Skagafjörður is about 40 km long and 15 km wide. Sauðárkrókur is the biggest town of Skagafjörður municipality and the second largest town in the North Iceland where around 2600 of the municipalities approximately 4000 inhabitants live. The name of the town is drawn from the river Sauðá (Sheep river) and krókur (hook) i.e. Sheepriverhook. The town is also known under the name Krókurinn (the Hook). Sauðárkrókur is a centre for commerce and services with a hospital, health centre, primary and secondary school serving the North Western part of Iceland.
Culture
The cultural life of Sauðarkrókur is of high quality, for example a good drama society, music school and the regional archives of Skagafjörður – one of the best archives in the country. Many scholars who want to conduct their research in peaceful environment, seek sanctuary at the archives. The Holar University, one of Iceland’s 7 Universities, is located in Skagafjörður. The fjord also offers several museums and many exhibitions to examine e.g. the heritage museum, a woodworking workshop and a machine workshop to name but few.
Services
Sauðárkrókur provides a diversity of services, restaurants, accommodation, museums, camping facility and night spots to name a few. Hotel, guesthouses and all general services such as a post office, banks, shops restaurants, museums and camping facility to name but a few. The store Verslun Haraldur Júlíussonar on Aðalgata (Mainstreet) has been in business since 1919. The store is old fashioned and entering it brings you to another era. The store has been an important part of the town and its culture for decades. The store is old fashioned and reminds of old times.
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Sports
Krókurinn as the town is called in day-to-day conversation, is known as a sports town and there is a splendid new sports house, a horse riding hall, a swimming pool and skiing slopes on mountain Tindastóll with 1150 meter long ski lift in 15 km distance from the town. At Krókurinn you will find a 9 holes golf course, claimed by the locals to be one of the best courses in the country.
Industry
There are many types of industry to be found at Sauðárkrókur for example insulation factory, fur skinning factory, fishing industry, creamery, shrimp factory in addition to several small industrial businesses. Furthermore the town serves an important service center for the countryside surrounding it.
Surroundings
To the east of Sauðárkrókur is “Borgarsandur”, a four kilometer long beach where one can lose track of time, building sand castles and strolling along the beach. On the outskirts of town to the south, near Áshildarholtsvatn, you will find an abundance of divergent bird life. The area has signage to inform of the different species and varieties to be found there.
Above the town is a viewing platform that provides wonderful views of the old town, the countryside and out to the fjord. There you will also find allotments used by the towns’ people for their sheep, if you are here during spring time you can see the young lambs and foals. In the valley of Sauðá (sheep river) is Litli Skógur (little forest), which has wonderful little walkways through birch and beech trees and is a lovely place to have a picnic.
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Climate and weather
The climate in Iceland is typically temperate; moderated by North Atlantic Current (Gulf Stream) with mild, windy winters and damp, cool summers. The daytime temperatures for Sauðárkrókur have reached highs of around 13°C on average in July, with a night minimum temperature down to around 8°C. In recent years, the highest recorded temperature in July has been 25°C, with the lowest recorded temperature 2°C. Sauðárkrókur might offer the average of 7 sunny hours per day, although the month of July on average offers 5 fully days of fog. Being on the North Atlantic, the region is quite windy. – Further info on climate here.
Things to do in Sauðárkókur
Sports and recreation
Sundlaug Sauðárkóks/Sauðárkóks swimming pool. Next to the pool is a small mini golf course and a volleyball field.- Þreksport is the gym in town.
- Sauðárkrókur has a terrific 9 hole golf course. The golf course, Hlíðarendavöllur is open 10:00-22:00 during the summer time.
- Near to the course is a great walk/hike route (about 1,5 hour) to the mountain Molduxi above the town, the mountain is 706 meters high.
- All around town are friendly playgrounds for kids on all ages.
Restaurant/Bars
- Ólafshús restaurant is located in town centre.
- Kaffi Krókur restaurant and bar is is located in town centre.
- Hard Wok cafe is a Asian restaurant.
- Mælifell is the disco in town, which is located in the middle of the town.
Groceries
- Kaupfélag Skagfirðingar/KS is the main grocerie store in Sauðárkrókur, it is located south in town in a large white building. In KS you can basically by everything you need, all from groceries to clothes and yarn. KS is open Mon-Fri 9:00-19:00 and on Saturdays 10:00-16:00.
- Hlíðarkaup is a small groceries store located high up in town, it is open Mon-Sat 9:00-22:00 and Sundays 10:00-22:00.
- Sauðárkróks bakarí is very small and friendly bakery located in the middle of the town and the bakery is open during the summer time.
Other
- A small movie theater is located in the middle of the town
- Héraðsbókasafn Skagafjarðar/Skagafjarðar’s library is pretty big library and it is located in the middle of the town.
- Gestastofa Sútarans/The Tannery Visitor Centre is the only tannery in Europe which makes fishleather. It is open Mon-Fri 11:00-17:00 and Saturdays 11:00-15:00.
- Sea swimming!! (More info later)
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