Iceland - Route 1 and Beyond

22/12/2023

Húsavík might be the whale watching capital of Iceland, but you wouldn’t think of it as an ideal place for alligators.

But back in 2001, the town’s mayor was seriously considering importing these giant reptiles as part of an innovative plan to chew through food waste!

The “Krokodil Plan” would use the geothermally superheated water that warms the town’s homes and generates its electricity to keep imported alligators hot and happy while they munched the waste from the town’s fish-packing plants.

According to the plan, the reptiles would also add to Iceland’s tourism draw, jostling with the whales, reindeer, puffins and Arctic foxes as a sight to see.

Húsavík’s mayor in 2001, Reinhard Reynisson, was inspired by a Colorado fish farm that used geothermal springs to raise alligators to consume their food waste in the same way.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, there wasn’t much enthusiasm for Reynisson’s unusual initiative, and that was that.

After all, a constant diet of fish guts wouldn’t have made up for less than three hours of daylight in winter for theoretical Icelandic alligators!

14/12/2023

If you’re going whale watching in Iceland, you might want to check out this fascinating (and free) web service that identifies individual whales from images uploaded to the site.

If the whale has been sighted before, the website will show everywhere else it has been sighted too.

It can tell you if the whale has been named, or invites you to choose one if it hasn’t.

It uses AI to achieve this, an example of artificial intelligence we can all be pleased about!

https://happywhale.com/home

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-67649177

Artificial intelligence helps people identify what animals they are looking at and aids conservation.

08/12/2023

If you're travelling to Iceland next week, this is something to monitor.

Air traffic controllers in Iceland will strike on Tuesday and Thursday morning next week, causing flight delays at Keflavík Airport.

14/11/2023

If you're travelling to Iceland over Christmas, this link will be useful.

Iceland-Highlights.com have curated this helpful list of restaurant and bar openings in the capital over the festive period.

Bookmark it and check for further updates.

https://www.iceland-highlights.com/restaurants-open-christmas-reykjavik/

List of restaurants that will be open during the Christmas time (24th and 25th December) and New Year's Eve in Reykjavik.

09/10/2023

Another positive review from a happy traveller, combining the natural marvels of Iceland with some helpful tips from Iceland - Route 1 and Beyond for a memorable experience in the "Land of Fire and Ice".

If you're planning a visit, I'm here to help.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CC97NCK8?binding=kindle_edition&ref=dbs_dp_rwt_sb_pc_tukn

02/10/2023

Selfoss sits on the banks of the river Ölfusá, and it's the largest settlement on the South Coast, lined with shops, fuel stops and fast food options.

Check out the new Mjólkurbúið Mathöll (the Old Dairy Food Hall), which houses eight restaurants and two bars, with seating space for as many as 300 visitors.

The Old Dairy Food Hall and the Brúarstræti shopping street are part of a significant facelift for Selfoss, with 35 historic-looking buildings hosting shops, restaurants and hotels.

This new “downtown” area can be found on the main road by the bridge over the river.

There’s a parking area behind the newly constructed street.

Selfoss is an ideal place to take a break when you're driving along the South Coast.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09NM8ZMJH?ref_=dbs_m_mng_rwt_calw_tkin_0&storeType=ebooks

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CC97NCK8?binding=kindle_edition&ref=dbs_dp_rwt_sb_pc_tukn

02/10/2023

Kerið is an unusually colourful volcanic crater with streaks of rust-red earth from iron deposits and blankets of velvet-green mosses.

Combined with a blue-green lake, the stunning mix of colours makes it a magnificent sight.

To visit Kerið, look for a turn to the left after travelling about 26 kilometres from Reykholt on Route 35, between Gullfoss and Selfoss.

More than three thousand years old, Kerið is 55 metres deep and 270 metres wide. You can walk around the rim and down to the mineral water lake to enjoy the view.

There is a small fee to park, but there are no toilet facilities.

The famous Icelandic singer Björk once performed a concert from a floating stage here.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09NM8ZMJH?ref_=dbs_m_mng_rwt_calw_tkin_0&storeType=ebooks

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CC97NCK8?binding=kindle_edition&ref=dbs_dp_rwt_sb_pc_tukn

29/09/2023

Sólheimar Eco Village is an Icelandic pioneer of organic farming, environmental and ecological living, recycling and sustainability, first established in 1930.

