Volcanic Shores: A Guide to the Black-Sand Beaches of Iceland

Stokksnes

Stokksnesvegur 9720, Iceland
The Vestrahorn, or Batman Mountain, rises out of the black expanse of sand of the Stokksnes peninsula. 

Diamond Beach

Diamond Beach, 781, Iceland
The diamonds on this shoreline are certainly not forever. These particular sparkling rocks are made from ice, cut adrift from the Jökulsárlón glacial... 

Dyrhólaey

871, Iceland
Literally “hill island with a door hole”, Dyrholaey is Iceland’s answer to Durdle Door in Dorset, but rather more bleak, complete with volcanic black... 

Sólheimasandur

Sólheimasandur, 871, Iceland
For an epic, apocalyptic tableau, you can’t get much better than the abandoned navy DC-3 aeroplane that crash-landed on this remote stretch of black... 

Reynisfjara Beach

Reynisfjara Beach, Iceland
Spectacular basalt stacks stand resolutely against the ferocity of the sea close to the most famous black beach in Iceland, Reynisflara. 
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