Oxi | Pauls Ramblings

After our visit to Detifoss we set off on our journey to Djúpivogur on the east coast. Most of the way was on Route 1. The weather was dull but mostly dry but cloud levels were low so views were not great. We stopped off at Egilsstaðir, the largest settlement in eastern Iceland with a population of just over 2,000, for lunch, food shopping and of course a visit to Vinbudin the state liquor store.

Shortly after leaving Egilsstaðir we left Route 1 for a shortcut on Route 939, a gravel road also called Oxi after the pass it goes over. If you think of Oxi as a gravel road in the mould of The Wrynose pass but about 18k long then you get some idea of what it’s like. Add in the complication of it being in the clouds with resurfacing work going on but with no contraflow and you will see that made it an interesting drive. However, glimpses between the clouds showed some fine potential views so we returned to drive over in good weather a few days later, see photos further down the blog.

Now you may have wondered why the title of the blog is ICELAND-LAND OF FIRE, ICE AND LUPINES, well the lupine part anyway. The reason is that Iceland is covered in them. Apparently they were introduced from Alaska to stabilise the soil.

Our accomodation was one of some fine cabins at Bragdavellir Farm about 10k past Djúpivogur. The best place we stayed. Well appointed cabin, excellent WiFi, pleasant, helpful owners and fine walks on the farm itself, what more could you want? Oh, and its own 30m high waterfall Snædalsfoss.We were staying for four nights, many people only stay a night and there were quite a few entries in the visitors book regretting not staying longer.

Spot the cottage, and the waterfall — Spot the cabin second on the right and the waterfall Snædalsfoss behind

Our cottage is the one in the middle — Our cabin is the one the right

The view from the cottage — The view from the cabin

We had some fine walks on the farm from the cabin.

A fine spot for a wild camp in a motorhome

A great view up the valley at the back of the farm

And a short phone video from the same spot. A superb spot for a wild camp, now where’s my tent?

One of the two friendly horses on the farm

Some old “mechanical horses” on the farm

We thought these might be footpath signs but it turns out the mark the underground route of the telephone cables

We decide that we wanted to back over The Oxi Pass in good weather and fortunately a break in the weather allowed us to. The map below has the route. Our cabin is marked with a pin near the bottom of the map. We followed Route 1 north along the coast to Breiðdalsvík, a small fishing village. Then Route 1 goes inland, becomes a gravel road and gains height through some splendid scenery until it meets the Oxi pass road, Route 939. Enjoy the photos.

Superb picnic site inland from Breiðdalsvík on Route 1. Not a bad spot for a wild camp either

Still on Route 1. Note the gravel road and the gradient coming up. Hire cars looking a bit dirty!

Looking back down the valley in the direction of Breiðdalsvíkl. Taken from the same spot as the previous photo

Sian admiring the view at a lay-bye just before we reach the Oxi Pass road.

...and inside the bothy — …and inside the bothy

Final stretch on the Oxi Pass Road, after the steep gradients and bends have been negotiated

Threatening sign at each end of the Oxi Pass Road, presumably the gate swings over to block the road in bad weather

...and back to Route 1 — …and back to Route 1

The nearest village to the cabin is Djúpivogur about 10k away. Djúpivogur has a pleasant harbour, with an excellent cafe with a museum attached. I can thoroughly recommend the cakes at the cafe and the only hotel has a restaurant where we had the “unofficial” Icelandic national dish…pizza! It seems to be on every restaurant’s menu, probably because it is relatively cheap.