You’ll find a café and a store offering organic vegetables grown there.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09NM8ZMJH?ref_=dbs_m_mng_rwt_calw_tkin_0&storeType=ebooks

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CC97NCK8?binding=kindle_edition&ref=dbs_dp_rwt_sb_pc_tukn

29/09/2023

Skálholt (south of Reykholt) is most significant as a religious centre, as it was one of two episcopal seats in Iceland for more than 700 years.

Iceland’s last Catholic bishop, Jón Arason, was beheaded here with his two sons in 1550 when the Reformation changed Iceland’s religious direction.

There are also some excellent views from this spot.


https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09NM8ZMJH?ref_=dbs_m_mng_rwt_calw_tkin_0&storeType=ebooks

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CC97NCK8?binding=kindle_edition&ref=dbs_dp_rwt_sb_pc_tukn

29/09/2023

For an even more old-fashioned Icelandic hot pot experience, head for Hrunalaug, five kilometres from Flúðir, just off Route 344.

You’ll find a secluded enclave and a collection of three stone-walled hot pools to enjoy a peaceful, unhurried soak in gorgeous surroundings.

Hrunalaug has been used by the same farming family as a laundry and sheep wash since it was built in the 1890s.

The naturally heated and pure mineral waters have been rejuvenating visitors for decades.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09NM8ZMJH?ref_=dbs_m_mng_rwt_calw_tkin_0&storeType=ebooks

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CC97NCK8?binding=kindle_edition&ref=dbs_dp_rwt_sb_pc_tukn

21/09/2023

If you’re in the mood for a relaxing soak, Iceland’s oldest swimming pool is halfway between Gullfoss and Selfoss, in the village of Flúðir.

Dating back to 1891, the Secret Lagoon is a natural hot spring pool with showers, a bar, and an eating area.

Gamla Laugin (Icelandic for old pool) is a little “rough and ready” than the modern spas, making it a more authentic Icelandic hot pot experience.

Watch a little geyser erupt every five minutes while you lie back in the pool and enjoy beautiful views of rolling green pastures, essentially the same scene as in 1891.

https://secretlagoon.is/

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09NM8ZMJH?ref_=dbs_m_mng_rwt_calw_tkin_0&storeType=ebooks

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CC97NCK8?binding=kindle_edition&ref=dbs_dp_rwt_sb_pc_tukn

21/09/2023

For a small country in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean with just a few hundred thousand residents, Iceland offers more outstanding restaurants than you might expect to find.

A little way south of Gullfoss on Route 35, you can visit Friðheimar, one of the most famous restaurants in Iceland, which specialises in one ingredient.

Friðheimar is a tomato-centred restaurant, bar and shop in a fully functioning greenhouse, where geothermal power keeps the plants warm all year.

Friðheimar grows three varieties of tomato, all pollinated by bees.

That single ingredient fuels a fascinating menu - as well as the freshest bowl of tomato soup you’re likely to find, there are ravioli pasta, tortilla and mussel dishes, a very drinkable tomato beer, or tomato schnapps.

Booking in advance is required - Friðheimar is a top-rated destination!

(images supplied by Friðheimar)

https://www.fridheimar.is/

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09NM8ZMJH?ref_=dbs_m_mng_rwt_calw_tkin_0&storeType=ebooks

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CC97NCK8?binding=kindle_edition&ref=dbs_dp_rwt_sb_pc_tukn

21/09/2023

The furthest edge of the Golden Circle from the city is gorgeous Gullfoss, which translates as the “Golden Falls”.

A roaring double-drop waterfall with a cascade of more than 30 metres creating clouds of spray as millions of gallons of water crash into a narrow ravine, Gullfoss offers incredible images at any time of the year.

The first “step” drops down 11 metres (36 ft), followed by another 21 metres (69 ft) cascade, framed by cliffs rising to 70 metres (230 ft).

The waterfall empties into a deep gorge, which measures 2.5 kilometres (1.5 miles) in length and up to 70 m (230 ft) deep in places.

It’s an exhilarating experience to witness the power of nature on display here.

Huge rainbows arch over the falls on sunny days, and it’s just as stunning on snowy winter days.

There are several viewing platforms, with some closed in the winter months for safety reasons.

