Hvítserkur is a famous and unique basalt stack on the north coast of Iceland, characterised by its curious shape that may seem reminiscent of a large animal drinking from the sea, a dragon, a rhinoceros or a dinosaur.
The name “Hvítserkur” means “white nightgown” and comes from the light color of the guano of the seabirds that nest on the rock and which is clearly visible even from afar.
There are some legends about this rock:
According to local tradition, Hvítserkur was a troll who lived on the coast of Strandir, opposite the Vatnsnes peninsula. Exasperated by the ringing of the bells of the monastery of Þingeyrarklaustur (or Þingeyrar church, depending on the version), he decided to go and destroy them. He miscalculated the time of the journey: he was caught by dawn while still out at sea and, as is typical of trolls in Norse mythology, was turned to stone by the first rays of the sun. The sea stack we see today would therefore be his petrified body, frozen in the act of advancing towards the coast.
There are other legends; some tell of a troll who wanted to “steal” the convent’s bells, others say he simply wanted to knock them down to silence them. All the legends refer to a petrified troll (very common in Icelandic legends).
How to reach it:
It can be reached by car by turning off the Ring Road and taking the dirt road 711 (Vatnsnesvegur) for about 30–40 km to the panoramic parking lot. The road is passable by conventional vehicles, even though it’s unpaved (a 4×4 isn’t necessary). It can be seen from above, but I recommend a half-hour trail that leads to the beach, where you can see it. At low tide, you can walk right up to the base of the stack.
Position in maps
