Dyrholaey

Once an island off the south coast of Iceland, Dyrhólaey is now part of the mainland. It is a rugged peninsula, jutting out into the restless North Atlantic Ocean where waves crash against striking basalt cliffs and the rocky shoreline rustles with birdlife. Dyrhólaey is home to one of Iceland’s largest puffin colonies and those that reach this isolated part of the Icelandic coast are rewarded with views from the clifftops over the dramatic sea.

The Dyrhólaey Peninsula is found along the south coast of Iceland. In fact, the rocky promontory at the base of the peninsula is geographically the most southerly point of mainland Iceland. Reykjavík is 180 kilometres (around 112 miles) from the main car park of Dyrhólaey, so the drive from the capital takes around two and a half hours. Dyrhólaey sits just off the Route One main road that loops around Iceland, so it is easy to navigate to this place yourself. Following Route One out of Reyjavík, you just need to stick to this road as it travels along the south coast until the turn-off for Road 218, which takes you straight to the Dyrhólaey main car park and viewpoint.

Dyrhólaey is also a short drive from the south-coast village of Vík. By road, this pretty coastal village is 18 kilometres (around 11 miles) from the Dyrhólaey car park and the drive takes around 20 minutes. So, if you’re staying in Vík and exploring the sights of the south coast at a leisurely pace, Dyrhólaey should definitely be on your list of places to visit.

If you don’t fancy hiring a car or driving yourself, day trips along the south coast leave daily from Reykjavík. With a guide and driver, you don’t need to worry about navigation or what to see and do along the way. There are also a few active trips to nearby Sólheimafjara black-sand beach where you can embark on an ATV adventure across the volcanic sand, fording rivers until you reach the wreck of a DC-3 aeroplane on the beach.

Country

Iceland