Búðardalur

Búðardalur, which lies about 153 km north of Reykjavik and 78 km Borgarnes, is a village situated in the north-west region in Dalabyggð municipality. Búðardalur, which literally translates to ‘camp valley’, is situated on the road towards the Westfjord Peninsula, has a rich history dating back to the settlement period, when early settlers set up temporary shelter here. However, permanent settlement is said to have taken up around 1899 when the Danish regime granted the right to commerce to the village.

Búðardalur, which lies about 153 km north of Reykjavik and 78 km Borgarnes, is a village situated in the north-west region in Dalabyggð municipality. Búðardalur, which literally translates to ‘camp valley’, is situated on the road towards the Westfjord Peninsula, has a rich history dating back to the settlement period, when early settlers set up temporary shelter here. However, permanent settlement is said to have taken up around 1899 when the Danish regime granted the right to commerce to the village.

Close to the village stands Eirikstaðir, an important historical location and homestead of Viking Eiríkur Þorvaldsson, the father of Leif Eriksson, the first European to discover America, 500 years ahead of Columbus and also Greenland. Modern settlement is said to have begun during the second half of the 20th century. The region also features in the Sagas, specially Eiríks Saga and Laxdæla, which narrate the exploits of the early settlers. The village with a small harbor failed to promote fishing on a large scale and instead opted for farming, after a small dairy-processing plant was set-up in the village, which is why Búðardalur features on the dairy farming map of Iceland. In fact, all ‘MS’ mold cheese, including Dala Auður, Dala Hringur, Höfðingi, Bónda Brie, Kastali etc, are made here.

Today the small village has all basic amenities and facilities, including hotels, restaurants, supermarket, swimming pool, community center, healthcare center and even a museum, art gallery, camping site and information center. Búðardalur is becoming popular with tourists as it lies in close proximity to major tourist attractions in the region.