You’ll also find an excellent café and souvenir shop. On clear days, you’ll see Langjökull in the far distance, the glacier that feeds the falls.

In the last century, Gullfoss narrowly survived a development plan to place a hydroelectric power plant on the Hvítá River. The landowners and foreign investors made some progress, but the project failed.

Sigríður Tómasdóttir, the daughter of one of the landowners, made repeated legal objections to the plan and even threatened to drown herself in protest.

Her principled stand as one of Iceland’s first environmental campaigners is remembered with a plaque near the top of the falls. The Icelandic government made Gullfoss a protected site in 1975.

Like Geysir, it’s free to enter and park at Gullfoss.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09NM8ZMJH?ref_=dbs_m_mng_rwt_calw_tkin_0&storeType=ebooks

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CC97NCK8?binding=kindle_edition&ref=dbs_dp_rwt_sb_pc_tukn

21/09/2023

The second major stop on the Golden Circle is Geysir, which gave its name to all erupting hot springs worldwide - it’s the OG of geysers!

This is one of the most famous attractions in Iceland and where you’ll get some of your best photos.

Every few minutes, the ground trembles, the waters bubble and boil, and the geyser erupts!

Geysir’s name comes from the Icelandic phrase “geysa", meaning “to gush”.

First formed by an earthquake in 1294, Geysir was the first natural geyser known to Europeans and the first described in a printed source.

Visible many kilometres away, you’ll see a pall of steam vapour rising above the Haukadalur geothermal valley, where hot springs bubble out over a grassy slope.

After more than 800 years of activity, the “Great Geysir” is mostly still and silent after recent geological changes.

Strokkur has taken over, sending superheated water and vapour fountains shooting high into the sky every few minutes.

You’ll see it erupt and smell the sulphur in the air as you make your way there from the car park.

You can get quite close to Strokkur, but checking the prevailing wind before settling in for the next eruption is wise to avoid a possible soaking.

Just remember to stand upwind to avoid a shower!

Geysers occur when cold rainwater seeps down fractured bedrock onto hot volcanic rocks which superheats the water.

Trapped underground, the water becomes vapour under intense pressure, exploding from the subterranean chambers and shooting into the air.

Remember – Strokkur erupts several times an hour, so you’ll have plenty of opportunities to get a great photo or video.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09NM8ZMJH?ref_=dbs_m_mng_rwt_calw_tkin_0&storeType=ebooks

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CC97NCK8?binding=kindle_edition&ref=dbs_dp_rwt_sb_pc_tukn

21/09/2023

One of the Golden Circle’s hidden gems, Brúarfoss (Bridge Waterfall), was once restricted to hikers with plenty of time to spare for a 3.5-kilometre walk (7km round trip).

The walking trail is partly gravel, but there are some unsurfaced sections, too, so wear good shoes if you take this path.

A new parking lot (varying fees apply, use the Parka app) now makes a trip here much more accessible.

From Efstidalur II, look left for a sign from Route 37 to Hlauptunga on the west bank of the Brúará River.

Some call this lovely cascade “Iceland’s Bluest Waterfall”, as the relatively small drop creates fast-flowing rapids that race through the ravine.

There used to be a natural stone bridge over the river here, but it was destroyed in 1602 as part of a land dispute.

The waterfall’s name continues to this day.

Another highlight of the Golden Circle, now made much easier to experience!

www.bruarfoss.is

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09NM8ZMJH?ref_=dbs_m_mng_rwt_calw_tkin_0&storeType=ebooks

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CC97NCK8?binding=kindle_edition&ref=dbs_dp_rwt_sb_pc_tukn

20/09/2023

Iceland is famous for its geothermal spas, and you can visit one of the most picturesque at Laugarvatn Fontana, on the Golden Circle trail.

Built over a bubbling hot spring, you can enjoy three connected outdoor mineral pools of varying depths, sizes and temperatures and three traditional steam rooms.

And you can take a cooling dip in the adjacent lake as well.

Take the Bread Tour and learn about geothermal baking, enjoying rye bread (rúgbrauð), one of Iceland’s unique delicacies.

An ideal place to soothe yourself after a day of exploring the Golden Circle!

(Images supplied by Laugarvatn Fontana)

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09NM8ZMJH?ref_=dbs_m_mng_rwt_calw_tkin_0&storeType=ebooks

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CC97NCK8?binding=kindle_edition&ref=dbs_dp_rwt_sb_pc_tukn

20/09/2023

On the way from Þingvellir to Geysir, you’ll pass through Laugarvatn.

