Skardsvik
A golden sand cove in a coast of black lava, where a Viking age burial was found in 1962.
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Skardsvik is a small bay on the northern side of the Snaefellsnes tip where the sand is golden rather than black - the local rock and shell content give it a colour that looks out of place between lava headlands - and the water in sunlight goes an improbable blue. In 1962 a burial was uncovered in the sand here: a man laid in a boat-shaped setting with a sword and other goods, dated to the Viking age, one of the clearer pagan burials found in the country. The finds went to the National Museum. The cove is small, reached by gravel track, and swimming in it is a cold idea.
What you actually see
- Golden sand between lava headlands - unusual for this coast.
- A Viking age burial site - found in the sand in 1962.
- Bright blue water in sun - shallow over pale sand.
- A small cove on a gravel track - little visited by comparison.
When to go
June to September. An hour.
Honest expectations
The water is cold and the currents around the headland are not safe for swimming. The track in is rough gravel. The burial is not marked on the ground - the finds are in Reykjavik. No facilities.
Nearby
Saxholl and Ondverdarnes are close; Hellissandur is east.
What to pack for Skardsvik
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.
