Hellnar is a historic fishing village on the Snæfellsnes
Peninsula, located west of Arnarstapi. In earlier centuries, Hellnar
was one of the largest fishing stations on the peninsula, along with
several small farms and numerous fishermen’s cottages.
Fishing activity at Hellnar is believed to date back to the Middle Ages,
with the earliest written record of seafaring from the area dating to
the year 1560. During the 17th century, Hellnar developed into a sizable
coastal settlement, and the census of 1703 recorded 194 inhabitants. At
that time, the village included seven farms, eleven tenant farms, and
twenty fishermen’s cottages.
The coastline at Hellnar is characterized by striking rock formations.
A rocky headland known as Valasnös extends into the sea, and within it
lies a sea cave called Baðstofa. The colors inside the cave change
dramatically depending on light conditions and tides.
Freshwater springs emerge from beneath the lava edge near Hellnar,
including Gvendarbrunnur, also known as Maríulind. Another well,
Ásgrímsbrunnur, is named after Ásgrímur, a local priest who carved the
well into the rock in the late 18th century where no water had previously
flowed.
Hellnar lies close to Snæfellsjökull National Park and hosts an
information center for the park. The area also includes a holiday home
development known as “Plássið undir Jökli,” although construction there
has been inactive for some time.
Photo: Anton Stefánsson
Hellnar er áhugaverður staður á Íslandi sem vert er að heimsækja.