Stokksnes Lighthouse and Vestrahorn Mountain
Vestrahorn Mountain is one of the iconic photography locations in Iceland. The sharp and sheer mountains flow straight into the Atlantic Ocean and a black sand beach. With no light pollution, it is a fantastic spot to photograph the aurora borealis and night sky. Located in the far east of Iceland it is a short road trip over a couple of days from Reykjavík.
This article contains links to products and services that I think you will find useful. I may earn a commission on any purchases you make at no cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Read more HERE
Viking Village
From the parking area by the cafe, take a short walk to the Viking Village set. This abandoned film set was built in 2010 for a film that was never made. Icelandic director Baltasar Kormakúr constructed the Viking Village here in Stokksnes, but the movie was never filmed. The vacant set still stands. It is possible to explore by climbing stairs and entering buildings, but use caution as the structures are deteriorating without maintenance.
Causeway to the Lighthouse
Visiting this headland in July was an introduction to Icelandic driving skills in the wind. Approaching Stokksnes the scree on the mountain plunges from over 400 metres to the calm lagoon below in a rainbow of colours. Hidden in the lea of the headland it is a calm and sunny day, but as the small cafe and causeway come into view the landscape changes.
A storm is blowing in and the road across the causeway to the lighthouse is exposed. Black sand is blowing across the road, blinding your vision momentarily as the wind gusts and sand devils spiral around the car.
As the end of the causeway is neared, sand dunes have escaped and are building up across the road, trapping those who dare to stop for a photograph. The instructions were clear when we collected our pass for the causeway – “don’t stop until you reach the lighthouse car park”. It’s not a difficult instruction to follow.
Stokksnes Lighthouse
At the end of the causeway is Stokksnes Lighthouse. A white tower with a red lantern it stands on the rocks at the end of the headland. Once a military base this is now an automated lighthouse with the H3 Radar Station adjacent to the lighthouse monitoring Iceland’s airspace. Originally built in 1922 and standing 15 metres tall it was renovated in 1958 and heightened to its current 19.5 metres. A complicated flash sequence of 3 flashes in white, red and green every 30 seconds protects the coastline.
From the lighthouse, the view of Vestrahorn Mountain gives perspective of its place in the landscape with Vatnajökull Ice Cap visible across the lagoon and bay in the distance. This is especially impressive when the northern lights are in the sky. A small mountain with a big illuminated sky cannot be beaten.
Vestrahorn Mountain and Stokksnes beach
Looking back across the causeway, Vestrahorn Mountain stands proud. Part of the same chain of mountains as Brunnhorn Mountain and Eystrahorn Mountain, these spiky peaks are unique and distinctive. Vestrahorn is 454 metres high and is flanked on the west side by a lagoon. Sand dunes of black sand and grasses line the causeway, changing with the winds and seasons.
As with any beach in Iceland, you need to be careful and watch the tides and waves. While it appears serene in photographs, the wind and tides can be fierce here.
In good weather, the shape of the mountain reflected in the calm bay is perfect. Waiting for the water to go out a little leaving a shallow amount of water soaking into the black sand is ideal for a reflection.
Vestrahorn Mountain is perfect at sunset when a golden light will bring out the details in the rock. In the summer months, the midnight sun allows a visit at any time of the day or night and in winter the golden hour lasts through much of the day as the sun just skims the horizon.
When the weather is rough the patterns in the sand ripple and change and the grassses blow and create interesting patterns. In winter when there is ice and snow the landscape changes again and the contrast of black and white makes for stunning landscapes.
Getting to Vestrahorn Mountain and Stokksnes
Vestrahorn and Stokksnes are reached from Ring Road 1 about 20 minutes drive from Höfn (over 6 hours drive from Reykjavík). Just before the Almannaskard Tunnel, there is a small rough road on the right which follows the lagoon towards the peninsula.
At the end of the road, there is the Viking Cafe and a parking area. To continue along the causeway towards the lighthouse you will need to pay a small charge. During opening hours a ticket to open the barrier can be purchased in the cafe. Out of hours, you will need a credit card to purchase a ticket from a machine in the car park.
This is a single-entry ticket to raise the barrier to the beach, lighthouse and the Viking Village. The Viking Village parking is just after the barrier on the left and then the causeway continues to the lighthouse. Take care when crossing the causeway especially when the weather is poor. The sand blows across the road reducing visibility and sand dunes can shift with sand building up across the road.
Places to stay near Stokksnes are limited but one option is Lón Guesthouse on the way to Djúpivogur. There is also accommodation at the Viking Cafe at the start of the causeway to the lighthouse.
- East of Höfn on Ring Road 1
- See the location on Google Maps
Planning a road trip to Iceland? Read all my Iceland Travel Guides
