3 Best Sights in Vatnsnes Peninsula, North Iceland

This legendary 15-meter sea stack is shaped remarkably like a giant rhino drinking from the sea. Fueling imaginations since time immemorial, Hvítserkur is said to have been a night troll caught in the sunrise while making its way to the old convent at Þingeyrar to complain about the bells. Hvítserkur translates to "white shirt" and refers to the white color from the accumulation of bird droppings. To reach this obligatory photo op, turn off Route 711 north of Ósvar. A trail leads from the parking lot to a viewing platform.

A quick and tempting diversion can be found by taking Route 717 off Route 1 and driving 9 km (just under 6 miles) to Borgarvirki, an outstanding natural fortress made of basalt strata. Standing 177 meters (580 feet) above sea level with superior views over the vast plains, you can let your imagination run wild here. Legend has it that Vikings once used this geological wonder as a real fort.

This farm on the western coast of the Vatnsnes peninsula, just off Route 711, has a trail from the parking lot that leads to a viewing platform with excellent views of Strandir, where you can observe seals at play. Apart from being a seal-watching paradise, the location is the setting of a historic murder case in Iceland, which was dramatized in Hannah Kent’s award-winning novel, Burial Rites. Note that the area is home to a large population of eider ducks and is closed to visitors from May 1 to June 20 during their nesting period.