8 kilometres east from the junction of Routes 36 and 365, look for the sign to The Cave People at Laugarvatnshellir.

Iceland today is a modern country, as technologically advanced as any other and with one of the highest standards of living in the world.

But that wasn’t always the case – until the Second World War, Iceland was very underdeveloped, and living conditions were often relatively primitive.

The Cave People offers a fascinating guided tour of a wild cave where local shepherds and farmers once lived, giving you an authentic taste of the realities of Icelandic life from the past.

Check for opening hours before visiting.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09NM8ZMJH?ref_=dbs_m_mng_rwt_calw_tkin_0&storeType=ebooks

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CC97NCK8?binding=kindle_edition&ref=dbs_dp_rwt_sb_pc_tukn

20/09/2023

Þingvellir National Park is the first significant stop on the Golden Circle trail and where you should allow the most time for a visit (2-3 hours), as there are many enthralling features to see here.

Giant cracks scour the terrain as the North American and Eurasian continental plates split apart along the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, making Iceland slightly wider every day.

Imagine that - Iceland is growing at the same speed as your fingernails!

Geologically fascinating, Þingvellir is also hugely important in Iceland’s cultural and historical life.

This is where the Vikings established the first recognised Icelandic parliament, the Alþingi (General Assembly), in 930 AD.

Iceland declared its conversion to Christianity here in 1000 and later its independence from Denmark on June 17th, 1944.

Þingvellir translates as “Parliament Field”, and this extraordinary place is where the nation of Iceland began to establish its own identity.

An easy path takes visitors on a walkway full of intriguing archaeological remains.

Information signs explain the area’s rich history and place in the famous Icelandic sagas.

The National Park was established in 1930, the first in Iceland, and became a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2004.

It’s the perfect place to start your tour of Iceland!

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CC97NCK8?binding=kindle_edition&ref=dbs_dp_rwt_sb_pc_tukn

19/09/2023

If you’re looking for an easy-to-follow guide to self-driving the South Coast from Reykjavík to Vík, you may find this eBook helpful.

Available as a free download from Amazon until Sunday, this eBook will lead you through the sights to be seen in Suðurland, the Southern Region of Iceland.

Packed with photos and straightforward driving details from one spectacular sightseeing stop to the next, it includes helpful links and will work on your phone, tablet or Kindle.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09Q25XZ9B

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B09Q25XZ9B

Part of a series that explores Iceland’s famous Route 1 and beyond, it’ll help you make the most of your time in Iceland.

PS - you may need to look at your own “version” of Amazon.

24/08/2023

One of my favourite views of Vestmannaeyjar.

A family admires the view from Eldfell, the volcano that erupted in the middle of the night fifty years ago, sending Heimaey’s residents rushing to the harbour to escape.

In the distance, Elliðaey and its famous singular house, and little Bjarnarey act as sentinels in the archipelago.

Visiting Vestmannaeyjar is a ferry ride that rewards you every time.

18/08/2023

Hello all and thank you for following this Page in its early days.

As a small “thank you” for your support, the first book in the “Route 1 and Beyond” series is currently available as a free download.

"Introduction and the Golden Circle" has been updated this week with new content and photos, so even if you already have the first edition, you might find this useful to download.

Takk fyrir!

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09NM8ZMJH?ref_=dbs_m_mng_rwt_calw_tkin_0&storeType=ebooks

PS - you may need to look at your own “version” of Amazon.

Route 1 and Beyond - A Self-Drive Guide to Iceland: Introduction and The Golden Circle

16/08/2023

Three years ago this week, I explored Iceland’s Ring Road for the third time.

It looked like this.

https://youtu.be/faV0S0hEmyY

If you’ve been before, you might recognise some of these places.

If you’re yet to travel to the “Land of Fire and Ice”, this is what awaits.

The best road trip in the world…

Leaving the stresses and strains of Covid-19 and Brexit behind for a few days of natural wonder and peaceful solitude on the Ring Road in Iceland.

10/08/2023

If you’re in Iceland this weekend, and fancy fish for dinner, you’re in luck.

The Great Fish Day is an annual festival held in Dalvík in North Iceland (August 10th to 13th this year).

