You can visit the island with Drangey Tours. The starting point for the crossing to the island (Grettislaug) is about 42 km north of Varmahlíð. You’ll get there via Road 75, then Road 744 and Road 748.
Drangey is located in the bay of Skagafjörður fjord and is the remnant of a 700,000-year-old extinct volcano. It lies about 7 km off the coast and is an avian paradise. You can find a great variety of birds there, including puffins, large colonies of guillemots, razorbills, kittiwakes, Norwegian fulmars, ravens and falcons.
The island is about 170 metres 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 in 1031 hid there, together with his brother Illugi and their slave Glaumur.
Drangey has served as a harbinger of spring for local residents for centuries. Every spring, the locals went to the island to gather eggs and catch birds, using ropes and to climb to the top of the cliffs. In 1996, a ban was introduced on this tradition.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. In May and September there are departures on request.
A visit to the island takes about 4 hours. You have to use ropes and ladders to get to the top of the island. Be sure to bring a towel so you can enjoy the warm water spring after the boat ride. Besides a visit to the island, you can also go fishing at sea with Drangey Tours.