The Hilltop House by Hvammsvik Hot Springs

The Hilltop House is part of Hvammsvik Nature Resort & Hot Springs, a gated 1200 acre estate along the coast enjoying spectacular nature and views, only 45 min away from Reykjavik. It's a magical place where you become one with nature in a rustic yet luxurious lodge with top quality furniture and art and your own hot spring, fishing lake and close to many great sights like the Golden Circle, Glymur waterfall & hiking paths. On site you will find the renowned Hvammsvík Hot Springs, Bistro & Bar. The space The Hilltop House is a truly unique property at the Hvammsvik Nature Resort & Hot Springs, it has an exceptional 360-degree panoramic views sitting on a hill overlooking the Whale Fjord Bay and mountain ridge on both sides of the fjord. Apart from the spectacular natural setting, what makes The Hilltop House one of a kind is the completely private natural hot spring hidden in the landscape right next to the house along with another shared geothermal hot spring at the edge of the ocean. Even if it’s only 45 minutes from Reykjavik, it is very private and you truly feel one with nature as you enjoy the spectacular views or walking around the estate. You will also find the newly opened public Hot Springs on the estate where you can enjoy eight hot springs that linger on the edge of the ocean. At the hot springs you can also enjoy great small dishes and a delicious fish soup from our Bistro. Please note admission to the public hot springs is not included with the stay and must be booked separately in advance on our website. There is a 10-year age limit to the public hot springs for health and safety reasons. The Hilltop House was originally built by the British Navy as their communication headquarters in Iceland during WWII and was completely renovated in 2019 and today includes art by many of Iceland's leading contemporary and modern artists, design furniture and interiors of the highest standards. During renovation respect was kept for the history of the house while at the same time meeting all modern requirements, the final design being contemporary rustic showing a lot of originality, combining art, good design and nature. When Churchill came to Iceland in 1942 to meet with FD Roosevelt Junior they sailed into the Whale Fjord and had secret meetings at The Hilltop House which was code named Falcon Crest. The house has 3 bedrooms and two full bathrooms, including an en-suite Master Bedroom. The second bedroom has a queen size bed and a TV/apple TV/Netflix. The third bedroom has two bunk beds. Every room enjoys spectacular views over the bay and mountains. The kitchen is in an open space shared with the living room and dining area. The outdoor area around the lodge includes two terraces, one with glass roof, a large BBQ, fireplace with seats around it and the "hidden" geothermal hot spring, one of the best places to view the northern lights in wintertime. Hvammsvik Estate consists of several old farm buildings and a large barn that have all been renovated to meet all modern needs while keeping the integrity and rustic charm of its origin. One of the unique elements of Hvammsvik Estate is that it is entirely self-sufficient both for its hot and cold water sourced within the estate. There is a shared geothermal hot spring at the oceans edge which is available to our guests and the same well provides all the hot water for the property. Another unique part of the property is a private lake where guests are welcome to fish for rainbow trout which we highly recommend you put on the grill. Nothing beats enjoying a fresh catch in the midnight sun! There are over 30 different types of birds in and around Hvammsvik. Wild sheep roam around and if you are lucky, you can spot the Arctic Fox roaming around at night. The Arctic Fox is a small and completely harmless Fox that changes colors with the seasons. There are also a lot of mussels around the islands on the property that are accessible in low tide and are delicious to cook when appropriate. Hvammsvik Estate is a historical landmark that was first discovered by the Vikings 1000 years ago as is recorded in Landnáma, the Icelandic book of settlers dating back to the 11th century. No wonder they choose Hvammur given its incredible landscape, natural harbour, geothermal hot spring and wildlife. The Vikings are not the only ones who fell for the natural beauty of Hvammur. Several scenes in Game of Thrones where also shot on the property highlighting the incredible landscape all around the Fjord. During World War II Hvammur Farm was taken over by the allied forces as their Naval Headquarters in Iceland. At its peak there where almost 40.000 soldiers in Whale Fjord and over 200 ships. During the War Hvammsvik was code named "Falcon Crest" and "Falcon Beach" in order not to reveal its true location. Along with Icelandic tradition Hvammsvik has its share of Trolls and Elf stories. Many who are said to be residing in famous rocks and the hillsides of the property. One of the best know Elf "castle" in Iceland is "Steðji" or Staupasteinn. There is also said to be an Elf Church and Elf Queen residing in the hill side right next to the Lodges so don’t be surprised if you witness outer worldly creatures of all sizes at dawn. Guest access The house is entirely private for our guests. Our guests are welcome to explore around the entire Estate and its surroundings. You can even walk onto Hvammshofdi an island connected to the land in low tide. Just be careful not to get caught by the high tide as you might become Robinson Crusoe for 6 hours until the low tide allows you access back to shore again :) There is also a small lake on the property full of rainbow trout that you are welcome to fish and enjoy. On site guests will find Stormur Bistro & Bar as well as Hvammsvik Hot Springs, a unique experience consisting of eight hot springs of various sizes and tempratures located right by the ocean on the east part of the estate. Other things to note There are twelve houses/lodges on the property, The Hilltop House, The Farm House, The Club House, The Lake House and our Artist Lodges as well as The Barn which is a shared space for our guests to enjoy. The Estate is open and we encourage everybody to simply walk around and explore as one of Iceland's signatures is the ever changing landscape given the extreme elements of our nature. We also highly recommend that our guests visit the recently opened Hvammsvik Hot Springs on the estate where you can enjoy eight hot springs that linger on the edge of the ocean. At the hot springs you can also enjoy great small dishes and a delicious fish soup from our bistro, Stormur. Registration Details LG-REK-014775