Djupalonssandur

Djupalonssandur is a small bay on the south side of the Snaefellsnes tip, reached by a path that drops through eroded lava pinnacles to a beach of black pebbles polished round by the surf. Two things sit on the sand. One is a set of four lifting stones once used to test men for a place in fishing crews, ranging from a stone most people can shift to one of roughly 150 kilograms. The other is rusted wreckage from a British trawler that went aground here in 1948, left in place deliberately and protected, not to be moved. Behind the beach are freshwater pools and a rock arch.

History

Djúpalónssandur was once the site of a thriving fishing village, especially in the 18th and 19th centuries, and the nearby cove of Dritvík was one of Iceland's busiest fishing stations, with up to 60 boats at its height. Remains of the village and old fishing gear can still be found, along with the wreckage of the British trawler Epine GY7, which ran aground in 1948 (Wikipedia, Djúpalónssandur).

What's there

• The lifting stones - four graded boulders once used to test fishermen's strength.
• The trawler wreckage - rusted iron scattered on the sand, left in place and protected.
• The black pearls - the smooth rounded pebbles the beach is made of.
• The lava pinnacles - eroded rock forms flanking the path down into the cove.

When to go

Summer for the safest footing on the path and the best chance of calm sea. Mornings are quieter. Avoid the beach entirely in heavy swell, since waves here run up the shingle without warning and the shelf is steep. Winter visits are possible but the descent path ices over and is not gritted.

Practical notes

The path down is steep and uneven, and the climb back is harder than it looks. Waves are dangerous and there are no barriers or lifeguards. Removing pebbles or touching the wreckage is prohibited. The car park is small and fills quickly in the middle of the day.

Nearby

The rest of Snaefellsjokull National Park surrounds the bay, with Hellissandur to the north.

Key facts