Line © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL), checked by Global Adventurer.
The walk
From the car park walk down past the stone statue of Bárður Snæfellsás to the coast path and turn right, west. Follow the shore past cliff gullies and over a small footbridge, then across the mossy Hellnahraun lava on the old track Neðstagata, keeping the sea on your left. At Hellnar go down the steps to the little harbour by the Fjöruhúsið café; the sea cave Baðstofa is in the headland beside it. Turn here and come back the same way. The arch Gatklettur, about 300 m east of the start, is worth a look too.
It is 4.3 km there and back with 59 m of ascent; allow about an hour. The grade is Easy: gravel path and boardwalk, almost level.
The cliff tops beside the path have no fences and drop straight into the sea, so keep children close; spray and wet rock are slippery. The coast between the villages has been a nature reserve since 1979: no overnight stays, dogs on a lead, and drones only with a permit. In summer arctic terns nest in the fields at Arnarstapi and dive at people near their nests, so stay on the path and move on.
We found no parking fee at the car park by the statue. Arnarstapi is on a short side road off road 574, on the south side of Snæfellsnes; no bus serves it.
Route drawn by Global Adventurer along OpenStreetMap paths (© OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL), with figures worked out from it. Check the forecast and the ground on the day: paths change.
Good to know
- The path follows Neðstagata, the old shore track between two fishing villages, across the Hellnahraun lava
- The surf has cut the basalt into arches, caves and deep gullies where kittiwakes nest
- A large stone statue at Arnarstapi shows Bárður Snæfellsás, the half-troll guardian of the saga
- The coast between the villages has been a nature reserve since 1979
Getting there
Start: Arnarstapi car park by the statue. 64.76635, -23.62792
Directions to the start
Places to stay nearby
Rooms in and around West Iceland: Booking.com → Expedia → Hotels.com →
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Paths change, and the weather decides the day. The line and figures come from OpenStreetMap and our own checks; take a map, check the forecast, and turn back if it isn't right.
