The former farm Kolvidarholl at the foot of the Hellisskard Pass was a popular and a necessary resort for the travellers in the past. It was situated on the most frequented route between the capital area and the agricultural area in the southwest.

A refuge hut was built there in 1844 and later on the guest house, which operation was not profitable in the long run and stopped in 1952. In 1977 the houses were demolished.

According to the legendes, one of many well known at Kolviðarhóll was the Brennivín Ghost. He was said to have been the son of a Danish attendant, at the Sunchenberg store in Reykjavík. His duties lay in keeping count of liquor in store, but was also a liquor lover himself. He used to take horsebackrides to Kolvidarhóll and to Marardalur every summer to quench his thirst for liquor, considering these trips to be his best. This man passed away in his bed in Reykjavík, but the following winter two men from the south of Iceland were riding over the meadow, heading for the shelter on Kolviðarhóll to rest.