Fjalladyrd Guesthouse
Modrudalur, Iceland
Country guesthouses are the most common form of accommodation in Iceland's rural regions, offering simple, comfortable furnishings and warm hospitality. Fjalladyrd Guesthouse enjoys a remote location in Modrudalur, the highest farm in Iceland at 1,539 feet and one of the earliest settled areas in the country. The name "Fjalladyrd" means "mountain beauty," and it's an apt description its location in the highlands north of Vatnajokull Glacier, with the snowy summits of the Kverkfjoll Mountains visible on clear days. Though simple, our accommodations offer a peaceful setting and authentic taste of rural Icelandic life, not to mention proximity to the nature sights we visit in the region.
Two separate houses with traditional sod roofs accommodate seven guests each in single and double rooms with private bathrooms and showers. Knotty pine walls and rustic country decor lend a cozy ambience, while a log fireplace in the living room invites relaxing. Fjallakaffi is the guesthouse's coffee house and restaurant on the premises, whose traditional specialties include home-baked cakes, Icelandic donuts called "kleinur," and the hearty lamb and vegetable soup that is an Icelandic favorite. On the surrounding farm, guests may see elements of traditional Icelandic rural culture, including turf houses, grazing sheep and sustainable, low-tech farming operations.