Day of Wild Seals and a Stone Troll

As we have already told you, the Vatnsnes Peninsula is well known for being one of the best places in the country to see gray and harbor seals along its coasts throughout the year.
You will arrive at Illugastaðir farm which has a free parking area from where a path starts parallel to the sea. In about 15 minutes you will reach a high point next to a small wooden lookout hut. Bring your binoculars, most of the time the seals are on distant rocks. The experience will be very different without them.
Sharpen your eyes! How many did you manage to see?
While this place conveys peace in contact with nature, there is a dark history in which this farm became the scene of a crime in the 19th century. All the details here.

There is no doubt that it is one of Iceland's most photographed landmarks. Its unusual stony silhouette, often compared by tourists to a rhinoceros, a drinking elephant, a dragon or a dinosaur, was formed by the pounding of the mighty Atlantic Ocean.
Hvítserkur is a huge black basaltic rock -15 meters high- next to the shore, in the middle of a beach of the same color where sometimes you can see -with luck- some colonies of seals. During the summer, this imposing mass serves as a perfect hiding place for the nests of various birds. In this way they can leave their eggs with the assurance that they will not be eaten by terrestrial predators.
It would be strange if such an icon did not have an old legend associated with it. Hvítserkur was a troll who was determined to tear out the bells of Þingeyraklaustur monastery. Blinded by his anger, he failed to notice that the sun was slowly dawning over the horizon. The first rays of the sun left him petrified for all eternity.
Trolls are very common in Icelandic folklore. They are very large, with a certain resemblance to humans and if they come into contact with sunlight, they turn to stone. Hence, many rock formations in Iceland are attributed to trolls.

Just above the Icelandic Seal Center, this restaurant overlooking the Atlantic Ocean is the perfect choice to bring this Vatnsnes adventure to a close.
The building was formerly the freezer of a butcher shop. Don't worry, you won't get cold and you won't be cut into little pieces ;) Meat and fish in multiple formats to satiate the appetite of the diners.
Sjávaborg has everything from traditional dishes like seafood soup or lamb burger to international options like barbecued ribs. The fish of the day will never be a mistake to choose, remember that you are on the shores of a fjord. I assure you that the freshness and combination of flavors will be a real delight.
The Sjávarborg restaurant during the winter runs a cooking school during the winter.
Opening hours Every day from 11:30 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Phone: +354 4513131 Email: info@sjavarborg-restaurant.is

The Icelandic Seal Center is located at Hvammstangi pier. It provides tourists and locals with comprehensive information about the native seals (ringed, grey, walrus, hooded, harbor, bearded or harp) that you can see on the coasts of the country, all the types of seals that exist in the world as well as the role that these marine mammals have had and still have in Icelandic culture.
It will be a great way to learn about how seals live and behave in their natural habitat. The museum also exhibits examples of wildlife found around the village, with special emphasis on birds and marine life.
Hours of operation WINTER (from September 16). Monday - Friday: 10:00 - 17:00 Saturday - Sunday: closed
SUMMER (between May 15 and September 15) Monday - Sunday: 10:00 - 17:00 Monday - Sunday: 10:00 - 17:00
Phone: +354 451 2345

KIDKA is one of Iceland's largest textile mills specializing in the manufacture of wool products based in Hvammstangi, halfway between Reykjavík and Akureyri, just five minutes from Highway 1. Its roots date back to 1972, although it started its project under the KIDKA brand name in 2008.
You can buy everything from sweaters to cardigans and other high quality, original and genuine Icelandic accessories, such as hats, gloves and scarves. Some products are made on textile machines and others are knitted by hand. Visit their factory and discover step by step how a garment is tactfully created using Icelandic techniques.
KIDKA also has a store in Reykjavík (Laugavegur 54) and their products are distributed throughout the country.
Contact KIDKA in advance by phone and check availability for a free tour (354 454 10060). The duration of this factory tour is around 15 minutes. They also offer you the possibility to participate in a paid workshop where you will learn how to knit your own wool hat. No previous knitting knowledge is required.
Hours of operation Monday - Friday: 08:00 - 18:00 Saturday - Sunday: 10:00 - 16:00

To reach the three waterfalls Benefoss, Ankafoss and Attifoss you can walk along a gravel road and then take a path into the gorge. You will reach the first of the waterfalls - Benefoss - in 15 minutes at the most.
They're not among the most popular in the country, but they're a hidden gem that's often overlooked by mass tourism, and if you're passing along this stretch of the Ring Road, you should stop to see them.

Who has not eaten pizza on a trip to another country for a change and contrast of flavors against the local cuisine! In this pizzeria they prepare pizzas in a stone oven with wood and first quality ingredients. Their customers say about this restaurant good things like "good pizza, good beer, good times", "tasty food and reasonable prices" or "charming staff and good service". Tell us about your experience in detail. Suggestion: try the garlic bread.
Call to confirm if they have a table and make a reservation.
Hours of operation Monday - Sunday: 12:00 - 21:00
Phone: +354 4370110

Spotlights, mythological beings, overwhelming nature? So many wonders in such a "small" peninsula! I certainly hope it was a trip.... Legen...Wait for it...Dary!