As a mom’s day reward I invite my mom on a ladies’ journey to a lodge as a substitute of giving her flowers. Final yr I invited her to the stunning family-run farm lodge Hraunsnef in Norðurárdalur valley in Borgarfjörður, the place we had a beautiful keep.
Each of us love the gorgeous Borgarfjörður, which isn’t removed from Reykjavíokay, the place we stay, so it makes for an ideal outing for one night time.
Opening photograph: the view from the terrace in entrance of our room
The “turf home” at Hraunsnef
It had been on my agenda to go to Hraunsnef for years and I had ogled it each time we handed it on my manner up north and on my manner again.
Of particular curiosity to me was the turf home behind the lodge. However seeing that my husband and I are all the time in a rush when travelling the lengthy distance up north to Akureyri or Mývatn, and drained on our manner again, then we had by no means taken the time to cease and take a look at Hraunsnef.
The “turf home” and Mt. Baula within the distance
The “turf home” turned out to be stalls and outhouses, fantastically camouflaged as previous turf outhouses, which mix so properly in with nature. You will note turf outhouses throughout Iceland virtually hidden within the panorama.
Sadly, they’re disappearing little by little as they want fixed upkeep, seeing that they’re manufactured from turf and rocks.
See additionally: A Listing of the gorgeous Icelandic Turf Homes, which I’ve visited on my Travels in Iceland
Calves at Hraunsnef
Hraunsnef lodge is a family-run lodge, run since 2005 by the couple Jóhann and Brynja and their 3 kids.
It’s a really cute lodge, for my part, and right here you will see all types of animals; cows, horses, sheep, cats, and pigs, and through our go to, I encountered a number of calves and noticed some pretty home geese on a small pond by the lodge.
Additionally they have bootle-lambs and settlement hen.
Our pretty room
The rooms are vivid and wonderful and fantastically adorned. Staying in such a stunning room made our keep a extremely fulfilling one. Within the room, we discovered some cozy robes and slippers.
Company even have entry to sizzling pots by the lodge and that’s when the robes and slippers turn out to be useful. It was a pity that it rained a lot that we could not keep exterior as a lot as we wished.
However we visited the shelter by the “turf home” the place we a drink by the fireplace.
Having a drink by the fireplace within the shelter
I invited my mom for dinner within the lodge restaurant, which was full of individuals, largely my countrymen. The restaurant is situated in a restored barn.
The homeowners need to maintain their produce as contemporary and native as doable and both make them themselves or purchase from different farmers within the neighborhood of Hraunsnef. So all of the meals comes from the Borgarfjörður space.
This additionally implies that the fish on their menu will not be fish caught within the sea, however trout and char caught within the Borgarfjörður rivers. Eygló, the daughter of the homeowners, is the chef on the restaurant.
The breakfast space
Breakfast was included within the value of the room and we had a stunning breakfast within the ornamental restaurant on handmade plates. The homeowners of the farm make all of the plates on the restaurant themselves, so every certainly one of them is exclusive.
On the lodge store, I discovered some drawings of the elves and the hidden individuals of Iceland, however the homeowners have mapped their properties at Hraunsnef. It’s a widespread perception that we Icelanders share our nation with the elves and the hidden individuals, who stay in rocks and hills round Iceland.
Hraunsnef and the pond
I’ve proven you a lot such elf-spots and informed you elf-stories in lots of my travel-blogs, f.ex.:
Bjartmarssteinn within the Westfjords of Iceland – the Market City of the Elves
Mt. Pétursey in South-Iceland and the Elves – Icelandic Folklore
The distinct gate at Hraunsnef farm
From what I may collect from the drawings within the lodge store, some 6 sorts of elves stay at Hraunsnef. The elves, who stay above the farm at Hraunsnef are seemingly loud and search consideration from the people. The hidden individuals at Hraunsnef usually borrow instruments from the farmers and are in good relations with them 🙂
Mt. Baula
Mt. Baula
You’ll discover a really distinguished mountain whereas staying at Hraunsnef. It’s referred to as Mt. Baula and is within the good cone form. I by no means tire of photographing this stunning mountain whereas passing by it on my manner up north. This somewhat strange-sounding title Baula means a hump, however the Icelandic verb “baula” means mooing.
A legend claims that in case you climb the mountain on Midsummer’s Eve you will see a pond containing a wishing stone. This wishing stone solely floats up from the pond on this big day and the one who finds it’s going to get his/her needs granted 🙂
Grábróokay crater
Grábróokay scoria crater
On our manner again to Reykjavíokay we visited Grábróokay – Gray pants, a small volcano solely 2 km south of Hraunsnef. This 170 metres excessive volcano created the lava-field Grábrókarhraun some 3,000 years in the past.
Grábróokay scoria crater is correct by ring-road 1 and a straightforward hike with good strolling paths takes you to the highest of this small volcano from which you may have a improbable view of the encircling space.
On high of the crater trying inside
This space was preserved again in 1962, to guard it from being destroyed, as heaps of fabric from it had been eliminated and used as gravel for roads. The lava discipline is on the Pure Heritage Register. There are some 3 craters right here, however my pictures are from my hike as much as Stóra-Grábróokay, the most important of the craters.
Glanni waterfall
Glanni waterfall as seen from the commentary platform
We additionally visited Glanni waterfall within the Norðurá river (not on our manner again, however on our technique to Resort Hraunsnef, simply after visiting the Krauma sizzling swimming pools). It’s situated 5-6 km away from the lodge.
Glanni is a small (a drop of some 8 metres) however stunning waterfall within the river Norðurá, which is properly value a go to. Norðurá river is a wonderful salmon fishing river.
The signal resulting in Glanni waterfall
There’s solely a brief stroll to the waterfall and the round-trip is just round 500 metres. I’ve heard tales about elves and gnomes by Glanni waterfall, however haven’t been capable of finding them in my compilations of folklore.
The title Glanni means each a madcap and the shining one. The shining one sounds extra possible at it’s a stunning waterfall when the solar shines upon it because it did throughout our go to.
Glanni waterfall
A brief stroll additional alongside the path will take you to Paradísarlaut, which is because the Icelandic title signifies a lovely pond which reminds us of a small piece of Paradise.
Hraunsnef is situated some 110 km away from Reykjavíokay, Iceland’s capital metropolis.
Have a stunning time within the stunning Borgarfjörður 🙂 I might additionally suggest trying out the magnificent Silver Circle with all its stunning sights. And if you are trying out the Borgarfjörður space, then you’ll be able to search for the 9 Cairns of the Viking Egill Skallagrímsson from the Saga of Egill.