The locals are inviting you to enjoy a seafood buffet from 11am onwards.

Who could say no to that kind offer?

https://www.visitakureyri.is/en/whats-on/fiskidagurinn-mikli

01/08/2023

If you're a Brit or an American, it'll cost you a little more to visit Iceland in the future.
https://grapevine.is/news/2023/07/31/travellers-outside-schengen-to-pay-fee-when-entering-iceland/?fbclid=IwAR0paEDpTwC3ySvXbMc-99P-dOY_yfWX4Yk0gSpzUp72AWHsk4ZMA98NlEg

A new visa exemption scheme regulating entry into Iceland will be enforced from 2024 and onwards. What does that mean? Read on to find out.

24/07/2023

There’s a viewpoint on Route 1 as it sweeps down from Hellisheiði towards Hveragerði on the South Coast.

You can pull in there and enjoy extraordinary views of the coastal plain.

But if you take a little walk below the fence, you might find someone else there too, having a little think.

https://goo.gl/maps/z1eWSYvA6jysByjk8

14/07/2023

Continuing the theme of double-checking advice from Google Maps with Icelandic resources, the same issue applies when looking at the route to Dettifoss.

No matter if you’re travelling there from Egilsstaðir or Mývatn, Google Maps suggests Route 864.

This route takes you to the eastern side of Dettifoss, where the views of the mighty waterfall are very impressive.

But it’s also a bumpy gravel path, often closed or impassable in poor weather conditions.

https://www.dangerousroads.org/europe/iceland/2331-road-864.html

By comparison, Route 862 is a fully paved tarmac road which sweeps up to the parking lot for the western side of Dettifoss and onwards to Ásbyrgi.

Remember - always check your planned route on https://vegasja.vegagerdin.is/eng/ and https://umferdin.is/en before travelling!

14/07/2023

Google Maps is a tremendous resource, making it easier to navigate without traditional paper maps.

However, it’s not perfect, and when you’re exploring Iceland, it’s really important to check other sources.

For example, if you’re travelling between Egilsstaðir and Höfn in East Iceland, Google Maps suggests Route 1 and Route 95.

That appears to be a shortcut compared to staying on Route 1, which hugs the shores of the Eastfjords (the grey route on the screenshot).

That ignores the Öxi Pass (Route 939), a 20-kilometre gravel track which connects the Ring Road to Route 95 over a 500+ metre elevation.

https://www.dangerousroads.org/europe/iceland/6361-%C3%B6xi-pass.html

Route 939 is a steep, narrow and twisting mountain pass, and while it offers some magical views, including Folaldafoss, it is quite challenging.

It should only be considered in the summer months, and even then, only when the weather forecast is favourable, and in a vehicle with good ground clearance and grip.

So, if you’re exploring East Iceland, keep it in mind!

10/07/2023

The third volcanic eruption on the Reykjanes peninsula in three years has begun!

It looks like a sizeable fissure eruption this time.

Live updates here: https://www.ruv.is/frettir/innlent/2023-07-10-eldgos-er-hafid-og-sprungan-200-metra-long-387330

Monitoring for a possible new volcanic eruption due to increased seismicity in the Fagradalsfjall and Keilir area. Watch live feeds from our webcams with spectacular views of Iceland. Our streaming cameras are placed all around Iceland and broadcast 24/7. The ultimate slow TV!

06/07/2023

If you travel east from Vík on Route 1, it won’t be long before you reach Laufskálavarða.

On the inland side of the road, about 40 kilometres east of Vík, you’ll see a prominent lava ridge with a fascinating story to tell.

First-time travellers making their way across the black sands of Mýrdalssandur would leave little stacks of stones called cairns as good luck charms.

It’s a local tradition that has led to hundreds of cairns being built in thanks for safe journeys made over the years.

Visitors are asked not to add new cairns to the Icelandic countryside for environmental, cultural, and social reasons.

05/07/2023

Did you know that 80% of the world’s eiderdown comes from Iceland?

Nearly a million Common Eider ducks live in Iceland throughout the year, nesting and laying their eggs in May.

Eiderdown is gathered from the nests in June, and it’s highly valued for its exceptional insulating qualities, used in duvets and bedding.

Eiderdown duvets are prized heirlooms in Iceland - it takes a lot of effort to collect and prepare the down!

