Garður
Those who have been to Gerðahreppur county say there is no better place on earth to understand the enormity of the ocean than at Garðskagatá, the narrow strip of land, bordered by the Faxaflói bay on one side and the Atlantic Ocean on the other. This open field is unsheltered by any mountains and the view across the water is panoramic and of great beauty. The old lighthouse at Garðskagatá was built in 1897.
Garður (The name means Garden) is one of few counties to be proud of their lighthouses. The old lighthouse has served more than fishermen and sailors, as it has been a popular bird watching hideout for many years. In the spring, many thousands of migrating birds settle in the south and west of the area to rest for a few days before spreading out all over the country.
The old fishing grounds just outside the shore were the reason the settlement here came to be and in earlier times the number of ships being outfitted at the Útskálasókn outfitters here was around 200 a year. Many people are surprised to find the clearest evidence of agriculture in Iceland here, in the ancient settlement of Útskáli. This garden is what gave the county it´s local name of Garður.
Travellers enjoying the outdoors will find all they could want in Gerðahreppur, with breathtaking, broad scenery, excellent birdwatching and the golf club Leira, among the best in the country. By the lighthouses there is a well-maintained and pretty campsite and in Garður there are restaurants, campsites and all the usual traveller services.