Drangey Island: The paradise in Iceland to spot puffins

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Drangey Island: The paradise in Iceland to spot puffins

10 maart 2020 in Iceland0 reacties

Drangey is located in the bay of Skagafjörður fjord and is the remnant of a 700,000-year-old volcano. It lies about 7 km off the coast and is a paradise for birds.

You can find a great variety of birds there, including puffins, large colonies of guillemots, razorbills, kittiwakes, Norwegian fulmars, ravens, and falcons.

Content

  1. The legend of Drangey Island

The island is about 170 m high and completely overgrown with grass. It plays an important role in the many legends about giants and tall tales about outlaws. It was mentioned for the first time in an Icelandic saga as a refuge for the outlaw Grettir, who hid there in 1031, together with his brother Illugi and their slave Glaumur.

  1. The local residents and Drangey

Drangey has served as a harbinger of spring for local residents for centuries. Every spring, the locals went to the island to collect eggs and catch birds, using ropes to climb to the top of the cliffs. In 1996, a ban was introduced, and this tradition came to an end.

  1. Boat trips to Drangey Eiland

Boat trips to Drangey island leave from the famous hot spring, Grettislaug, named after Grettir. During the summer months, from 1 June to 15 August, there are departures every day, depending on weather conditions, so it’s best to contact them beforehand.

There is a legend about the outlaw Grettir who lived on Drangey Island. He lived there as an outcast in very harsh conditions. One day he ran out of food and had to swim to the mainland. When he came ashore he came past one of the baths and bathed in it. Do you want to know the juicy end of the legend? Send us an email or visit the island, the helmsman will be happy to tell you all the details.

A visit to the island takes about 4 hours. You have to go to the top of the island with ropes and ladders. Be sure to bring a towel, so that you can go in the hot spring after the boat trip. Departures are available on request in May and September.

In addition to a visit to the island, you can also go fishing with Drangey Tours. Are you looking for even more places where you can spot puffins? Be sure to read our blog, where in Iceland can I spot puffins?

  1. Video: Discover Drangey Island

The island of Drangey is a must see if you are in the north of Iceland! Curious of what to expect? Take a look at the video below.

  1. Where to stay in Iceland? (with discount)

Looking for a place to stay during your time in Iceland? It is best to book your accommodation in advance. It is hard to find one last minute!

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  1. Don't miss out on anything during your stay in Iceland, get our travel guide!

Like most of us, you don't want to miss out on anything during your vacation in Iceland. Well, we have some good news, because we already did the research for you! Buy our Iceland travel guide with 99 sights (+ GPS coordinates) and a mapped tour. Prefer to try it out first? Download your free Iceland travel guide here.

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Posted by

Wouter Coppens

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