I thought I’d ‘done’ Iceland after going to Reykjavik – I was wrong

A full day of sunlight or darkness. Northern Lights. Reykjavik and the Golden Circle Tour. The Blue Lagoon. 

Like most Brits, when I thought of holidaying in Iceland, I imagined the above. 

And when I went to Reykjavik in 2017, to do the Golden Circle Tour, while the sun stayed in the sky for almost 24 hours, I thought I’d ‘done’ Iceland (something I am very embarrassed about now). 

Don’t get me wrong, Iceland’s capital, the geysers and Blue Lagoon are fantastic. The culture, the food (I still often talk about the bottomless tomato soup at Friðheimar five years later), and just sheer beauty of the southwest is breathtaking – but it is not all Iceland has to offer. 

After three days spent exploring the Westfjords, I know now I couldn’t have been more wrong in thinking I’d seen it all. I had barely scratched the surface with my previous trip. 

The Westfjords are situated in the northwest of Iceland, with a population of slightly over 7,150 – meaning it is the least populated district, considering its 22km² size. To get there, you need to fly into Keflavik airport in Reykjavik and drive for a couple of hours (it took us around four to reach our first spot). 

And you will need to drive. For some, that might be their ideal holiday, but for babies like me who are yet to pass their test, it means…