Is there a better way to spend a Saturday in Iceland than to drive around the Snæfellsnes peninsula in a day? Probably not if you are a lazy nature lover because the peninsula has some of the best that Iceland has to offer all gathered, quite comfortably, in one area.
That’s at least the argument my brother put forth when he convinced me to join him and our cousin on a brief road-trip around Snæfellsnes. Although I love to explore nature, that day I was feeling very lazy and needed some convincing. I am so happy I went because Snæfellsnes was so much fun to explore and didn’t require a lot of walking.
The Mystery at Rauðfeldsgjá
Our first stop of the day was Rauðafeldsgjá, a ravine we found somewhat randomly while driving around the peninsula.
We saw a bunch of cars and a bus parked at a gravel parking lot and loads of people walking toward the mountain. Some then seemed to disappear into it. Curious as to what was going on, we of course stopped to check it out.
We quickly learned that we were at Rauðfeldsgjá. A beautifully tall, narrow ravine in the cliffs of the south of the glacier Snæfellsjökull. As we walked up to the ravine, we discovered that there was a “secret” path to a secluded mossy grotto within the rock itself. Turns out that was where people were “disappearing” to.
Fascinating history and serenity at Arnarstapi
Unlike the first, the second was definitely planned. There were two attractions that my brother really wanted to show my cousin and I. The first was a rather large statue of Bárður Snæfellsás, made by one of Iceland’s most renowned sculptors. The second was a cliff that faced the sea that had stunning rock formation we simply had to see. Both were located at Arnarstapi, a small fishing village at the foot of Mount Stapafell, between Hellnar and the Breiðuvík farms.
The statue of Bárður was a sight to behold as it is made from a collection of carefully selected rocks piled and glued on top of each other. It is of the legendary half-man, half-troll, Bárður Snæfellsás, who is the main character in the late Icelandic saga Bárðar saga Snæfellsáss.
The cliffs by the village were equally stunning to behold. Walking towards the cliffs, you see black and greyish rocks meet the green grass. The sound of waves breaking at the bottom of the cliffs filled the air. It was quite serene to simply take a seat nearby and enjoy the view.
More rock formations at Hellnar
Hellnar is one of the oldest fishing villages in Iceland, located close to Arnarstapi on the westernmost part of the Snæfellsnes peninsula. Along the shore of this cute little village we saw beautiful rock formations, one of which a cliff called Valasnös.
Composed of black and white polished rocks, Valasnös reaches across the ocean front and into the sea. Tunnelling into it is a beautiful cave known as Baðstofa. Walking over to see it is a bit trick, but worth it. The reward is a a closer look at Baðstofa cave, which is famous for displaying changing colours as the sun and sea reflect off its walls.
Black sands at Djúpalónssandur
Djúpalónssandur is a black sand beach and bay situated at the foot of Snæfellsjökull. Once home to one of the most prolific fishing villages on the peninsula, today the area remains uninhabited.
Along the beach we could see the remains of the Grimsby fishing trawler, which shipwrecked at Djúpalónssandur in 1948. Much of the metal was heavily rusted to a deep orange, brown colour. We also saw the iconic lifting stones at the beach. Stones that fisherman once used to test their strength, but now are lovely entertainment for visitors to try lifting for fun.
Close to Djúpalónssandur is also a beautiful lagoon known as Djúpalón, which is where the beach derives its name from. It is a quick 2 minute walk from the beach and a serene place to sit on the grass by the lagoon and relax.
Stairway to Heaven at Saxhóll
Saxhóll is a 40 meter high, oval shaped crater on the western part of Snæfellsnes. It is located roughly 9 km south of Hellisandur, rising up from the moss covered fields in Snæfellsjökull National Park.
When we drove toward the parking lot situated at the base of the crater, we saw an orange, brown stairway. It seemed to lead up to the sky. Upon walking it, we discovered it led to the crater’s peak where a stunning view of the Snæfellsnes peninsula awaited us.
Kirkjufell, a.k.a. The Game of Thrones Mountain
Although Kirkjufell was popular among nature lovers before Game of Thrones, the historical-fantasy series definitely helped boost its popularity to new heights.
The Game of Thrones mountain is located in Grundarfjörður and has a lovely walking trail around it. It is also possible to climb to the top of the mountain and so many did while my brother and cousin and I were there. I mean, we didn’t but more energetic nature lovers did and they said nothing but great things. My brother and cousin and I did, however, enjoy the view from outside are car and walk around it a bit. Just as great in my very biased opinion.
The lovely Stykkishólmur
Situated in the northern part of the Snæfellsnes peninsula, Stykkishólmur is a beautiful Icelandic town with well-preserved old houses in the town centre. The town also boasts some accommodation and restaurant options.
My favourite place to grab a bite in Stykkishólmur is, without a doubt, Meistarinn Pylsuvagninn. A hot dog vendor located across the street from the town’s police station. Some might argue they have the best hot dogs in Iceland. Some is definitely my brother and I.
Given the topic of the article, there is of course something awesome to enjoy for the lazy nature lover. At the edge of the town harbour, near the centre, there is a hill. We walked up the hill and were greeted with a beautiful view over the surrounding islands and the town.
That’s all folks
That concludes a day at Snæfellsnes as a lazy nature lover. We left our hometown of Þorlákshöfn at around 11am, and arrived back home around 9-10pm. Almost a 12-hour day trip around the peninsula with a decent amount of walking, though nothing a lazy potato can’t handle. Definitely a 10/10 experience.