ICELAND: The Lava Fields of Berserkjahraun

Our final day in Grundarfjordur was off to a rocky start, as we discovered that one of our destinations was not accessible without 4-wheel drive (which our rental car did not have - please learn from our mistake!). Having only a couple other locations in mind to visit, we decided to leave Grundarfjordur a day earlier than planned - we would spend the morning visiting a lava field (Berserkjahraun), and then we would head south towards Vik. 

Berserkjahraun is a lava field, approximately 3500 years old. It's name comes from an Icelandic saga, in which a pair of Berserkers had been working on a farm, when one fell in love with the farmers daughter. In order to prove his love, the two Berserkers agreed to complete the impossible task of clearing a path through a lava field. Upon completing the task, the Berserkers were then tricked and killed by the farmer. While believed to be more of a myth, the remains of two large men were unearthed from the field by modern archaeologists. 

The lava fields above are Berserkjahraun, and the other photos are from around our hostel in Grundarfjordur. Overall, our visit to the Snaefellsness peninsula was both relaxing and full of adventure. There is so much to see within that small span of coastline.

This is part of a series of posts about our trip to Iceland.

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ICELAND: Haunted Beach Djúpalónssandur

At the base of Snaefellsjokull (on the South Western edge of the Snaefellsness Peninsula) rests a black sand and pebbled beach known as Djúpalónssandur. Once a popular fishing area, this bay is now largely uninhabited save for travelers. After passing through a small trail of mystical lava rock formations, you will find the black sand beach. All along the beach are the scattered and rusted remains of a British fishing ship, which crashed nearby in the '40s, killing 14 men. Rumor has it that this beach is haunted by those that lost their lives in the wreck, but we found the area to be more beautiful than eerie. 

Our time here was rather short, as it wasn't long before it started raining, but Iceland once again produced another gorgeous rainbow to brighten the situation. I would absolutely make a point to stop here if you are planning a trip along the peninsula, it's too gorgeous to pass up. 

This is part of a series of posts about our trip to Iceland.

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Iceland's Black Church, Budakirkja

One location we were very excited to visit was Iceland's black church: Budakirkja. Located in Budir on the far western tip of the Snaefellsness Peninsula, this little old church sits alongside a lava field. It's incredibly uncommon to see a church painted black (of all colors), and so we were intrigued. There are at least three black churches in Iceland but this is the only one we were able to visit. The wood is treated with the same material used on boats, which provides the black color and protects the wood from the harsh Icelandic climate. The church is surrounded by a low stone wall, and the grounds contain an old cemetery. While we did not go inside, the inside is refurnished and you an enter via a key at the nearby Hotel.

If you have any interest in odd architecture, this is certainly a stop to take advantage of. While we were visiting, a small tour group did also arrive, but it was not difficult to get some decent photos after waiting for a short while. The nearby lava field provides plenty of photo opportunities to keep you busy if you prefer to keep your shots tourist-free.

What do you think of this spot? Creepy, or beautiful?

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