“This cliff walk starts at a giant stone statue of Bardur, a saga figure half human and half troll, who in legend became the guardian spirit of the whole peninsula.”
About Arnarstapi to Hellnar
Both villages were once busy fishing stations on the Snaefellsnes coast, and the path between them follows a shoreline shaped by the sea into arches, columns and blowholes. The Bardur Snaefellsas statue at Arnarstapi honours the half-troll saga hero traditionally regarded as the protector of the area, a story rooted in the peninsula's strong folklore.
Arnarstapi to Hellnar
The coastal walk between the villages of Arnarstapi and Hellnar on the Snaefellsnes peninsula is a short, spectacular trail along a cliff edge of basalt arches, blowholes and seabird colonies, with the glacier Snaefellsjokull rising behind. At around two and a half kilometres each way, it is one of the most rewarding easy walks in west Iceland.
At around two and a half kilometres each way, it is one of the most rewarding easy walks in west Iceland.
Guarded by a Half Troll
Arnarstapi is watched over by a huge stone statue of Bardur Snaefellsas, a figure from a medieval Icelandic saga who was said to be half human and half troll and who became the guardian spirit of the peninsula. The path from his statue runs along the cliffs past the natural stone arch of Gatklettur and the booming blowholes, where the Atlantic surges through gaps in the rock, before reaching the tiny old fishing hamlet of Hellnar.
The Experience
You set off from the stone giant and follow the cliff edge as the Atlantic crashes below, passing the photogenic Gatklettur arch and blowholes that spout when the swell is up. Seabirds nest in the cliffs and the glacier looms behind. The walk is easy and mostly flat, ending at Hellnar's small harbour and a clifftop cafe.
Why It Matters
The Arnarstapi to Hellnar trail packs much of Snaefellsnes into a short, accessible walk, combining dramatic coastal geology, birdlife, the glacier backdrop and deep saga folklore. It is a highlight of a peninsula often described as Iceland in miniature.
The Arnarstapi to Hellnar trail packs much of Snaefellsnes into a short, accessible walk, combining dramatic coastal geology, birdlife, the glacier backdrop and deep saga folklore.
Why Visit
Walk it for an easy, spectacular cliff trail of arches, blowholes and seabirds beneath the Snaefellsjokull glacier, anchored by the giant Bardur statue.
✦ Insider Tips
- 1
Look for the Gatklettur arch and the blowholes along the cliff.
- 2
Keep back from the unfenced cliff edges, especially in wind.
- 3
It is about 2.5 km each way and easy, with a cafe at the Hellnar end.
