Látrabjarg

Látrabjarg is the westernmost point of the country and the farthest a car can go on the southern Westfjords road. From the Baldur landing at Brjánslækur or from Patreksfjörður it is a slow drive on gravel through Örlygshöfn to the lighthouse at Bjargtangar, where the road and the car park end; the return is the same road. Allow an hour and a half each way from Patreksfjörður and an hour on the cliff, which makes it a half day from either base.

The practical line, from the Environment Agency's pages today: Látrabjarg "was designated as a nature reserve in March 2021" and "covers approx 37 km²" on land and sea. The agency's Icelandic access page says the only road for cars is route 612, ending at the lighthouse car park, that winter service does not cover the stretch above Örlygshöfn so the road closes in heavy snow, and that the gravel surface varies in summer and calls for caution. There is a toilet at the car park in summer and nothing else: no fuel, no water, no food. Fill at Patreksfjörður. Phone signal is poor beyond Örlygshöfn.

Safety: the agency's general traveller guidance is to take particular care near rock faces and cliffs, that Icelandic rock is often loose, and that wind is much stronger on cliff tops. The grass lip is undercut by burrows and there is no fence; lie down to photograph the birds and keep a body length from the edge. Disturbing birds and flying drones near the cliff are prohibited.

Quietest early morning and late evening, which is also when the birds are busiest.