Eystrahorn

Eystrahorn rises above the Hvalnes headland east of Hofn, a jagged ridge of gabbro and granophyre that is close to black and holds snow in its gullies well into summer. It is the eastern counterpart of Vestrahorn at Stokksnes, made of the same intrusive rock from an old volcanic centre, and it has none of the infrastructure: no gate, no fee, no cafe, just a lighthouse, a black shingle beach and the mountain behind. The beach here is dark stone rather than sand, and the lagoon behind it holds birds. Route 1 passes directly below, so the view costs nothing but a stop.

Highlights

• A near-black gabbro ridge - intrusive rock from an old volcanic centre.
• No gate and no fee - unlike Vestrahorn at Stokksnes.
• A shingle beach and lighthouse - the foreground at Hvalnes.
• A lagoon behind the bar - bird habitat between road and sea.

When to go

May to September for the easiest light and weather. Two hours.

Before you go

There is nothing here but the view - no facilities, no path network and no shelter. Wind funnels around the headland and can be violent. The peak is in cloud a great deal. Climbing it is a serious scramble, not a walk.

Nearby

Hofn is west; Djupivogur and the eastern fjords lie north.

Key facts