Berserkjahraun

Berserkjahraun is a field of moss-covered lava on the northern side of Snaefellsnes, produced by several craters about four thousand years ago, and it takes its name from Eyrbyggja saga. In the story a farmer at Hraun is troubled by two Swedish berserkers, one of whom wants his daughter; he sets them the task of clearing a path through the lava, promises the match if they finish, and then kills them in a bath house when they do. A cleared track does run through the field, and a cairn beside it is pointed out as their grave. Road 558 follows the line of it, gravel and single track, with red craters visible to the south.

Highlights

• Moss over four thousand year old lava - from craters south of the road.
• A cleared path through the field - the one the saga describes.
• A cairn called their grave - beside the old track.
• Red craters behind - the sources of the flow.

When to go

May to September; road 558 is rough and unmaintained in winter. One to two hours.

What to expect

The moss is fragile and footprints in it last years, so walking off the track does lasting damage. Road 558 is narrow gravel with blind rises. There are no facilities and few places to pull over safely.

Nearby

Stykkisholmur is east; Grundarfjordur and Kirkjufell are west.

Key facts