The southern coast of the Vestfirðir
This morning, the weather is mixed as we leave our guesthouse. We plan to explore the southern fjords at a leisurely pace, from Raudisandur to Patreksfjörður, with a stop at Latrabjarg, of course. According to the essential vedur.is, the rain should stop quickly this morning, which should allow us to enjoy the day a bit more!
The Wreck of Garðar BA 64
The first stop of our day brings us to the wreck of the famous Garðar BA 64, a trawler stranded in Breidafjörður Bay. It's the oldest steel trawler in Iceland, first launched in 1912, and has been here since 1981. Needless to say, it's in pretty rough shape!
Raudisandur and the Melanes Hike
Further west, we plan to hike at Raudisandur. The place is absolutely stunning, with endless beaches of a magnificent orange color. There's no one here; it's absolute tranquility.
The Melanes hike begins at a small parking area at Melanes, a few hundred meters before reaching Raudisandur. Taking our time with plenty of photo breaks, it only takes us 1.5 hours to cover the 3.5 km hike that leads to a memorial.
The hiking trail is very pleasant and crosses several streams. Along the way, we encountered many cormorants and several seals lounging on the beach.
We even decided to have a picnic along the beach since the place is so enjoyable.
Latrabjarg and Its Puffins
In the early afternoon, we take the stunning road leading to Latrabjarg. Stunning, but also very bumpy! When we arrive at the parking area, the sun comes out, allowing us to take a long walk along the cliff.
You don't need to walk very far before you start seeing the first puffins and many razorbills along the cliffs. We walk for nearly two hours along the coast before returning to the parking lot and driving to Patreksfjörður, arriving late in the afternoon.
There really isn't much in this fishing village, but we still take advantage of the beautiful soft light typical of Icelandic summers to take a few photos.
