Elidey Island Shelter Confirmed as World's Loneliest House

A remote stone house on the uninhabited Icelandic island of Elliðaey in the Vestmannaeyjar archipelago has been identified as a seasonal hunter's shelter rather than a billionaire bunker or a gift to singer Björk. Built in 1953 by the local Elidey Hunters Association, the structure served members who came to the island for puffin hunting and egg‑collecting. The island, only 0.45 km², has no roads, ports or permanent residents, and access is limited by steep cliffs and strong sea currents.

Myths that the house was constructed for a wealthy recluse or that Icelandic Prime Minister Davíð Oddsson offered it to Björk stem from a mix‑up with another island of the same name. In reality, the shelter remains owned by the hunters’ association and is occasionally used for gatherings, while the surrounding area is known for large colonies of Atlantic puffins.