The island of Flatey lives up to its name, flat and almost devoid of hills, its colourful cottages only inhabited during the summer months. The nutrient-rich waters along the coast support a healthy population of birds including Atlantic puffins, Arctic terns, eider ducks, red-necked phalaropes and snow buntings.

Patreksfjörður is the largest village in the southern part of the Westfjords, and was named after St Patrick of Ireland. From here it’s easy to visit attractions including the famous Látrabjarg cliffs, home to thousands of nesting seabirds, and the dramatic Dynjandi waterfall.

The spectacular Dynjandi waterfall is one of the highlights of Iceland’s Westfjords, cascading down for 100 metres into the bay. The waterfall is often likened to a bridal veil because of the way the water spreads out across the rocks, and the thundering noise of the falls is intense.

The little island of Vigur is a haven for seabirds during the summer months, when thousands of Atlantic puffins, Arctic terns and black guillemots gather here. The island is also home to a single family-owned sheep farm, a 200-year-old rowing boat and Iceland’s last surviving windmill, built in 1840.

This deep fjord cuts into the northern coast of Iceland, in a tranquil region known for its horse breeding; indeed, horses outnumber humans here! There are three islands in the fjord, including the steep-sided Drangey, home to large numbers of puffins, guillemots, auks and other seabirds.

Akureyri is Iceland’s second city, though with just 18,000 inhabitants it’s really more of a small town. Situated on the north coast at the head of Iceland’s largest fjord, it’s a cute and quirky place that also serves as a base from which to explore the bubbling mud pools and lunar landscapes around Lake Mývatn.

The remote island of Grímsey lies some 25 miles to the north of the Icelandic mainland, straddling the Arctic Circle. This weather-beaten place has a year-round population of just 60 people, and humans are far outnumbered by the thousands of seabirds that nest on the cliffs, including puffins and Arctic terns.

Seyðisfjörður is one of the highlights of Iceland’s Eastfjords, a cute collection of colourful houses at the head of a dramatic fjord. The backdrop of snowy mountains and cascading waterfalls makes this one of the most picturesque ports in Iceland, and the town is surprisingly cosmopolitan.

Heimaey is the largest of the Westman Islands, just off the south west coast of the Icelandic mainland. The jagged landscape is a reminder of the island’s volcanic origins; the most recent eruption, back in 1973, created the volcano now known as Eldfell, which looms over the island.