Outlaws

Iceland’s rugged landscapes have long been home to legends, but few stories are as captivating as that of Fjalla-Eyvindur and Halla. These two lovers, bound by hardship and resilience, chose a life on the run, seeking refuge in some of the country’s most remote and unforgiving places—including the windswept Hornstrandir.

Eyvindur Jónsson was a fugitive, accused of theft, though accounts of his crimes vary. Halla Jónsdóttir, his devoted wife, chose to leave civilization behind and follow him into the wilderness. Together, they became Iceland’s most famous outlaws, surviving by their wits, evading capture for decades, and moving from hiding place to hiding place.

Hornstrandir, with its dramatic fjords, steep cliffs, and isolation, provided them shelter at one point in their journey. Here, they would have relied on the land’s sparse resources—fishing, trapping birds, and foraging—to sustain themselves. The remoteness of Hornstrandir made it an ideal hideaway, but life there was undoubtedly harsh.

Halla’s legendary strength and loyalty are captured in the haunting tale of when they were finally discovered. Faced with capture and separation from her child, she is said to have cast the infant into a waterfall rather than allow it to be taken from her. Whether this is truth or myth, it cements her place in Icelandic folklore as a woman of unyielding will.

Even today, as visitors hike through Hornstrandir’s untouched landscapes, it’s easy to imagine Fjalla-Eyvindur and Halla navigating these same trails, braving the elements in their fight for freedom. Their story remains one of defiance, survival, and love against all odds—a timeless saga etched into the heart of Iceland’s wilderness.