Aðalvík: A Remote Hornstrandir Beach Day from Ísafjörður

If you have already done the Hesteyri crossing, or simply want a broader, emptier landscape for the day, Aðalvík is the other common boat landing in the Hornstrandir Nature Reserve. It is a wide bay on the western edge of the reserve, roped off from the road network entirely, and reached only by boat from Ísafjörður in the summer months. What you get in return for the crossing is a long sweep of sandy beach, a mountain backdrop, and the scattered ruins of two abandoned villages.

What Aðalvík Actually Is

Aðalvík was home to the fishing settlements of Látrar and Sæból, along with smaller Miðvík. Both were emptied in the mid-20th century, with the last residents leaving in October 1952. Today the shoreline is dotted with farm and house ruins, and above Látrar you can still see the concrete remains of Straumnes Air Station, a Cold War-era US radar station, plus traces of a British wartime base near Sæból. It is a landscape of grass-covered foundations and open beach rather than a tidy museum, so give yourself time to wander.

Foxes, Beaches and the Walk to Hesteyri

Hornstrandir is the only place in Iceland where the Arctic fox is fully protected from hunting, and Aðalvík is prime habitat. Along the coast the foxes hunt seabirds and are unusually unbothered by people, so keep your distance and let them pass. If you would rather turn the boat trip into a proper hike, a recognised walking route links Aðalvík and Hesteyri; it runs roughly 12 km and takes about four hours, with views over Ísafjarðardjúp and, on a clear day, the Drangajökull ice cap. Some visitors are dropped at one bay and picked up at the other.

Getting There and What to Bring

Boats to Aðalvík run in summer only, roughly from late spring into September, with a crossing of about an hour and a quarter each way. Because sailings and pickup arrangements vary, confirm the operator, the departure and return times, and whether you are booking a day landing or a drop-off for hikers before you commit to the trip.

• Getting there: Summer-only boat from Ísafjörður harbour; no roads into the bay.
• Crossing time: About 1 hour 15 minutes each way; sailings roughly May to September.
• Day length: Plan on a full day; the Aðalvík–Hesteyri walk is about 12 km / roughly 4 hours.
• What to bring: Waterproof jacket and trousers, sturdy boots, layers, water and food (no shops or facilities), and a map or GPS.
• Timing: Go on a settled-weather day; the reserve has no services and boats sail only in fair conditions.

Where to Stay

The natural base for an Aðalvík day trip is The Ísafjörður Inn, an in-town inn a short walk from the harbour where the Hornstrandir boats depart. That means you can be at the quay in minutes for an early sailing and walk straight back to your room after a long day on the trail, with the town’s pool and restaurants close by to wind down. Book direct on Ourhotels.is for the best rate.

Photo: Aronlh via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0.