Ten minutes drive (9km) will bring you to an island, now linked to the mainland by a beach and a causeway. It is a nature reserve for nesting sea birds and for this reason access is limited in May/June. At other times it is a spectacular place to view the huge natural rock arch, after which it takes its name, and to watch the Atlantic waves crashing onto the rocks and black sand beach. The views back across the lagoon towards the Mýrdalsjökull icecap and westward along the south coast of Iceland toward the Westman Islands are no less impressive – especially in the evening sunlight. Close by, below the mountain Geitafjall, is the cave Loftsalahellir, used for local meetings until the turn of the last century (18/19thC). It is carved into sub-glacially erupted lava (palagonite) similar to the east end of Dyrhólaey. The farm Dyrhólar is the venue for amphibious vehicle trips.