Tjaldsvæðið Systragil

Getting out and about into the gorgeous scenery of northern Iceland is easy here: marked hiking trails run through the Vaglaskógur Forest (a short hop across the road) and up into the hills behind the site. A couple of golf courses are within a half-hour drive, and there are fab geothermal swimming pools at Stórutjarnir and Illugastaðir, both of which are less than 15 minutes away. Horse riding, rafting and rather chilly days of scuba diving are other options in the area. Akureyri (15 minutes away by car) is more than just a handy hub – it’s worth spending time here visiting the museums, botanical gardens and cathedral, and heading to the harbour to join wildlife-spotting boat tours. For the big beasts, take the 45-minute drive to Húsavík instead; the town’s got a rep as the country’s best place for whale watching. Other popular visits nearby include the spectacular Goðafoss Waterfall (20 minutes’ drive), the ancient turf houses at Laufás (25 minutes) and the volcanic hot springs around Lake Mývatn (an hour).