Hotels in Westfjords

The tourist office in Ísafjörður can help locate accommodations and provides comprehensive listings at the website.

The South Coast of the Westfjords -- The few hotels scattered along this barely populated stretch of coast sometimes come in handy for those en route to Látrabjarg.

Hótel Bjarkalundur, Route 60, about 100km/62 miles from Route 1 (tel. 434-7762; www.bjarkalundur.is; 26,900 double , including breakfast; 24,500kr cottages; closed Oct-Apr), in operation since 1947, has 16 presentable, well-priced rooms with sinks plus six wood cottages that were added in 2014, and is part of an all-around pit-stop with a restaurant, bar, gas station, and small store.

Proceeding west, the next option is Djúpidalur, Route 60, about 122km (76 miles) from Route 1 (tel. 434-7853; 9,800kr double without bathroom; no credit cards), a sheep farm in a geothermal valley popular among trout and salmon fishermen. Lodgings are straightforward, with a guest kitchen and indoor geothermal swimming pool.

The next accommodation on Route 60 -- located 100km (62 miles) west of Djúpidalur, near the Route 62 junction, and 6km (4 miles) from the Brjánslækur ferry terminal -- is Hótel Flókalundur (tel. 456-2011; www.flokalundur.is; 16,500kr double, including breakfast; closed mid-Sept to mid-May), with 15 somewhat-cramped en suite rooms and a serviceable restaurant. Five minutes' walk from the hotel is a fabulous outdoor geothermal pool, lined with natural stones and overlooking the fjord. Rauðsdalur (tel. 456-2041; raudsdal@vortex.is; 5,400kr/$86/£43 double without bathroom; 4,200kr/$67/£34 double with sleeping bag; MC, V), 8km (5 miles) southwest of the Brjánslækur ferry terminal on Route 62, has acceptable rooms, a guest kitchen, and a beautiful beach across the road.

Patreksfjörður & Tálknafjörður -- Patreksfjörður boasts a boutique hotel: Ráðagerði, Aðalstræti 31 (tel. 456-0181; www.radagerdi.com;  23,000kr double) which opened during summer 2010. The hotel, renovated over three years by a designer-architect duo, boasts a beautiful interior and equally stunning views across the fjord. Patreksfjörður also has several inexpensive choices, all with guest kitchens.

Guesthouse Erla, Urðargata 2 (tel. 456-1227; 6,000kr ($96/£48) double without bathroom including breakfast; no credit cards), has agreeable rooms, though Erla's English is severely limited. Guesthouse Eyrar, Aðalstræti 8 (tel. 456-4565; handradinn@simnet.is; 7,000kr/$112/£56 double with bathroom; MC, V), which shares a building with the local cafe and bakery, is a great value for private facilities. Stekkaból, Stekkur 19 (tel. 456-1675; stekkabol@snerpa.is; 6,400kr/$102/£51 double without bathroom; 2,000kr/$32/£16 per person sleeping-bag accommodation; MC, V), is a standard guesthouse spread over three buildings.

In Tálknafjörður, the cheery, welcoming Skrúðhamrar Guesthouse, Strandgata 20 (tel. 456-0200; skrudhamar@visir.is; 6,000kr/$96/£48 double without bathroom; MC, V), has TVs and Wi-Fi in each room. The backup is Guesthouse Bjarmaland, Túngata 42 (tel. 891-8038; bjarmaland06@simnet.is; 6,000kr/$96/£48 double without bathroom; MC, V), with a guest kitchen and one en suite room out of eleven; speak up if you want a TV. Note: There are currently no accommodations in Bíldudalur.