PHOTOS:^ LYDIASWINSCOE,^
GETT
Y,^
ALAMYGlaciers make this an
endlessly dramatic landscapeTackle the hike up stunning
Snæfellsjökullalone or with my close circle of
friends, but hiking a glacier with
no guidance is not the best
idea, especially if you don’t own
the equipment. Go West kit you
out with a climbing harness,
crampons, hiking sticks and an
ice axe for the seven to 10 hour
round trip that takes you all the
way to the 1,446m summit.
The trek, of course, is beautiful,
surrounded by a blanket of bright white
snow. Our guide John told fascinating
stories about the history of Iceland and
his passion for the country made the
trip all the more special. Once you
reach the top, it’s hard not to be
humbled by nature and be hit with
a real sense of self-fulfilment. My hike
cost around £140 – for that you’re
part of a really small group and all
equipment is taken care of.Water healing
The endless properties of water are
widely known, from the art of ancient
Roman bathing to the rise in popularity
of flotation tanks that can help to
lower cortisol levels and alleviate
stress. Water therapy has
never been cooler. Of
course Icelanders, with
their unique source of
natural hot water, are
no strangers to its
positive benefits- bathing and swimming is a way of life
for many people, as well as a place to
socialise after a day at work. Eager to
soothe my mind and body and avoid
the crowds, I hunted out the Secret
Lagoon in Fludir. Built in 1891 it was
Iceland’s very first swimming pool
and is heated up to 39C by natural
hot springs. Sitting in the naturally
heated water with steam dancing into
the cool Icelandic air really is a blissful
experience and the rural setting of
Fludir conjures up images of elves and
trolls. Equally mystical is Krossnes – this
really remote pool is a place for serious
adventurers, a good five-hour drive
from Reykjavik. The pool here was
built by local farmers and overlooks
the wildest ocean – a lucky few
swimmers have even
spotted whales from
their spot in the pool,
an experience
that’s surely
hard to beat.
Back
in the
saddle
Another way
to experience Iceland’s
whimsical rock formations,
incredible waterfalls and endless
rainbows is by horseback. Icelandic
horses are a unique breed that came to
the country with the first settlers back in
874AD. Now they’re one of the purest
breeds in the world with a thick winter
coat and sturdy frame that’s ideal for
exploring, plus they’re also incredibly
pretty. I took an evening riding tour with
Islenski Hesturinn (islenskihesturinn.is);
they have well-looked-after horses and
great guides, including Begga who isIt's easy to get out from
Reykjavik into the mountains
hilarious and a great teacher,
making even first-time riders feel
confident. Our group trekked
over lava fields and past volcanic
craters that at times felt like we
were on another planet, but the
highlight was the ending when
the distant sun began to set,
turning the fresh snow a faint
purple shade and then suddenly
to orange – it wasn’t the Northern
Lights but it felt pretty special.
That’s the thing about Iceland – a week
of outdoor activities in a country filled
with volcanic energy, surrounded by
nature, has the power to uplift anyone –
the broken heart part is purely optional.Take me there!
Flights with Icelandair start
from £244 return. Flight time
varies from 1hr 50mins to
3hrs depending from where
in the UK you fly from.
October to May are the best
months for spotting those elusive
Northern Lights.
Hire a car from FairCar Iceland
(faircar.is), they’ll pick you up
at Keflavik International airport
free of charge and all cars have
unlimited milage, free navigation
system and basic insurances.ICELAND TRAVEL