You can find out more by visiting Hraun in the beautiful Fljót Valley on the Tröllaskagi peninsula in North Iceland, between Hofsós and Siglufjörður.

The views are pretty nice too.

04/07/2023

Many visitors to Iceland make it a priority to visit the “Glacier Lagoon” at Jökulsárlón.

When countless icebergs fill Iceland’s deepest lake, it’s an astonishing sight.

The views are mesmerising, and it’s no surprise that scenes from James Bond, Lara Croft and Game of Thrones have been filmed there.

But there is an alternative close by, less visited and much quieter, and arguably with a better view of the glacier edge.

Fjallsárlón is the “glacier lagoon” for Fjallsjökull, an outlet glacier originating from Vatnajökull, Iceland’s mightiest ice cap.

The lagoon nestles under the fearsome volcano Öræfajökull, which laid waste to this region in 1362.

Of course, it’s a matter of opinion, but Fjallsárlón might offer you a finer view of a glacier’s edge than its big brother down the road.

The turn inland is 12 kilometres before the turn to Jökulsárlón if you’re heading east.

Keep an eye out for skuas, as they may not welcome your arrival!

Take a look next time, if you’ve not been already.

03/07/2023

Here’s another hidden treat on the Ring Road between Skaftafell (20 km east) and Jökulsárlón (38 km west).

Hofskirkja is among the last turf-roofed churches still standing in Iceland.

Layers of green turf lie on the roof of this storybook church.

Surrounded by moss-covered burial mounds, it looks like it’s melting into the landscape around it.

Dating back to 1884, the church was rebuilt in the 1950s and the locals still worship here now, so it’s not always open.

But it’s well worth pulling off the Ring Road at Hof to take a look. It’s just a couple of minutes up the track.

30/06/2023

Sometimes you arrive somewhere at just the right time…

Views from the Tröð Scenic Lookout on the Kambsnes peninsula in the Westfjords, overlooking Álftafjörður and Súðavík.

30/06/2023

Going to Goðafoss?

Well, why not? The “Waterfall of the Gods” is a tremendous sight and it’s easily reached, right next to the Ring Road at Fosshóll, roughly halfway between Akureyri and Mývatn.

If you do find yourself there, make sure you take a look from both banks.

Most people seem to pick the right-hand bank (looking upstream). The views from there are fabulous and you can get quite close to the falls.

But on the left-hand side (where the restaurant and gas pumps are), there’s a little path that leads down to the river’s edge.

So you can see it like this, if you want to. It’s well worth the extra effort, but it’s best done in the summer months.

29/06/2023

Making your way to Mývatn?

There’s so much to see around this must-see gem of the North, you could easily spend a day or more roaming its 36-km circuit.

But one of them is easily missed, and if you’ve got the time, the views are well worth the diversion.

Höfði is an oasis of calm on a beautiful wooded headland. Coming here offers you a closer view of the lake, and the astonishing klasar lava pillars that poke up into the air here.

Just a couple of kilometres south from the Dimmuborgir turnoff on the eastern side of the lake, look for a little parking area down towards the shore.

Park up and take a walk through the beautiful forested area, filled with wildflowers in the summer.

Then just stand and admire the view!

28/06/2023

If you’ve got Skógafoss and Seljalandsfoss on your list for the South Coast, then why not add Kvernufoss as well?

Unlike its big brothers, you can’t see Kvernufoss clearly from the road, so you might miss seeing it unless you know where to look.

And Kvernufoss offers you another chance to experience a towering waterfall from behind the cascade, with far fewer visitors to navigate than you’ll find at Seljalandsfoss.

It’s not quite a full circuit, but the path runs further back, so you might avoid getting quite as wet as you will at Seljalandsfoss.

It’s nearly a hundred feet high, with a powerful ribbon of water crashing down onto the rocks below.

The name loosely translates as “millstone” or “grinder” falls, but its name comes from the Kverna river here.

How to find it? Park outside Skógasafn (the heritage museum further down the road from Skógafoss). Pay for parking first.

Walk to your right (heading east) behind the buildings, looking for the path.

Then it’s a 20-minute walk in good conditions. It’s a reasonably easy walk, but it’s best to visit Kvernufoss in the summer months.

In the winter, the close-at-hand icicles and strong winds in the gorge would be a risky combination!