Svörtuloft Lighthouse

About Svörtuloft Lighthouse

Svörtuloft Lighthouse is a bright orange concrete lighthouse on the cliffs at the western tip of the Snæfellsnes peninsula, inside Snæfellsjökull National Park. On land it is officially called Skálasnagaviti; the name Svörtuloft (black lofts) is what sailors call the dark cliff face of Saxhólsbjarg below it, and the lighthouse takes that name when seen from the sea. The first light here was an iron structure built in 1914; the present 12.8-metre tower replaced it in 1931 and is still in use.

The draw is the setting. The lighthouse stands on the edge of black lava cliffs that drop straight into the Atlantic, and the ocean swell breaks against the rock face with real force, sending spray up the cliffs in rough weather. A walk along the cliff top shows how the waves have eaten into the lava, and in summer seabirds such as fulmars nest on the ledges. The tower itself is not open to visitors, so this is a short stop for views and photographs rather than an attraction with facilities.

To get there, turn off Route 574 at the western end of the peninsula onto Road 579 towards Skarðsvík, and take the left fork to Skálasnagi and Saxhólsbjarg. The last three kilometres or so are a rough, potholed gravel track; an ordinary car can manage it slowly in dry conditions, but higher clearance helps. There is no charge and no services on site. Allow 30 to 45 minutes including the drive in and a walk along the cliffs.

The road is best in summer and early autumn, when the track is dry; in winter it may be icy or impassable, so check conditions first. Stay well back from the cliff edge, which is unfenced and can be undercut. The visit combines easily with the golden sand beach at Skarðsvík on the same road, Saxhóll crater a short drive south, and Djúpalónssandur further down the coast.