Papey

Papey lies a few kilometres off Djupivogur and takes its name from the papar, the Irish monks the medieval Icelandic sources say were living in the country when the Norse arrived and left rather than share it - whether they were ever on this particular island is not settled, and no clear archaeological proof has been found. It was farmed into the twentieth century and the last permanent residents left in 1966. What remains is a small wooden church of 1904, said to be among the oldest and smallest in the country, a lighthouse, and large numbers of puffins and eider. Boat trips from Djupivogur have run intermittently in recent years, so a service should be confirmed before planning around it.

Highlights

• A name from the papar - Irish monks recorded before the Norse, unproven here.
• Farmed until 1966 - the last residents left that year.
• A wooden church of 1904 - among the smallest in Iceland.
• Puffins and eider - the island's summer population now.

When to go

June to August, if boats are running that season. Half a day.

Practical notes

The boat service has stopped and restarted over the years and cannot be assumed; check locally before counting on it. Landing depends on swell. There are no facilities on the island and no shelter beyond the church. Arctic terns defend their ground aggressively.

Nearby

Djupivogur is the departure point; Eystrahorn is south along the coast.

Key facts