The former estate Herdisarvik, now abandoned, stood on the synonymous cove on the southern shores of the Reykjanes Peninsula.  The steep cliffs of Mt Herdisarvikurfjall (329m) protrude behind it to the north and several lava tongues in its slopes bear witness to prehistoric eruptions in the area and some of them reached the sea.  Along the coastline are still a few obvious ruins of ancient fishing outfits, which were declared inviolate in 1973.

According to the legend, a woman, Herdis, lived in Herdisarvik in the past and her sister, Krysa, in Krysuvik.  They did not see eye to eye and were constantly at each other’s throat.  Both sisters practiced witchcraft and constantly played tricks on each other

The renowned poet and entrepreneur Einar Benediktsson spent the last years of his life in his house in Herdisarvik.  In 1935 he donated it to The University of Iceland and union professors sometimes spend their holidays there.