Self Catering Farm Stays: Northeast (2023)

  Brúnalaug is a cosy three bedroom holiday cottage on a family farm near Iceland’s second city, Akureyri and the Eyjafjörður Fjord in its remote north. The accommodation is comfortable and clean, the location very scenic and central to many of northern Iceland’s most lovely natural landscapes. THE ACCOMMODATION: The modern cottage comes with a nice lounge, a fully equipped kitchen, two bathrooms, one double/twin room, one with a bunk bed and one single room plus the sofa in the living room can also be pulled out to sleep two more if needed, and cots can be provided for children. The comfortable lounge has a WiFi and a TV & DVD player while outside there is a large porch area with a barbecue and, best of all, a hot tub from where to enjoy some of the lovely scenery that surrounds. The farmer’s house is nearby and you’ll find them very friendly but completely non-intrusive. They grow a large range of fruit, vegetables, herbs etc. at the farm greenhouse though and so you can buy supplies of fresh produce to cook with should you need. Otherwise there are supermarkets in Akureyri, just 13km away, plus plenty of nice cafes, bars and restaurants. THE LOCATION: The nearest town is Akureyri, Iceland’s second city which, with a population of just 18,000, is a lot more sedate than Reykjavik. It also sees a lot less tourists and is therefore, for many visitors, a much more authentic place to be. The region is generally called Eyjafjaroarsveit, or Eyjafjörður Country, after the large fjord of the same name and is a wonderful place for all sorts of outdoor activities; hiking, horse riding, skiing, golf, bird watching etc. Make sure to do some whale watching at Húsavík and admire the spectacular waterfall at Goðafoss too. You can ask the friendly farm owners at Brúnalaug for more advice and recommendations, they’ll have plenty, and they can also help organize tours and excursions. WHAT OTHER GUESTS SAY: “We stayed for 2 nights and had wonderful time in this warm and cosy house. Anna was so nice and told us many stories about Iceland, it’s culture, nature and people. READ MORE