Djúpalónssandur beach is one of the highlights of Snæfellsnes peninsula wonders. It's a short drive from the main road and there were ample parking lot.
We took a short walk down to the beach through a lava field with unique rock formation.
There is a peculiar rock here with a diamond shaped hole in it, called Gatklettur.
The moment we reached Djúpalónssandur Beach, we were attracted to four lifting stones of different weight used by fishermen in the past to test their strength.
There are names for each of the four stones and to be eligible as an oarsman rowing a boat from Dritvik, one had to be able to lift Hálfdrættingur weighing at 54kg.
From the beach, we had a nice view of Snæfellsjökull glacier.
Walking further down the beach, we saw many iron pieces scattered all around. These are remains of a British trawler, the Epine GY 7, that was wrecked there on the night of March 13, 1948.
There was a blizzard on that fateful cold winter night and the fishermen were losing their grip and had started falling into the cold sea. Fourteen men lost their lives and five were saved by the Icelandic rescue team in the neighbouring villages of Arnarstapi, Hellnar and Hellissandur.
These iron remains are not to be disturbed.
The picturesque beach is covered by countless little black stone which were shaped by the non stopping forces of the ocean and the wind. Djúpalónssandur was once home to sixty fishing boats and one of the most prolific fishing villages on the Snæfellsnes peninsula but today the bay is uninhabited.
There are some very distinctive huge lava rocks on the beach. However, we did not venture too far to them as we need to catch a tour at Vatnshellir Lava Cave.
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