Highland Centre Hrauneyjar
 and
Hotel Highland

Although it must be a real challenge and an enormous experience for young people to camp out in the highlands of Iceland I highly recommending everybody to take a good and faithful accommodation to spend the night. It's wise to take my words seriously especially when you want to stay and fish in the highlands for several days. I fished mountain lakes and rivers in early season as well at mid summer time and the weather can be very unpredictable. Because strong windy conditions showing up rather frequently, fly fishermen already have a very hard time to fight the wind and the waves and when the wind blows from wrong direction it can be rather chilly too. Good clothing helps a lot but the reliability of knowing that you having a good accommodation for the evening and night work much better because you can step in your car and drive back to some luxury in less then an hour from most of the fishing locations. I have seen a lot of people getting the cold deep into their bones and saw how it spoiled the fly fishing joy for many. I also saw how many people getting back alive again after they jump into a hot Jacuzzi, having a perfect dinner and sleep in a nice warm bed. A good night sleep also gives you a lot of new energy and strong motivations again to stand another hard fishing day when the weather gods are teasing again. Lucky wise the good catches usual stimulates the people in the most powerful way and makes it sure that people returning over and over again.



In the area where I fished most frequently, the best place to stay is at the Highland Centre Hrauneyjar (Hálendismiðstöðin) or Hotel Highland located at the edge of Iceland's most impressive and most active volcanic area. The word "Hrauneyjar" doesn't say a lot to us foreigners but it means "Lava Island's". Highland Centre Hrauneyjar and Hotel Highland are the last two locations to stay, eat and sleep before getting into the completely isolated highland wilderness. That means they are much closer to the fishing places but much further away from civilization too. Highland Centre Hrauneyjar and Hotel Highland are accessible by paved road all year round but don't forget just a little further inland the paved road will stop and a four wheel drive car is highly recommended. Some inlands roads are possible to drive by normal car but it always goes at your own risk and I only can advice to follow the government's road recommendations very strictly.
 

After Hotel Highland opened in July 2005, it became the only hotel of very high standard operating in the interior of the Icelandic Highlands. Unique by itself, Hotel Highland is an perfect place to enjoy and relax the beauty of nature and the peace and silence while you still get provide with all modern facilities and comfort that one may not expect to encounter in this area. From Hotel Highland, it is just a short distance to some of the most beautiful tourist attractions that the Iceland highlands can offer you. Favourite places to go are for example:

• Landmannalaugar is the most popular place in the highlands. It is accessible in summer and the wintertime and only 38 km away from Hrauneyjar so ideal for a day trip for those who are not interesting in fly fishing. To take a bath in the natural hot springs is a must for all travelers but don't forget to bring your towel!

• Mount Hekla is also called the Queen of all Volcanoes in Iceland. It is only 25 km away from Hrauneyjar. An exciting walking tour up to the volcano takes you three to four hours but no one will be betrayed from the view up there or the exhilarating feeling of standing on top of the world.

• Veiðivötn Lakes are only 40 km away and undoubtedly offering some of the best fishing in Iceland.

• It is a good idea to drive and see the majestic waterfall Dynkur in the River Þjórsá.

• Hrafntinnusker in Torfajökull glacier is place absolutely have to see. The English name of this 1128 m high mountain is The Obsidian Skerry. It is situated some distance east of the infamous volcano Hekla. It is only accessible by 4wd vehicles from the north and south

• My personal favorites are the Hjálparfoss and Háifoss waterfalls and Gjáin in Þjórsárdalur. All these places are forever memorable in their adorned natural beauty. Gjáin may very well be the most beautiful spot in Iceland.

• In Þjórsárver there are old remains from the outlaw Fjalla-Eyvindur. There is also a lot of birdlife to see while driving down to the waterfall Fagrifoss in the Kaldakvísl canyon.

• Vatnajökull National Park, is unique in a natural science point of view. No other place in the world will have such a combination of dynamic ice cap and outlet glaciers, frequently active subglaciaal volcanic activity and associated massive outburst floods, and scenic mountain grandeur.

• The Saga Farm, Stöng in Þjórsárdalur re-enhances the old ages in Iceland and is one of the few places where real life replicas of this age is shown

• Finally drive through the unique area of Sprengisandur, the great interior Icelandic desert, if you continue your journey to the north of the country.

Hotel Highland is approximately 150 km away from Reykjavik. The exact location is 64°12´00.82 N and 19°15´14.29 W, which is actually a little north east of the famous volcano Mount Hekla. Trout and char fishing in this pristine area is not only amazing but can be considered as world-class too. The vastness and lack of human impact makes this region to one of the last places in Europe where peace, natural beauty and loneliness are combined in a perfect harmony that offer you a breathtakingly experience. Hotel Highland opens from May 15 to September 30 for individuals and is open all year round for groups, except during Christmas and New Year.



There is a good restaurant with nice food served in the guesthouse at Hrauneyjar Centre. The food at Hotel Highland is even outstanding and you should really take some extra time to enjoy the exclusive dinner choices. A stay in the guesthouse at Highland Centre Hrauneyjar or at Hotel Highland will certainly gives you a permanent memory of the beautiful Icelandic highlands in combination with great service, heart-warming food and an unforgettable hospitality.
 

Excellent accommodation for fly fishermen fishing in the highlands