Seals, Waterfalls, and Vikings: Wandering Iceland's Seal Circle

 

Seals, Waterfalls, and Vikings: Wandering Iceland's Seal Circle

Wandering the Seal Circle around Iceland's Vatnsnes Peninsula welcomed us to a remarkable portion of North Iceland that we had not yet explored. We quickly fell in love with the peninsula as we explored the highlighted sites. Views of the Arctic Ocean and fjords are just spectacular. We loved this adventure so much that we are already looking forward to driving the Seal Circle again!

Learn about seals and other Icelandic wildlife
at the Icelandic Seal Center in Hvammstangi.

The first stop on our tour of the Seal Circle was the Icelandic Seal Center in Hvammstangi. The Seal Center provides a wonderful spot to orient yourself. Additionally, it houses a museum with exhibits about seals and other Icelandic wildlife. There also is a restaurant above the Icelandic Seal Center with a fantastic view of the harbor. We had been traveling with a cooler full of picnic foods, so we enjoyed a snack while observing the harbor.

Tip: Be sure to bring your binoculars for your Seal Circle adventure so that you can see the seals more easily!

Hamarsrett Sheep Fold

Hamarsrett sheep fold along the beach.

Soon, we began rounding the Seal Circle. We first stopped at Hamarsrett where you can see a sheep coral on the shore of a fjord.  The location of the Hamarsrett sheep coral is a bit unusual and interesting to see. Traveling through Iceland, you will quickly become familiar with Icelandic sheep. Icelandic sheep of today are descendants of those brought by the Vikings. During the warmer months, sheep roam the countryside. In September, they are rounded up during rettir using folds or corals like the one at Hamarsrett.

Illugastaðir and the World of Seals

Seals lounging on the beach and rocks at Illugastaðir.

We continued our tour heading towards Illugastaðir which is a farm full of hiking trails, fjord views, bird nesting sites, and seal colonies. This is a spot where you will want to pause for a while and take your time to observe. One of the trails led us to a blind with information about the seals of Iceland. From that blind as well as an outdoor perch, we could see seals lounging on the beach and rocks. You will want to try to visit around low tide -- within the range of two hours before to two hours after for the best sightings. The most commonly seen seals in Iceland are harbor seals and grey seals.

A pair of black guillemots perched at Illugastaðir.

Illugastaðir also offers a fantastic location for birding. We saw so many birds that I am still working on identifying them from our photos! Illugastaðir truly was a beautiful spot for wandering, observing, and learning.

*A note about Arctic terns in Iceland -- if you are near a nest or colony, they will dive bomb you. You should back away. 

Hvítserkur Impresses As It Rises From The Sea

The sea stack Hvítserkur rises from the fjord as if it is standing upon legs.

Next, we headed to Hvítserkur which is a remarkable basalt sea stack that you may have already seen in photos. Hvítserkur rises from the fjord bold and gracefully at the same time on legs. It is said that the formation is a dragon drinking from the fjord. Be on the lookout for gulls and fulmars resting on the formation. You may also see seals in the area. We paused here for another snack, just soaking in the landscape. Truly breathtaking!

Borgarvirki: A Volcanic Viking Fort

Borgarvirki is a former Viking fort forged from a columnar volcanic plug.

Our next leg of the adventure took us to Borgarvirki which is a former Viking fort.  Borgarvirki is a columnar volcanic plug that rises well above the surrounding landscape. The Icelandic Sagas note  Borgarvirki's use as a fort and evidence of human alterations to the site can be seen. From the fort, the views are fantastic. 

Magical Scenery At Kolugljúfur Gorge

Breathtaking waterfall at Kolugljúfur Gorge.

The final stop on the circle is the breathtaking Kolugljúfur Gorge featuring a deep gorge and waterfall. The entire scenery is spectacular. Before exploring the waterfall, we traced the other end of the gorge. The artistry of the rock formations just beckons a sense of complete awe. We savored waterfall views from a variety of points and enjoyed the spray of the cascade from a perch. Magnificent!

We Look Forward To A Return To The Seal Circle

Our day wandering the Seal Circle on the Vatnsnes Peninsula of Iceland was truly magical. We enjoyed every moment and experienced a lot of unique adventures. We learned about the Seal Circle a bit by accident -- while picking up brochures at a service plaza. What an amazing accidental discovery that we now highly recommend!