Drangey
A sheer tuff island in Skagafjordur where Grettir the Strong spent his last years as an outlaw.
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Drangey stands alone in Skagafjordur, a flat-topped block of tuff about 180 metres high with vertical sides on every face, and it is best known through Grettis saga: Grettir Asmundarson, outlawed and hunted, lived on the island for his last three years with his brother, hauling supplies up the cliff, and was killed there. The island was used for centuries for catching seabirds and gathering eggs, work done on ropes down the faces. Boats run in summer and the landing leads to a steep climbing route with chains and ladders to the flat top, where puffins and guillemots nest around the edges.
What you actually see
- A tuff block with vertical sides - about 180 metres, flat on top.
- Grettir's last refuge - the outlaw of Grettis saga lived and died here.
- A tradition of rope work - centuries of birding and egging on the cliffs.
- Chains and ladders up - the only route to the summit.
When to go
June to August, while the boats run and the birds are nesting. Half a day.
Honest expectations
The climb is steep, exposed and not suitable for anyone uneasy with heights or ladders. Landings are cancelled for swell. There are no facilities on the island. Puffins leave in August and the cliffs empty quickly after that.
Nearby
Saudarkrokur is on the shore; the Grettislaug pool is at Reykir.
What to pack for Drangey
Chosen from what this place is for. Tap a kit for the full checklist.
Opening times, ticket prices and seasonal closures change - check the official source before you go: official site.
