Loftsalahellir Cave

About Loftsalahellir Cave

Loftsalahellir is a small cave on the south-western side of Geitafjall, a hill near Dyrhólaey on Iceland's south coast, a short distance west of Vík í Mýrdal. It covers only a few dozen square metres, but its moss-lined walls and triangular mouth frame a view over the Dyrhólaey peninsula and Reynisfjara black sand beach, which has made it a favourite with photographers.

The cave has a place in local history. Farmers of the Mýrdalur district once used it as their assembly place, meeting here to settle local matters. Nearby is a rock called Gálgaklettur, the 'gallows rock', a reminder that the area also served as a place of execution.

To get there, turn off Route 1 onto road 218 towards Dyrhólaey. About 2.5 km after the junction there is a tiny car park on the left, and from there a path crosses a meadow and climbs to the cave mouth in under five minutes. The path can be muddy, so wear suitable shoes. There is no entrance fee listed and no facilities at the site.

The cave can be visited all year, although the short climb can be slippery in winter. Evening light is especially good for photographs, and in summer the surrounding meadows have plenty of birdlife, including Arctic terns and oystercatchers. It takes only a few minutes to see, so it is best combined with Dyrhólaey, Reynisfjara and Vík in the same outing.