The Old Post Office

Berserkjahraun is a 4000-year-old lava field situated on the Snæfellsnes peninsula.

It covers the western part of Helgafell, between Stykkishólmur and Grundarfjörður.

The name Berserkjahraun comes from one of the Icelandic Sagas, Eyrbyggja-Saga. According to the saga, a farmer brought two berserkers from Sweden to the Snæfellsnes Peninsula. He later gave the berserkers to his brother, Víga-Styr, who lived on the other side of the lava field.

One of the Swedes fell in love with Víga-Styr's daughter and asked for her hand in marriage. Víga-Styr made a deal with the berserker, he could have his daughter's hand if the two Swedes could clear a path through the lava field, connecting Víga-Styr's farm to his brother's.

The feat was considered impossible but the berserkers managed to complete the path quite quickly. Instead of keeping his promise, Víga-Styr had the two Swedes killed and buried them near the path.

The lava field was created after four scoria craters erupted in short intervals around 4000 years ago. The lava ran from the mountain slopes of Bjarnarhafnarfjall and out to the sea at Hraunsfjörður and Hraunsvík.

Grundarfjörður's beautiful landmark is the most photographed mountain in Iceland. Its isolated position jutting out into the sea makes it a focal point for tourists and seamen alike.

Kirkjufell (Church Mountain) is 463 meters high and visible from all angles in town.Grundarfjörður is the ideal place to enjoy the amazing colours of the sunset behind the mountain.

Kirkjufellsfoss is one of the most photographed waterfalls in Iceland. It is located near Grundarfjörður at the northern side of the Snæfellsnes Peninsula in West Iceland.

The river Kirkjufellsá runs down from the volcano Helgrindur and has three waterfalls in it, all called Kirkjufellsfoss.

Kolgrafarfjörður has a lot of wildlife. A large part of the black-backed gull population lives there with 38 other bird species. There are also killer whales, white-beaked dolphins and seals. Hraunsfjörður fjord come from it, long but narrow. At high tide, the flow is so great that the current resembles a rushing river

Búlandshöfði falls steep into the sea. There you find strata from the first half of the ice age, hardened glacial rock and fossils of seashells. On top of the sea sediment with ice seashells and glacial till there is a clayey sedimentary layer with remnants of warm seashells that lava has flowed over during warm periods.

When visiting Snaefellsnes Peninsula, a round tour is a good idea because this 90 km long circle comprises a world of diversity. On the northern side you will find friendly towns and villages, spectacular mountains and waterfalls, galleries and museums and much more.