Reykir is the outermost former farm on the Reykjaströnd coast, now abandoned, with only limited modern use connected to tourism and seasonal activity. The landscape is open and exposed, shaped by coastal erosion, wind, and shallow soils. There is no permanent agricultural use today, and no attempt has been made to reconstruct the historical farmstead.

Grettislaug is located immediately below the former farm site, at sea level. The geothermal water emerges at bathing temperature rather than extreme heat, making the pool usable without mixing or cooling. This is not a geyser or high-energy geothermal site, but a stable, low-temperature outflow.

From a physical perspective, Grettislaug is a coastal micro-geothermal feature, dependent on shallow heat and consistent groundwater movement rather than deep volcanic systems.

The bathing area consists of two pools: Grettislaug and Jarlslaug. Both are man-made pools built around natural geothermal inflow. Their current form dates to late 20th-century reconstruction and stabilization, carried out to protect the pools from wave action and erosion.

The pools are enclosed by low stone and concrete edges. Facilities remain minimal and functional, reflecting the site’s exposure and limited carrying capacity. The presence of infrastructure is visible and should be understood as protective rather than decorative.

The shoreline location is central to the experience. Tides, wind, and weather directly affect conditions, reinforcing the site’s marginal character.

Grettislaug’s cultural significance comes from its association with Grettir Ásmundarson and Grettis saga. According to the saga tradition, Grettir used a warm pool on the mainland while living as an outlaw on Drangey. This association is narrative, not archaeological.

What matters is geographical plausibility rather than proof. Drangey is clearly visible from Reykir, and the spatial relationship between island and shore is direct and legible. The landscape allows the saga to be placed without distortion.

Reykir also includes a small harbor, historically used for local coastal access and now commonly associated with boat trips to Drangey. This reinforces the functional relationship between the shoreline and the island, independent of saga interpretation.

There is no permanent settlement here today. The site operates seasonally, and activity remains limited. Outside of summer, the area is largely empty, returning to its baseline state as exposed coast.

This absence is part of the site’s meaning. Grettislaug exists not within a living village, but within a landscape that has already transitioned beyond permanent habitation.

Grettislaug at Reykir is best understood as a precise alignment of elements: an abandoned outer-coast farm, a usable geothermal outflow, and a clearly visible saga location across the water. None of these elements dominates the others.

• Grettislaug is located at the abandoned farm Reykir on Reykjaströnd.
• The site includes two geothermal pools: Grettislaug and Jarlslaug.
• Water temperature is suitable for bathing, not extreme geothermal activity.
• The pools were rebuilt and stabilized in the late 20th century.
• Drangey is directly visible from the bathing site.