Iceland. A country of gnomes and fairies, volcanoes and glaciers, mysticism and fable…..

Iceland is a country that we have wanted to visit for some time, and this year, we finally got the chance. It has appealed to our sense of adventure for a while. With the lowest population density in Europe, it’s almost alien and sometimes inaccessible landscape just screams out to be explored.

The Iceland experience can vary immensely depending on the time of year. Winter brings short days, extreme weather, cold and impassable roads, but with a very good chance of seeing the Northern Lights. Summer has the midnight sun, the flora and fauna, better temperatures and sunsets and sunrises that last for hours. It also gives rise to masses of tourists forcing up hotel prices and swarming around the popular sights.

We opted for spring. A smattering of snow, more daylight, a slim chance of seeing the Aurora Borealis (which unfortunately didn’t materialise), cheaper accommodation, and endless empty roads.

Upon landing in Keflavik, we picked up a trusty Chevrolet Aveo and hit the road. 300 miles of it to Höfn in the south east corner of the island. The first step of of journey was not without incident - a wrong turn up a gravel road, a 12 mile dust storm with severely limited visibility, and winds so strong that it was a constant battle with the steering wheel.

Share this Story