- Visiting Iceland
- Travel Information
- FAQ
- Protected Areas
- Westfjords
- Breidafjordur
- Dynjandi in Arnarfjordur
- About the area
- Access and services
- Pay for parking
- Nature
- Culture and history
- Drone use at Dynjandi
overlayDynjandi in Arnarfjordur - Flatey in Breidafjordur
- Hornstrandir
- Why is the area protected?
- Useful information
- Administration
- Hiking trails
overlayHornstrandir - Hrisey, Reykholahreppur
- Surtarbrandsgil
- Vatnsfjordur
- About the area
- Access and services
- Culture and history
- Hrafna-Flóki and Flókatóftir
- Gíslahellir
- Þingmannaheiði
overlayCulture and history - Nature and geology
- Hiking trails
overlayVatnsfjordur
overlayWestfjords - North West
- North East
- Boggvistadafjall
- Dettifoss and a row of waterfalls
- Dimmuborgir
- Public park in Glerardalur
- Reservation in Svarfadardalur
- Godafoss in Thingeyjarsveit
- Hraun in Oxnadalur
- Hverastrytur in Eyjafjordur
- Hverfjall
- Krossanesborgir
- Myvatn and Laxa
- Seljahjallagil
- Skutustadagigar
- Vatnajokull National Park
- Vestmannsvatn
overlayNorth East - West
- Andakill
- Bardarlaug, Snaefellsbaer
- Blautos and Innstavogsnes
- Breidafjordur
- Budahraun
- Einkunnir, Borgarbyggd
- Eldborg in Hnappadalur
- Geitland, Borgarbyggd
- Grabrokargigar, Borgarbyggd
- Grunnafjordur
- Hraunfossar, Borgarbyggd
- Husafellsskogur, Borgarbyggd
- Kalmanshellir
- Melrakkaey
- Stedji (Staupasteinn)
- The coast by Stapi and Hellnir
- Vatnshornsskogur, Skorradalur
- Snaefellsjokull National Park
overlayWest - Search by name
- East
- South West
- Akurey
- Alafoss, Mosfellsbaer
- Astjorn, Hafnarfjordur
- Astjorn and Asfjall, Hafnarfjordur
- Bakkatjorn, Seltjarnarnes
- Blafjoll Public Park
- Borgir, Kopavogur
- Bringur, Mosfellsdalur
- Burfell, Gardabaer
- Eldborg in Blafjoll
- Eldborg in Geitahlid
- Eldey, Reykjanesbaer
- The shore by Kasthusatjorn
- Fossvogsbakkar, Reykjavik
- Gardahraun, Gardabaer
- Galgahraun, Gardabaer
- Grotta, Seltjarnarnes
- Hamarinn, Hafnarfjordur
- Haubakkar, Reykjavik
- Hleinar, Hafnarfjordur
- Hlid, Alftanes
- Hvaleyrarlon and Hvaleyrarhofdi
- Kaldarhraun and Gjarnar
- Kasthusatjorn, Alftanes
- Laugaras, Reykjavik
- Litluborgir, Hafnarfjordur
- Raudholar, Reykjavik
- Reykjanes Public Park
- Skerjafjordur, Gardabaer
- Skerjafjordur, Kopavogur
- Stekkjarhraun, Hafnarfjordur
- Trollaborn, Lækjarbotnar
- Tungufoss, Mosfellsbaer
- Valhusahaed, Seltjarnarnes
- Varmarosar, Mosfellsbaer
- Vifilsstadavatn, Gardabaer
- Vigholar, Kopavogur
overlaySouth West - South
- Alftaversgigar
- Arnahellir in Leitahraun
- Dverghamrar
- Dyrholaey
- Fjallabak Nature Reserve
- About the nature reserve
- Access and services
- Landmannalaugar
- Reservations
- FAQ
- About the area
overlayLandmannalaugar - Outdoor activities and hiking trails
- Nature and geology
- Culture and history
overlayFjallabak Nature Reserve - Geysir Area
- Gullfoss
- About the area
- Nature and geology
- Culture and history
overlayGullfoss - Herdisarvik
- Jorundur in Lambahraun
- Kerlingarfjoll
- General information
- The protected area
- Access and services
- Outdoor activities and hiking trails
- Information
- Geology
- Mountain peaks
- Flora and Fauna
overlayInformation
overlayKerlingarfjoll - Kirkjugolf
- Oddaflod
- Pollengi and Tunguey
- Skogafoss
- About the area
- Culture and history
- Access and management
overlaySkogafoss - Surtsey
- Protection
- Research
- Mapping and surveilance
overlaySurtsey - Area in Thjorsardalur
- Vatnajokull National Park
- Videy in Thjorsa
- Thingvellir National Park
- Thjorsarver
- About the nature reserve
- Nature and geology
- History and utilization
overlayThjorsarver
overlaySouth - Mývatn and Laxá
- About Mývatn
- Visitor center
- Flora and Fauna
- Archeology and Folklore
- Geology
overlayMývatn and Laxá - National Parks
overlayProtected Areas - Westfjords
- Permits in protected areas
- Operational licence
- Photography, cinematography and drone flying
- Research permit
overlayPermits in protected areas - Drones in protected areas
- Guidelines for using drones in protected areas
- Flights in protected areas
- Apply for permit
overlayDrones in protected areas - Volunteers
- Snæfellsjökull National Park
overlayVisiting Iceland - Wildlife
- Air & Climate
- Ocean & Water
- Industry
- Chemicals
- Frequently asked questions
- Biocides
- Classification and labelling – CLP
- Cosmetics
- Detergents
- Fluorinated greenhouse gases (F-gases)
- Fuel
- Certificate for pest control
- Certificate for professional use of plant protection products
- Plant protection products
- POPs
- REACH
- Safety data sheets
- Supervision, inspection and coercive measures
overlayFrequently asked questions - Biocides
- Classification and labelling
- CLP
- Classification
- Labelling
- Packaging and retention
overlayClassification and labelling - Cosmetics
- Detergents
- F-gases
- Fuel
- Plant protection products
- Authorisation
- Harmonised Risk Indicators
overlayPlant protection products - POPs
- REACH
- Fees
overlayChemicals - Frequently asked questions
- Importation of Alien Species
- ETS
overlayIndustry - Chemicals
- Circular Economy
- Waste
- Waste Management
overlayCircular Economy - The Agency
- About the EAI
- Departments
- Responsibilities
- Nature
- Wildlife
- Air & Climate
- Chemicals
- Ocean & Water
- Industry
- Circular Economy
overlayResponsibilities - Values and policy
- Act on the EAI
- Contact us
overlayThe Agency
Gíslahellir
The southern part of the Westfjords is part of the setting of Gísla saga Súrssonar, one of the Icelandic Sagas. Gíslahellir in Hörgsnes is named after ancient folktales that say Gísli Súrsson (born in 950) stayed there when fleeing from his enemies. The cave in question is a rock cave underground with an entrance through a sort of hole, so whoever wants to enter the cave has to slide down feet first. The cave is very dark, but there’s a sliver of light that comes from the opening. During thaws and wet periods, the hole become very uninhabitable and damp, since birch scrubs no longer shield the opening as they used to.
It is believed that Gíslasaga was recorded on parchment in the 13th century, and in 1981, the movie "Outlaw” (Útlaginn), directed by Ágúst Guðmundsson, was based on the story.