Skarðsvík Beach

About Skarðsvík Beach

Skarðsvík is a small cove with light golden sand on the northwestern tip of the Snæfellsnes Peninsula in West Iceland, inside Snæfellsjökull National Park. Dark lava cliffs wrap around both ends of the bay, and that contrast is the reason to come, since most beaches in Iceland are black.

The beach sits right beside Route 579 (Öndverðarnesvegur), about 15 minutes west of Hellissandur and roughly three and a half hours from Reykjavík. A small parking area at the roadside has a short path and a flight of wooden steps that lead down to the sand, so you can be on the beach within a couple of minutes of leaving the car.

History runs deeper here than the size of the cove suggests. In 1962, road builders working on the track above the bay uncovered a Viking Age grave, which archaeologists later dated to the 10th century. It is a reminder that people have lived and fished on this exposed corner of the peninsula for more than a thousand years.

Plan 30 minutes to an hour at Skarðsvík, longer if you walk the coastal path. The marked trail from Móðuvör past Skarðsvík to the Öndverðarnes headland is about 4 kilometers, and the road itself continues to Svörtuloft lighthouse and its bird cliffs.

Summer is the best time to visit Skarðsvík, when the sand catches the long evening light and the road is clear. Swimming is a bad idea at any time of year because the Atlantic is cold and the currents off this exposed point can be strong. In winter, Route 579 can be icy or blocked by snow, so check the road conditions map before you drive out.