คู่มือท่องเที่ยว Vindheimamelar Horse Show Grounds

Riders on the track at Vindheimamelar

Vindheimamelar is a horse show ground and race track in Skagafjörður, North Iceland, about 7 km south of the village of Varmahlíð.

The name means "the gravel flats of Vindheimar", the farm whose land the grounds stand on; melar are the flat, gravelly terraces that line many Icelandic river valleys.

Since 1969 this has been one of the main venues of Icelandic horsemanship, and it has hosted the national horse festival, Landsmót hestamanna, more often than almost anywhere else in the country.

Key Takeaways About Vindheimamelar

• Gravel race track and show ground laid out in 1969 by the riding clubs Stígandi and Léttfeti on the land of the farm Vindheimar.
• Hosted the national horse festival Landsmót six times: 1974, 1982, 1990, 2002, 2006 and 2011.
• About 7 km south of Varmahlíð on Route 752; roughly 290 km (3.5 to 4 hours) from Reykjavík on paved roads, no 4x4 needed.
• Reykjafoss waterfall and the Fosslaug hot pool are about 1 km away on the Svartá river.
• Free to look around outside events; local stables run riding tours on the track and surrounding flats.

Why visit Vindheimamelar

Skagafjörður calls itself the horse district of Iceland, and Vindheimamelar is where that reputation is put on display.

The riding clubs Stígandi and Léttfeti laid out a gravel race track here in 1969, replacing an older meeting place on the river banks at Vallabakkar in Vallhólmur.

Facilities have been built up since then, and the grounds now host district meets, regional (quarter) championships and the biennial Landsmót.

Icelandic horse on the Vindheimamelar track

Landsmót hestamanna has been held at Vindheimamelar six times: 1974, 1982, 1990, 2002, 2006 and 2011.

The 2006 festival drew around 1,000 horses and 12,000 guests, and the organisers describe Landsmót as the biggest event in the world devoted to the Icelandic horse.

Breeding classes, gæðingakeppni (riding-horse competition), tölt and pace racing all take place on the oval track and show fields here.

The setting is as much of a draw as the sport. The grounds sit at the north end of Reykjatunga, the tongue of land in Tungusveit, with the river Svartá running along their western edge. Just past the grounds the Svartá changes its name to Húseyjarkvísl.

About a kilometre upstream the river drops over Reykjafoss, and just above the falls is Fosslaug, a small stone-built pool fed by a hot spring. North of the grounds the flat sediment plain of Vallhólmur opens out, with the lone hill Skiphóll rising from it; one explanation of the name is that it looks like an upturned boat.

Outside of festival weeks, Vindheimamelar is a working riding venue. Local operators use the track and the surrounding gravel flats and river meadows for riding lessons and tours, so even on a quiet day you are likely to see Icelandic horses being schooled on the oval.

How to get to Vindheimamelar

Vindheimamelar lies roughly 290 km from Reykjavík, about 3.5 to 4 hours of driving. Follow Route 1 (the Ring Road) north and east to Varmahlíð in Skagafjörður.

From Varmahlíð, take Route 752 (Skagafjarðarvegur) south into Tungusveit for around 7 km; the grounds are on the east side of the Svartá river and are signposted. Sauðárkrókur, the largest town in Skagafjörður, is about 30 km to the north, and Akureyri about 100 km to the east.

Riding on the Vindheimamelar flats

The roads are paved as far as Varmahlíð and open all year, though winter storms can close the Ring Road over the heaths on either side of Skagafjörður. Route 752 is a quiet rural road. There is ample gravel parking at the grounds, and during Landsmót the area around the track becomes a large campsite with parking fields.

The grounds are flat and everything is within a short walk of the car park. No 4x4 is needed.

Best time to visit

Summer, from June to August, is the season for horse events, and the grounds are busiest during Landsmót, which is held in late June or early July every other year (it rotates between venues, so check the Landsmót programme for the current year).

Riding tours from Varmahlíð run from roughly May to September, with the best weather and the longest days in June and July.

In autumn the Skagafjörður horse round-ups, including the famous Laufskálarétt round-up pen in Hjaltadalur, draw thousands of people to the district, and local stables use the melar for schooling. In winter the grounds are quiet, and a visit only really makes sense as part of a trip to Reykjafoss and Fosslaug.

Safety and practical tips

• There is no entrance fee outside of ticketed events. Landsmót is ticketed; check the programme on landsmot.is for prices and passes.
• The grounds are open land with few services outside events. Varmahlíð, 7 km north, has a shop, a swimming pool, a hotel, a restaurant and a tourist information centre.
• Weather in Skagafjörður changes quickly. Bring a windproof layer even in July; the gravel flats are exposed.
• Do not walk onto the track or into fields where horses are being ridden or shown. Keep dogs on a lead and away from horses.
• If you combine the visit with Fosslaug hot pool, remember it is a simple spring-fed pool on private farmland with no facilities: change discreetly, take all rubbish with you, and mind the slippery rocks near Reykjafoss.
• Riding tours for experienced riders that use the grounds require a confident seat: expect to ride at tölt and in open country.