7 September 2023
The next few days see us making our way west towards Reykjavik mainly on the F roads but occasionally dropping down to the main circular ring road stopping off at some of the tourist sights that Iceland has to offer. This tour isn’t all about driving on bumpy tracks.
We stop to view the Blue Glacier Lagoon at Jokulsarlon and then on to the spectacular Diamond Beach, so called because of the dazzling lumps of glacial ice scattered along the shoreline. Later in the day we had a long remote beach drive which led us to a sheep farm where we camped for the night. In the morning we had a chance to see the traditional rural Iceland economy in action. The farm’s owner showed us around her business – spinning wool from her sheep to make jumpers, hats and gloves that are so recognisable as Icelandic.
With tyres deflated we are off on another spectacular 4×4 drive with so many water crossings as we head for the highlands towards Laugavegur. This is real Iceland. Steaming landscapes, black sand tracks (Iceland actually boasts the largest desert in Europe) verdant green moss and lichen covered snow capped mountains and foaming waterfalls.
We end a long day’s drive wild camping in a car park next to the Haifoss Waterfall. After tea on another cold and inky black night as if by magic the northern lights make another quite spectacular appearance.
