FARM LIFE

Skálakot

Hvolsvöllur - Iceland

At Skálakot, Iceland seems to arrive on horseback. Under Eyjafjallajökull, a seventh-generation farm turns the South Coast into something personal, warm and a little wild.

Restaurant

Wellness

Horse Rides

Massage

Outdoor Fireplace

Hike

THE SETTING

Skálakot Manor Hotel sits on a family farm in South Iceland, near Hvolsvöllur and Ásólfsskáli, below the Eyjafjallajökull volcano-glacier. This is one of Iceland’s most dramatic stretches: black-sand beaches, waterfalls, glaciers, volcanic slopes, wide fields, weather moving fast across the sky, and the North Atlantic never far away. Reykjavík feels distant after the first hour on the road, and the landscape keeps getting stronger as the South Coast opens.

The hotel stands between mountains and sea, with horses in the fields and the old farm still active. It feels polished, but never detached from the land. The place has warmth, confidence and a strong sense of Icelandic family life behind the hotel experience.

THE ROOMS

Skálakot has 14 rooms. The rooms vary in size, view and character. Still, they share the same mood: country-house comfort, Art Deco references, soft colours, wood floors, patterned wallpapers, heavy curtains, warm lighting and a feeling of shelter after a day outside.

Some rooms face the mountains. Others look towards the lowlands, the coast or the Westman Islands on clear days. Several upper rooms have balconies, and the larger suites add more space for longer stays or families. The Master Suite is the most complete version of the house, with a freestanding bathtub, fireplace and wide views from the top floor. The Mini Suite works well for families, with a separate living area and room for extra beds.

The landscape outside is raw; the rooms give the opposite sensation — warmth, fabric, lamp light, a real bed, a bath, quiet.

THE FOOD

Breakfast is served in the hotel restaurant and feels made for days that may begin early. Expect Icelandic and local ingredients: bread, eggs, fruit, dairy, fish, warm dishes, and the kind of breakfast that makes sense before riding, walking, driving the coast, or heading towards a glacier.

The restaurant continues through the day with lunch, dinner and refreshments for hotel guests and visitors. The cooking is rooted in Icelandic produce: fish, lamb, seasonal vegetables, local flavours and hearty dishes shaped for people coming in from the weather.

In summer, the terrace can host barbecues and longer evenings outside. In winter, the restaurant becomes an even stronger reason to stay in, especially when the light disappears early, and the hotel glows against the dark fields.

THE STAY

Horses are the centre of Skálakot. The family has bred Icelandic horses here for generations, and riding is the most natural way to understand the place. The tours start from the farm and move through the surrounding land: towards Írárfoss waterfall, into the Eyjafjöll mountains, across open lowland, along lakes and, for experienced riders, towards the black-sand beach.

Beginners can take shorter rides with guides. Stronger riders can go further, faster and deeper into the landscape. The experience is very different from adding a riding excursion to a hotel stay. Here the horses belong to the farm, and the farm belongs to the family.

The spa sits in a separate small building, with a sauna, hot pool and treatment rooms. It is exactly what you want after being outside in South Iceland: heat, water, steam, quiet, and a body that finally stops bracing against the wind.

There is also a lounge for coffee, cake, reading or a drink after dinner. The hotel can help arrange glacier walks, snowmobiling, fishing, hiking, canoeing, ATV tours, helicopter trips and other South Coast experiences.

AROUND SKÁLAKOT

Skálakot is well placed for the classic South Coast, while keeping guests away from the most anonymous roadside-hotel feeling.

Seljalandsfoss is close and remains one of Iceland’s essential waterfalls, with a path that lets visitors walk behind the falling water when conditions are safe. Nearby Gljúfrabúi feels more tucked away, hidden behind rock and mist. Skógafoss is also close, broad and powerful, with steps leading up to the viewpoint and a route that continues into the hills. Kvernufoss, nearby, gives a quieter waterfall stop when the main sites feel busy.

Further east, Reynisfjara (the world-famous beach) brings volcanic black sand, basalt columns and the heavy Atlantic power that makes it so beautiful and so dangerous. Dyrhólaey has cliffs, sea arches, birdlife and wide views along the coast. Vík offers food, services, and one of Iceland’s most recognisable landscapes.

The area is full of famous places, but Skálakot’s real gift is the return. After the waterfall spray, black sand, wind and road, the farm feels wonderfully human.

THE OWNERS

Skálakot is run by Guðmundur “Mummi” and Jóhanna. They are part of the seventh generation connected to this farm, and their life here still centres on Icelandic horses, hospitality, and the land below Eyjafjallajökull. They took over the farm in 1985 and gradually developed it into the manor hotel guests find today.

Their story gives the hotel its depth. Skálakot is not a boutique hotel placed beside a farm for atmosphere. It grew from the farm itself: the horses, the family house, the land, the riding routes, the knowledge of weather, animals and guests.

The manor hotel is now refined and comfortable, but the emotional centre remains clear. Skálakot is still a family farm first.

GOOD TO KNOW

The hotel has 14 rooms and suites. Facilities include a restaurant, lounge, terrace, horse stables, riding tours, small spa building, sauna, hot pool, treatment rooms and free on-site parking.

Breakfast is served each morning. The restaurant also serves lunch, dinner and refreshments, with Icelandic and local ingredients. Horseback riding is a major part of the stay. Other activities can include glacier walks, snowmobiling, ATV tours, hiking, fishing, canoeing, helicopter tours and private guiding.

Children are welcome. The Mini Suite is the easiest room category for families. Pets are not accepted.

Keflavík International Airport is usually around 2.5 to 3 hours away, depending on road and weather conditions.

Prices vary strongly by season and room type, starting from around €350 per night.

THE ADDRESS

Skálakot

Skálakot
861 Hvolsvöllur
Iceland

FARM LIFE

Skálakot

Restaurant

Wellness

Horse Rides

Massage

Outdoor Fireplace

Hike

THE SETTING

THE ROOMS

THE FOOD

THE STAY

AROUND SKÁLAKOT

THE OWNERS

GOOD TO KNOW

THE ADDRESS

Skálakot

FARM LIFE STAYS

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Ostí Vedl

Corte Pravecchio

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