Stokksnes

Vestrahorn rises straight off the black sand at the end of the beach, and that view is why most people come. When the water is calm, the wet sand holds a mirror image of the mountain. Wind ends that. The reflection retreats into small puddles, and the beach stops matching the photographs that brought people here.

There is more on the site than the one shot. Behind the dunes stands a mock Viking village with a ship, an old farmhouse furnished with period pieces, and whale bones lying about. Icelandic horses sometimes come down off the mountain, through the village and onto the sand. The Viking Cafe sells hot chocolate and hand-knitted wool.

• Wind — the headland faces the open North Atlantic, and the wind can be strong enough to make walking hard. Bring windproof layers.
• The reflection is not guaranteed — in wind it breaks up into small puddles, and the beach looks nothing like the photographs online.
• Late winter — the reflective flats freeze over and mirror the mountain only weakly.
• Facilities — there are toilets on site, and cards are accepted, contactless included.
• With children — the beach, the mock Viking village, the ship and the whale bones give them plenty to do.

Arrive by car. No bus serves Stokksnes, and there is no stop within five kilometres of the headland. From the car park you have a choice: drive on towards the beach, or leave the car and walk the last stretch. Both are normal here. The surface is sand, which is worth a thought before taking a low car any further.

Better: calm, windless days, and sunset.

Avoid: windy days.

Everything depends on still water. A smooth wet surface mirrors Vestrahorn across the sand, while wind cuts the reflection down to puddles. In late winter the flats freeze and reflect only weakly. Sunset light on the mountain is the reason photographers time their visit for the end of the day.