point to this peninsula is through the town of Thórshöfn in northwest Iceland. Driving straight from Reykjavik takes approximately 7 hours and 40 minutes, and from Akureyri, it takes just under 3 hours.
From Thórshöfn, Road 869 leads you onto Langanes, a rough dirt track that meanders along the northern edge of the peninsula. It’s rough going and narrow - you don’t need a 4x4, but be wary of your tires and windshield along the way.
Can You Camp on the Langanes Peninsula?
There aren’t any campsites available on the peninsula – the closest is in Thórshöfn. There is also the Ytra Lón Farm Lodge on the peninsula, a working sheep farm that offers accommodation for travelers.
What to See and Do
If you're still deciding whether to visit Langanes, here's a list of things you can do and see there.
View the Seabird Colonies
The main attraction of Langanes is the teeming birdlife. At the Skoruvík cliffs, locals have constructed the Stóri Karl Observation Deck, a viewing platform that teeters out ten meters over the edge of the cliffs, giving you unobstructed views of the bird colonies below. This is one of the best views you can get of a gannet nesting site in the country, and there are also guillemots, fulmars, kittiwake, razorbills, and more. The stormy waters here crash into the sharp cliffs below, giving the whole area a dramatic atmosphere with the wheeling birds.
Once you’ve made your way out further along the peninsula, you’ll find a lonely lighthouse. The peninsula's point is Fontur, which is one of the most remote areas in Iceland. Lay down on your belly to peer over the edge of the cliffs, where you’ll get even more views of nesting seabirds.
Skálar – the Abandoned Icelandic Fishing Village
Backtrack from the lighthouse, and you’ll reach a road that branches off towards the southeastern coast, which leads to the abandoned fishing village of Skálar. Once home to over a hundred people in the early years of the 20th century, it was a buzzing fishing hamlet thanks to its proximity to bountiful fish stocks just off the coast.
With the rise of engine-powered boats, the need to be so close to fishing grounds decreased and made the hard-to-dock-at Skálar fall out of favor. It slowly declined, with traders eventually passing it over altogether. During World War II, naval mines that had been placed in the ocean off the East Fjords broke free and washed ashore on the beach, detonating and destroying a few houses in the process. It wasn’t long after that those few that remained gave it all up and moved away, and the village was completely abandoned in 1946. Now, all that’s left are a few ghostly remains of houses, farms, a fishing warehouse, and part of the stone pier that was built for the boats to dock at. It’s one of the most haunting locations in Iceland.
Abandoned NATO Military Base
Before being abandoned, the town did have one last hurrah when, during World War II, the NATO allies built a radar station on top of the nearby mountain, Heiðarfjall. This base was manned by a small encampment of soldiers, which brought jobs and entertainment for the locals of the small, declining village, and even a cinema for entertainment. However, with the end of the war, the base was abandoned, and along with it, the last glimmer of hope for Skálar, which was completely abandoned one year later. A rough road climbs to the top of Heiðarfjall, where you can see some small radars and buildings left over from the NATO base.
Abandoned Icelandic Farms
There are more ghost stories on this peninsula. As you drive along the coast, you’ll find a lot of abandoned farms slowly being reclaimed by nature on this remote peninsula. Stopping to explore is fascinating and downright spooky – this is one of the highest concentrations of abandoned farms in the country. The beaches along the coast are also worth a look, filled with driftwood that has floated across from Siberia.
Conclusion
The Langanes Peninsula is a hidden spot for anyone wanting to see Iceland’s wild beauty and learn some cool history. From big cliffs packed with birds to old abandoned farms and spooky fishing villages, it feels like stepping into another time. You can see the bird colonies at Skoruvík, explore what’s left of Skálar, or check out the old NATO radar base for a glimpse into the past. If you’re looking for a quiet, out-of-the-way adventure with great views and lots of character, the Langanes Peninsula is a perfect stop for your campervan trip.