Naustahvilft

If you’ve ever visited the town of Ísafjörður, you will certainly have noticed the immense rim of flat-topped mountains which surround the fjord. A notable feature of the mountains is a massive depression, like half a bowl, just over the road from the airport. This is Naustahvilft – often known by its nickname: ‘the troll seat’. The story goes that a troll was rushing home to avoid being turned to stone by the morning sunlight. After running swiftly and arriving early, she sat and rested with her aching feet in the fjord. What was left was the peninsula of Ísafjörður town between her feet, the deep harbour where her feet had been, and the “seat” where her backside had been. Either that or it’s a hanging valley left over from the last Ice Age. It’s a short but challenging climb, so why not go up there and decide for yourself and don’t forget to sign the guest book.