Helgafell — "holy mountain" in Icelandic — is a small but conspicuous hill about 3.5 kilometres south of Stykkishólmur, rising sharply from the flat peninsula farmland. At just 73 metres high, the climb takes about 15 minutes and is manageable by anyone. At the summit are the ruins of a small chapel and cairns; the view across Breiðafjörður to the northwest is the reward.
The hill has a significant place in saga literature: Eyrbyggja saga records that the original Norse settlers considered it sacred, and a tradition holds that if you climb Helgafell in silence, without looking back, and make a wish at the summit while facing east, that wish will be granted. Whether or not you believe this, the setting is genuinely impressive. A small 10th-century church dedicated to St Columba and a former farm at the base are also worth a look.