Rauðisandur

About Rauðisandur

Rauðisandur, also called Rauðasandur, is a beach of about 10 km on the southern coast of the Westfjords, on the same peninsula as the Látrabjarg bird cliffs. Unlike the black sand beaches of the south coast, its sand runs through red, orange, yellow and brown tints, and the colour changes noticeably with the light, the weather and the tide. On a grey day it can look dark brown, so a bright day shows it at its best.

The beach is wide and open, backed by mountains, and on clear days Snæfellsjökull is visible in the distance on the Snæfellsnes peninsula. Seals are often seen on the sand, especially at low tide, and the area is known for seabirds. The small church at Saurbær, Saurbæjarkirkja, stands by the beach, and a seasonal café near the beach, Franska Kaffihúsið, has served waffles and coffee in summer, though its dates change from year to year.

There are two usual places to walk on: near Saurbæjarkirkja or from Melanes campsite. From the parking it takes about 15–20 minutes to reach the sand itself, often through ankle-deep water even at low tide, so waterproof boots help; wooden poles mark a drier route. Walking out to the areas where seals rest takes around 1.5 hours. Allow at least 30 minutes to an hour on the beach, plus driving time, and check the tide times before you go.

Access is by Route 614 (Rauðasandsvegur), which branches off Route 612 and descends steeply over roughly 10–12 km of gravel with sharp bends and few guardrails. It is maintained in summer but not in winter, when it is effectively impassable without a specialist vehicle. A 4x4 is sensible, and small rental cars may be restricted by the rental terms. There is no entry fee, and the nearest town is Patreksfjörður. Summer is the only practical season.