Experience the best of Heimaey

Heimaey, the largest of the Westman Islands off Iceland's south coast, lies about 10 km from the mainland and holds a fishing town of more than four thousand people. In January 1973 an eruption split the ground beside the town, burying houses under ash and lava, and the islanders were evacuated almost overnight, mostly by fishing boat. The new volcano, Eldfell, now rises behind the harbour and can be climbed, and the Eldheimar museum shows a house dug out of the ash.

Helgafell, an older crater, and the windswept headland of Stórhöfði with its lighthouse give views across the islands. Surtsey, a new island that rose from the sea in an eruption from 1963 to 1967, lies about 20 km south-west and is protected as a World Heritage Site. On Heimaey, an aquarium and the old fort at Skansinn, with a wooden stave church given by Norway, are among the sights.

Fresh cod, haddock and langoustine come off the boats, and lamb and skyr are everyday food. Puffins nest on the cliffs from May to August, and in August children collect young birds that stray towards the town lights and release them at the shore. The Þjóðhátíð music festival fills a valley in early August. The weather is windy, damp and cool even in summer.