The Mini Rough Guide to Reykjavík (Travel Guide with Free eBook) by Rough Guides

Author:Rough Guides
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Travel, Iceland
Publisher: Apa Publications
Published: 2023-05-24T04:57:54+00:00

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The icy world of Skaftafell

You can generally spot the clouds of spray from Seljalandsfoss E [map] waterfall long before you reach it. The water topples 60 metres over a hollowed-out cliff, meaning you can walk right behind the falls. The river originates from Eyjafjallajökull glacier, famous for the subglacial volcano that erupted in 2010, covering everything for miles around in thick grey ash and resulting in the largest air-traffic shut-down since World War II.

Ten kilometres (6 miles) east is the tiny village of Skógar R [map] . Skógafoss, another stunner of a waterfall, crashes down from nearby cliffs and is extraordinarily photogenic. Legend tells that the first settler at Skógar hid his treasure beneath the falls. Skógar is also home to a fantastic folk museum (www.skogasafn.is; daily June–Aug 9am–6pm, Sept–May 10am–5pm; charge): some bus tours include entry to its 15,000-piece collection, which includes a reconstructed church, a school and a driftwood house. Just to the east, most tours stop at Sólheimajökull T [map] , where you can walk to the foot of the glacier and stare into the icy waters of the lagoon.

Reynisfjara beach, with black sand and basalt columns, makes another photogenic stop. Keep well away from the water – freak waves have killed several people over the years. The last port of call is the coastal town of Vík Y [map] , set beside a dramatic stretch of coastline: here the North Atlantic swell smashes down onto a long beach of black sand and three distinctive stone steeples, known as Reynisdrangar, rise out of the sea. Legend has it that they are trolls who were turned to stone as they pulled their three-masted ship ashore. Far more monstrous are the aggressive Arctic terns – Vík contains one of Iceland’s largest breeding colonies. Bus tours stop for lunch at the (much expanded in recent years) services there before heading back to Reykjavík (bring your own packed lunch to make more time for sight-seeing).

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