Iceland Holidays in October

Iceland's beaches in October are wild, dark and best appreciated for their scenery rather than for swimming, as the sea is cold and conditions can be rough along most coasts.

• Reynisfjara black sand beach: Reynisfjara is the best-known black sand beach on the south coast, set below basalt columns and sea stacks. In October the beach is spectacular but genuinely hazardous, because strong waves and sneaker waves can arrive without warning, so you should keep well back from the water at all times. It is a strong photographic stop for an autumn trip, and visiting in the calmer hours of the day is the sensible approach. It is exactly the brief our Iceland Beach Holidays deals are built around.
• Stokksnes dunes: The Stokksnes headland in the southeast combines black sand dunes with the sharp peaks of Vestrahorn behind them, giving one of the most striking coastal panoramas in the country. In October the light is low and dramatic, but the wind can be very strong across the open dunes, so you will want a windproof layer and a steady pace on the sand. It is a rewarding stop for travellers who enjoy coastal landscapes rather than sunbathing.
• Diamond Beach: Diamond Beach sits beside the Jokulsarlon glacier lagoon, where icebergs that drift from the lagoon wash onto the black sand just before reaching the sea. It is a short walk from the Ring Road and offers a striking contrast of ice and volcanic sand in the autumn light. Expect cold winds and wet ground, and treat the water with respect because the currents are powerful.
• Seydisfjordur shore: Seydisfjordur is a small fishing town in the east with a colourful harbour, and its shoreline is better suited to walking and harbour views than to beach time in October. The town is reached by mountain roads, and a seasonal ferry links it with Denmark and the Faroe Islands. Autumn weather is cool and damp here, so the appeal lies in the setting rather than the sea itself.
• Ólafsvík: Ólafsvík, a working fishing town on the northern coast of the peninsula, is a good base for coastal walks in October, when the crowds of the southern shore have thinned and the harbour feels authentically local. The sea here is cold and the wind can be fierce, so think of the shoreline as a place for dramatic scenery, fresh air and quiet cliffs rather than for swimming. Visitors can wander the harbour, watch the boats come in and enjoy the wild Atlantic views.