About place

Skáleyjar are a group of 160 small islands among the many hundreds of islands in Breiðafjörður bay. They are not far further inland from Flatey, which is the island stopped at by the Baldur ferry. Skáleyjar used to be inhabited – once being home to as many as five farms spread across the islands. Despite the obvious challenges of farming on small islands, the land was considered particularly good and was highly valued centuries ago. It is likely the islands were first inhabited not long afterIcelandwas settled, but nobody lives there these days. Artefacts of past residents are still in evidence – as are eider ducks and many other birds.