Glaumbaer Turf Farm

Glaumbaer, in the Skagafjordur valley of northern Iceland, is one of the best-preserved turf farms in the country, a cluster of grass-roofed buildings of timber, stone and turf that shows how Icelanders lived for a thousand years in a treeless land. Warm, dark and low, the connected rooms of the old farmhouse are a vivid window onto that hard, ingenious way of life.

What you actually see

• The turf farmhouse - the grass-roofed buildings of turf, stone and timber.
• The connected rooms - the low, warm interiors where families lived.
• The building method - the ingenious use of turf in a treeless land.
• The setting - the farm in its green northern valley.

When to go

The summer season, when the farm is open for visits; it largely closes in winter. A dry day suits the turf roofs and setting.

Honest expectations

It is a seasonal, specialised heritage visit, most rewarding for those interested in traditional life. The low, dark interiors are atmospheric but cramped. It is in the north, a detour from the ring road.

Nearby

The Skagafjordur valley and Saudarkrokur are around; the ring road passes to the south.