Lóndrangar are two basalt pillars standing on the cliffs at the western end of the Snaefellsnes peninsula, on its southern side.
Lóndrangar rocks – practical tips
The two Lóndrangar pillars are 75 and 61 meters (246 and 200 feet) tall. Their unusual shape resembles a huge castle rising from the depths of the sea. Surrounded by lava fields and soft green moss, the rocks look truly majestic, like something out of a fairy tale.
The cliffs are home to local birds – gulls, puffins and others. If you’re lucky, you’ll see whole flocks of them. Apart from that, the area is rugged and left untouched by local farmers. Why? Some believe it’s because of the exceptionally strong winds and the very thin layer of soil on volcanic ground, which make it hard to grow anything here. Others suggest it’s because of Snæfellsjökull National Park (Þjóðgarðurinn Snæfellsjökull), named after the nearby Snaefellsjokull glacier. But the truth, apparently, is that the rocky hill belongs to elves, who spoil any crops around…
Below the cliff there’s a nice gravel beach. It’s worth going down to it when you visit Lóndrangar, but watch out for the waves and the tide. The beach faces the open Atlantic, so this is no joke.
There’s a parking lot near Lóndrangar, and several scenic trails start from it – perfect for quiet walks. A clearly marked path, only about 250 m (820 ft) long, leads to the main viewpoint. You can also see the rocks from the west, from the Malarrifsviti lighthouse (a trail runs from the parking lot along the coast past Lóndrangar to Malarrif). But they look best from the “classic” eastern side.
If you come here at sunset, you can “catch” wonderful views and photos.
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How to get to Lóndrangar
The parking lot by the path to the viewpoint is about 10 km (6 miles) west of Arnarstapi and about 6 km (4 miles) southeast of the turnoff to Dritvik Djúpalónssandur beach, right on Road 574.
From the parking lot, it’s only about 250 m (820 ft) to the viewpoint.