Sæból is just a short walk from the sea. Above the village, the mountain valley of Skáladalur stretches to the west-southwest; the cliffs of Hnísur at the outer edge of the mouth of Skáladalur are clearly visible from Sæból. The protected concrete church, historic sites, and hiking trails offer different focal points for a stay. When planning your visit, it is worth considering historic destinations and the conditions on each trail separately.

Sæbólskirkja and its history

Sæbólskirkja is a protected concrete church dating from 1929 and was consecrated on September 29 of that same year. It was designed by Guðjón Samúelsson, architect and State Architect, and is among his early church designs. The year of construction and the consecration therefore fall in the same year, while its association with Samúelsson’s early work offers further architectural-historical context.

The church’s collection includes a silver chalice and paten, both made in Denmark in 1736. These liturgical objects are therefore 193 years older than the church building and point to an earlier period in the church’s history.

Farm history and archaeological traces

Sæból is considered very likely to have been a settlement-era farm; the farm’s original name may have been Ingjaldssandur. Until 1939, three interconnected buildings stood in a continuous row on the historic farmstead. At Sæból’s historic cemetery, a memorial stone commemorates the former church site and those buried there; the site should be understood as both a church and a cemetery.

West of Sæból, protected remains known as Íngjalds-dysjar lie on Mount Barði. East of the village are old enclosures called Akrar, which are among the protected archaeological remains. Near Skáladal, the burial mound known as Ingjaldshaugur is still visible; it lies on the route from the mountain ridge via Purka. The names and compass directions help distinguish these different historic sites.

Coast, valley and hikes

Sæból’s landholding includes an approximately 11-kilometre stretch of coastline, from Þúfa west of Nesdal to Reyðarskeri below Hrafnaskálarnúpur. Large sections are difficult to traverse, especially the shores beneath Barði and Hrafnaskálarnúpur. If you are planning a coastal hike, take these difficult sections into account: the village’s proximity to the sea does not mean the entire coastline is equally accessible.

One hike leads from Sæbólskirkja to Sandvík and then back to Sæból. There is also a short hiking trail from Sæból into the small valley of Skáladalur. The destinations differ: the first hike goes to Sandvík and back, while the second focuses on the valley.

A historical route description identifies the footpath from Nesdal over the mountain between Búðarhorn and Loðnuhvilftir and onward through Skáladal to Sæból as the shortest walking route. If you are unfamiliar with the area, choose this route only in clear weather: rough terrain, fog, or bad weather can make navigation difficult. Before hiking to Skáladalur or following this historic route, check the current trail conditions.

Discover more destinations: Ísafjörður, Súðavík, Patreksfjördur, Hnífsdalur, Suðureyri, Kirkjuból, Bolungarvík, Tálknafjörður.

For the broader travel overview: Westfjords.