Drangey Island

Drangey is a picturesque, uninhabited island characterised by striking cliffs and fairy-tale rock formations. Located in Skagafjörður fjord, it’s one of the area’s  most distinctive landmarks.  

Remarkably, sheep once grazed on Drangey, even though the island is surrounded by sheer cliffs up to 180 metres (591 feet) high. Farmers hoisted the sheep up and down the cliffs by ropes.

One of Iceland’s best-known Saga heroes, the outlaw Grettir, spent the last three years of his life on Drangey. The story goes that one night Grettir swum from the island to the western shore of Skagafjörður. There, he bathed in a natural geothermal spring and fetched glowing embers to take back to his hiding place in the island. A pool called Grettislaug, has been constructed with natural stones at this legendary bathing spot, and it is a great place to relax after a hike or after climbing Drangey. Luckily, you won’t be expected to swim back to the mainland like Grettir did!

How to get to Drangey

Drangey Island can be reached by a boat from Reykir harbour,which is just north of  Sauðárkrókur village. Starting from island’s only boat docking area, a precipitous path with ladders and cable handrails leads to the top of the island. A guided boat and hiking tour takes about 3 hours and is very interesting. Seeing the fortress-like island upclose is a great experience, especially for those interested in bird watching, as many different sea birds (like puffins) make their nests there.  Please note that the hike to the island’s top is  not suited for people who suffer from vertigo.