Rútshellir Caves

Rútshellir is a hall carved by hand into a tall block of rock under the Eyjafjöll cliffs, beside the Ring Road near Skógar. Its main chamber runs back about 20 metres, and it is reckoned the largest man-made cave in Iceland. Farmers once kept animals, hay and stores in it, and a stone sheep-pen still stands at its mouth. A cross cut into the wall points to use before the Norse arrived, while a grim local tale remembers Rútur, killed in his sleep by his slaves.