Rauðisandur Beach

Rauðisandur

Westfjords

The sand at Rauðisandur is genuinely red — copper and amber and pink, the result of scallop shells ground to powder and mixed with coastal sediment over centuries. The 10-kilometer beach faces Breiðafjörður bay, and the color shifts noticeably with weather: sunny afternoons push it toward deep rust and gold, overcast days flatten it toward grey. Seals haul out along the shoreline. Getting there is a commitment. The final descent is Road 614, a steep, guardrail-free mountain track with sharp switchbacks — slow and careful in a regular car, and check conditions outside summer. At the beach you'll find the small black church Saurbæjarkirkja, a cafe serving waffles with sea views, and a campsite at Melanes. The abandoned farm at Sjöundá nearby was the scene of a notorious 19th-century murder case. No facilities at the beach itself; bring water and layers, as the wind off the bay can be sharp. Budget around 90 minutes for the sand, but the drive through the Westfjords is much of the experience.

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