Photo spot in Dyrhólaey
The lower plateau
The easy level, reachable in any car, looking east along the black sand to the Reynisdrangar sea stacks.
About The lower plateau
Get directionsLower Dyrhólaey is a short spur off Road 218 with a car park almost on the viewpoint. From the grass above the beach the coast runs east in a single black curve to the Reynisdrangar stacks, with surf lines stacking all the way — the widest, calmest composition on this headland and the one that needs no climbing.
It is the reliable half of a Dyrhólaey session: no rough track, no gate, no closure of the upper road to worry about. Put the couple on the grass edge with the coastline receding behind them, and use a long lens to bring the stacks in close. In the other direction the arch shows in profile from the western side of the spur.
Wind is constant and the ground drops away below the grass line, so keep the working area back from the lip and let the lens do the approach. Sunset lights the whole coast from the west; in winter the low sun sits along the beach for most of the short day.
Best time to shoot
Sunset, or any hour in winter's low light
Tips
Long lens east to pull the Reynisdrangar stacks in behind the couple. Work back from the grass edge — the drop starts where it ends.
Other spots in Dyrhólaey
The lighthouse clifftop
The upper level, up a steep track, with the white lighthouse, the arch below and glaciers on the inland horizon.
The arch from the western bay
The profile view of the door-hole itself, with surf running through the opening and sea stacks beyond.
The puffin cliffs, May to August
Grass-topped cliff edges where puffins nest through the summer — long lens, marked viewpoints and closures to check before you go.
Ready to book?
Our concierge team will hand-pick 2-3 photographers who know The lower plateau — free of charge.