Walking & Wayfinding in the Westfjords

Walking & Wayfinding in the Westfjords Guidebooks x 3 + Map to the HEART of the Westfjords of ICELAND
× Written/visual storytelling
× Ceremony
× Foraging
× Photography
× Ecology
× Walking
× Water

We are currently focused on production of a creative guide to the Westfjords region of Iceland. Our materials invite the reader to find their way through the Westfjords, or to 'wayfind' using the practices of: wild-walking and camping, foraging, storytelling, ceremony & ritual, creative response and engagement with the region’s cultural ecology. The foundation for this book lies in a decade of tra

vel and study in Iceland and six years’ work leading walking artist residencies and volunteer conservation camps throughout the region. While facilitating the self-exploration and creative expression of our participants, we have also been able to identify the Westfjords’ best trails, natural features and cultural highlights.

x'Sing yourself to where the singing comes from' - Seamus Heaney, from AT THE WELLHEAD
09/10/2025

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'Sing yourself to where the singing comes from'
- Seamus Heaney, from AT THE WELLHEAD

xLandscapes roll like sea boulders rumbling in the waves and we walk eyeing the inevitable dissolution of colour, holdin...
05/10/2025

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Landscapes roll like sea boulders rumbling in the waves and we walk eyeing the inevitable dissolution of colour, holding it in hands, capturing it for the pot.





xSome impressions from the fjords in autumnal dress. Shot 2: Rosa, hound of and . Known her since a pup, she nuzzles up...
04/10/2025

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Some impressions from the fjords in autumnal dress.

Shot 2: Rosa, hound of and . Known her since a pup, she nuzzles up whenever I visit. Now 14 and arthritic, she sits out the sheep round-ups, which are ongoing and more and more supported by drones instead of dogs 🙈




Another one of my favorite hiking routes in the southern Westfjords departs from Rauðisandur and travels to Haukaberg. I...
06/12/2024

Another one of my favorite hiking routes in the southern Westfjords departs from Rauðisandur and travels to Haukaberg. In 2017, we spent nine days repairing cairns along this route with volunteers. Fog and clouds danced with us for days at a time, making it difficult to discern between reality and myth or to know which century it was.

Water was abundant in the air and also underfoot. Streams abound. Hidden waterfalls await those who venture into the nooks and crannies of Sandsheiði and the surrounding mountains. In places, the rocks of the ground seem hollow without the frozen substrate of ice. Lakes reward those looking for a fresh swim or deep drink from the mountain.

~~~
Images and text in images are from 𝘕𝘰𝘵𝘦𝘴 𝘰𝘯 𝘞𝘢𝘭𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘞𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘧𝘫𝘰𝘳𝘥𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘐𝘤𝘦𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘥, a hiking guide to the Westfjords with 23 route descriptions (many include elevation profiles). Comes with a foldout waterproof map as part of 𝘞𝘢𝘭𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 & 𝘞𝘢𝘺𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘞𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘧𝘫𝘰𝘳𝘥𝘴.
xyz

xBolafjall Drystone Wall, July/August 2024. This drystone construction, made in collaboration with/under the tutelage of...
26/11/2024

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Bolafjall Drystone Wall, July/August 2024. 

This drystone construction, made in collaboration with/under the tutelage of Unnsteinn Eliasson shifted the parameters of what I thought was possible; it was the most physically demanding job I've ever done, and, at times, psychologically tortuous. Over the coming days, I'll be sharing a few steps and reflections from the project. 









XSome fabulous news, , our editor, who did a wonderful job polishing all our Wayfinding texts, has recently launched his...
04/07/2024

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Some fabulous news, , our editor, who did a wonderful job polishing all our Wayfinding texts, has recently launched his very own Kickstarter!

Theo’s a poet-musician and over the past couple of years has written and produced his debut album, The Lore of Falling Bodies. I’ve had the pleasure of listening to the whole album and really loved it. It has a lot of moving parts, multi-layered, multi-instrumental and is woven with Theo’s poetics and resonant voice.

Like Wayfinding, it’s a song of the land, though this one’s set on the south coast of the British Isles. You can listen to a full track from the album here.  

Please back him, and share through your networks. 
Link is available through our bio.

Thank you! 





Deb Todd Wheeler joined me in Iceland a few years ago for one of walking artist residencies. She blew the group open wit...
20/05/2024

Deb Todd Wheeler joined me in Iceland a few years ago for one of walking artist residencies. She blew the group open with her wildness!

And I met Adam Skerrett at Martin Shaw's Westcountry School of Story & Myth—his poetry and approach to walking old myth-lines in the UK landscape struck a chord.

Both are presenting as part of the next World Trails Network 'Artists Talking Walking Seminar Series', Fri 24th, 4PM GMT.

Deb will talk about a grief ritual that ended with production of a gorgeous audio book & community project.

Adam will present his Mythwalker work, also becoming a book sharing his findings in search of the UK's old myths and songs.

It's open to all, so if you fancy hearing about some beautiful walking artwork, join! Access zoom link here: https://worldtrailsnetwork.org/walking-artists/

Ali Pretty
Deb Todd Wheeler
Adam Skerrett

It feels like a lie to say we 𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐟-published these books because we didn’t do it alone... It came from years of walking ...
17/11/2023

It feels like a lie to say we 𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐟-published these books because we didn’t do it alone... It came from years of walking with groups in the mountains and getting to know other trail projects around the world. It was a whole international team supported by family, friends, and hundreds of backers who pre-ordered books. Is 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲-𝐩𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐝 a thing? Can we make more art like this?
I’m thinking of the community around these books because we could use some help in the form of product reviews. If you can write a short review letting others know your thoughts, please do via 𝐰𝐚𝐲𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠.𝐠𝐮𝐢𝐝𝐞/𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰. As someone who always checks for reviews before buying online, I know these will be important for helping potential readers get to know the guidebook collection. In exchange, I’m happy to offer reviewers a discount code if they want to make gift purchases or help share these books with a friend.
Thank you ✌🏻
- juniper

17/11/2023

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Our Story

Following a decade of travel and study in Iceland, and through six years’ work leading multi-day bespoke adventures, walking artist residencies and volunteer conservation camps, we are now focused on the production of a creative guidebook to the region.

It’s our way of extending the invitation that we’ve generously received over the years, from both the land/sea and the many people living throughout the region.

Our written materials invite the reader to find their way through the Westfjords, or to wayfind using the practices of: wild-walking and camping, foraging, storytelling, ceremony & ritual, creative response and engagement with the region’s cultural ecology.

In stark contrast to Icelandic ring-road-style tourism, our guide’s deep conservation ethic inspires connection to the region’s unique ecology from a perspective of intimate reverence.