Borgarvirki
About Borgarvirki
Borgarvirki is a crown of basalt cliffs on a ridge in Northwest Iceland, topped with stone walls that look like the remains of a castle. Nobody knows for certain who built those walls or when, which is half the appeal of the Borgarvirki fortress. The other half is the view from the rim over the lake Hóp, the Vesturhóp district and the valley of Víðidalur.
The rock itself is natural. Borgarvirki is a volcanic plug that rises to 177 m above sea level, with a 10 to 15 m band of columnar basalt around its top. Inside is a horseshoe-shaped hollow about 5 to 6 m deep that opens to the east, and that gap is closed by the largest of the stone walls.
Within the hollow lie the ruins of two buildings and a collapsed well. One theory links the site to Barði Guðmundsson of Heiðarvíga saga and his feud with men from Borgarfjörður, while another holds that it was a district stronghold from the Settlement Age. Borgarvirki was among ten monuments put under protection in Iceland in 1817, and its walls were repaired between 1940 and 1950.
You reach Borgarvirki on Route 717, about 10 km off the Ring Road and 18 km from Hvítserkur, so it fits neatly into a drive around the Vatnsnes peninsula. Hvammstangi is about 30 km away, Akureyri about 2 hours 45 minutes, and Reykjavík about 3 hours 15 minutes. Outside summer, check road.is before you turn onto the side roads.
A short, steep walk leads from the parking lot up to the rim. The edges drop sharply, so keep children close and stay back from the cliffs in strong wind. Plan on 30 to 45 minutes, and if you have time, Kolugljúfur canyon is about 20 minutes south in Víðidalur.
Good to know
What is Borgarvirki?
Borgarvirki is a volcanic plug ringed by basalt columns, rising to 177 m between Vesturhóp and Víðidalur in Northwest Iceland. Stone walls built on its rim give it the look of a fortress.
Who built Borgarvirki?
Nobody knows for sure. One theory links it to Barði Guðmundsson of Heiðarvíga saga, and another says it was a district stronghold from the Settlement Age.
How do you get to Borgarvirki?
Drive Route 717, about 10 km off the Ring Road, or reach it from Route 711 on a Vatnsnes loop. Hvammstangi is about 30 km away.
How long do you need at Borgarvirki?
Plan on 30 to 45 minutes for the short climb, the walls and the view. Add more time if you are driving the full Vatnsnes loop.
Is Borgarvirki a volcano?
It's the plug of an old volcanic vent rather than an active volcano. The lava that filled it cooled into the basalt columns you see around the top.
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