Kirkjufell

In an earlier post, I talked about getting away from it all in Látrabjarg, West Fjords, Iceland. Of course, there is so much more to see, do and experience in Iceland, than West Fjords.

So, since my focus in March is volcanic islands, I wanted to tell you a little bit about this little gem in Snaefellsness National Park that had me intrigued and, I believe, is worth a visit during a tour of Iceland.

This stunning symmetrically-shaped mountain pictured above is called Kirkjufell. It looks like a small volcano from some angles, but it is actually a free-standing mountain (although it does have layers of lava from periods of volcanic eruptions 2 million years ago). During the ice age, it was a high rock (nunatak) between two glaciers and its conical shape was created as a result of massive pressure from the two glaciers.

Located on the north side of the Snaefellsness peninsula in West Iceland, not far from the town of Grundarfjörður, Kirkjufell mountain is apparently the most photographed mountain in Iceland. It has also appeared in several movies (you may recognize it from A Game of Thrones).

Its name means ‘Church Mountain’, which it likely got because of its shape, as it resembles a church or cathedral tower.

At 463m, you’ll get a great view of Kirkjufellsfoss standing next to it and you’ll get a perfect shot for your own photo. Nearby, you’ll also find beaches and a lovely walking trail, as well as a pretty waterfall not far from its base. If you’re feeling adventurous, in the summer, you can also hike to the top.

Kirkjufell is just one of the many stunning landforms you can discover on an escorted, self-guided or fully independent tour of Europe’s most westerly country.

If you are a Canadian travelling to Iceland, visit the Canadian Travel website for all travel requirements and advisories.

If you want to know more about Kirkjufell and other sights worth seeing in Snaefellsjokull National Park here is a great article/guide on TripSavy.