Hiking with Halla: Eldborg

Feel like doing a hike in beautiful surroundings yet so easy its almost suitable for toddlers. Then why not head off to Snaefellsnes peninsula? You can drive to Snorrastadir, where a farm stay and horse rental are on offer, and hike from there to a 5.000 year old volcano crater called “Eldborg” or “The Fortress of Fire”.

The hike will leave you relaxed and refreshed.
The hike will leave you relaxed and refreshed.

The trail is easy all the way to the roots of the crator where it has rough lava fields reminiscent of the moon’s surface. If you go there in the month of May you have a good chance of spotting a raven’s nest who usually does his nesting inside of the edge of the crator. In August there are lots of blackcurrant berries to nipple on during your smooth hike.

From the top of Eldborg it’s only ca 20 -30 metres down – from the edge into the bottom of the crator. I don’t recommend hiking into the crater as the hills are very loose and hard to get a grip to walk up the inside walls. For safety , people should not go into the crator. The hight is 112 meters over sea level.

I hike on Eldborg almost every time that I go to Snaefellsnes because it’s so refreshing and I just love the energy of the location. There is nothing like gazing at Snaefellsnesjökull from the top of Eldborg. Its simply magical. And knowing all the secrets and folkstories of Snaefellsjökull makes the journey into Snaefellsnes peninsula even more adventurous.

Practical info:

  • Eldborg (volcano crator) to the roots of Snaefellsjökull
  • Drive: 90 min away from Reykjavik to Snaefellsnes peninsula
  • Height: 112 m
  • Length of hike: 6 km
  • Terrain: Easy mos trail all the way until hiking up the edge of the crator, rough lava fields
  • Average ascend time: 1 hour
  • Total average trip time: 2 hours
  • Height gain: ~100 meter
Places of interest on the way
The beautiful church at Búðir, on the south shore of Snæfellsnes.
The beautiful church at Búðir, on the south shore of Snæfellsnes. Photo:Richard Gould.

Hotel Budir. A good place to make a pitch stop to either have a little snack, lunch or dinner. Walking down the by the beach of Budir is wonderful. You can also walk for about 40 min into a location called Frambúdir where you have a good chance to see seals. If you want to swim with the locals in the sea, then right next to Hotel Budir there is a little pier which makes a fantastic jump off-board when the tide is high.

Raudfeldsgja. A crack which cuts into the eastern side of mountain Botnsfjall, in Breiðavík, Snaefellsnes. You can park the car and walk 10 min all the way to the crack. There is a stream running out of it. You can walk further in and see a really beautiful waterfall.

Sönghellir. A famous cave, known for its echo. Its located on the roots of glacier Snaefellsjökull. Take a torch or a pocket light with you and have a look inside. On the walls you will see runes and all kinds of magical signs.

Pools at Djupalonssandur.
Pools at Djupalonssandur. Photo:Jim Kelly.

Arnarstapi. A small fishing village at the foot of mountain Stapafell between Hellnar village and Breiðavík farms on the southern side of Snæfellsnes. From there you can walk to Hellnar. If travelling in a group, it’s a good idea to have someone drive the car to Hellnar to pick the others up. If you decide to do that, then drive all the way to the ocean. There is a tiny little cute cafe located on the breathtaking beach.

Djupalonssandur. A sandy beach on foot of glacier Snæfellsjökull. There you will see peculiar rock formations and ruins of fishing stations at the foot of the cliff. Walk the “pearl beach” as Djupalonssandur is called and even further. It takes about 30 min to get to a bay called Dritvik which is enclosed by rocks and cliffs. Dritvik used to be one of the largest fishing centres in Iceland at one time. From there you can decide if you would like to drive further or head back to Reykjavik.

Note: On the way to Snaefellsnes make sure to stop at Ölkelda, a farm  close to Stadará in Stadarsveit, which is part of Snæfellsbær, Route 571. There you can take a sip of fresh sparkling mineral water from the ground.



For further information, check out Halla’s Facebook-site, send inquiries to hallahimintungl@gmail.com or contact Hekla Travel in Iceland. Note: Halla will be offering day (hiking) trips around Reykjavik for max. 4 people from July to August this year.


Never start a long hike in new hiking boots. Make sure you have proper hiking boots you’ve used several times before and a first aid kit that includes lots of band aids  orso-called second skin. Second skin can be put on your feet in case you get blisters from walking.

Bring food that is easy to carry. If you hike for more than one day then take some dry fruits with you and flat, soft Icelandic rye bread instead of wheat bread as the bread gets moldy rather quickly during hikes.

Remember to bring along some good hiking boots.
Remember to bring along some good hiking boots.

For two or more days take with you: A tent, sleeping bag, sleeping mattress, back pack, first aid kit (see above), toilet bag, 1 toilet paper roll, food, drinks, sun glasses, extra shoes to wade rivers, water bottle, lighter, mobile phone and charger, hiking canes or sticks, which are good when wading rivers and also to take off pressure from the knees and hips when going downhill, pocket knife, duct tape, earplugs, towel, sewing kit, warm clothes and clothes that are wind and water proofed. Comfortable hiking boots that you are used to (see above). Good spirit and lots of laughter.

In case of emergency always leave your travelling plan and mobile number with someone in town, so they can follow-up on you and send out rescue team in a worst case scenario.

If you are hiking in an area that you are not familiar with, rule number one is to ask the locals about the area and make sure you have updated weather forecast before starting the journey.

There are excellent guides and tips on safe travel in Iceland on the site safetravel.is

Á. Óskarsson
Á. Óskarsson

Á. Óskarsson offers a variety of products and services to sports centers, swimming pools, schools, kindergartens, and the general public. The company specializes in sport-related products, activity-focused games, and a wide range of solutions for sports facilities.

Á. Óskarsson has been involved in numerous big projects related to building sports facilities and has made it their benchmark to offer good quality products and equipment since the company was founded.

See links to social media in the upper left-hand corner

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Á. Óskarsson selur fjölbreytt vöruúrval fyrir íþróttahús, sundlaugar, skóla og leikskóla og einnig ýmsar vörur til einkaafnota. Fyrirtækið selur vörur til íþróttaiðkunnar og leikja ásamt því að bjóða upp á ýmsar lausnir fyrir íþróttamannvirki.

Á. Óskarsson hefur komið að fjölda stórra verkefna við byggingu íþróttamannvirkja og hefur frá stofnun kappkostað að bjóða vandaðar og endingargóðar vörur.

Tenglar á samfélagsmiðla eru í efra horninu vinstra megin.

Webpage/vefsetur

Blush

    Blush was founded in 2011 when it started selling high quality sex products. The goal from the beginning was to change the market and take the discussion about sex products to a higher level. Today Blush provides professional services in a pleasant environment that fulfills different needs, both for individuals and couples. Blush respects diversity and wants to set a good example in all of its messaging to target audiences. Sexual health and equality in sex is important and Blush wants to focus on those issues through education and open discussion. Blush works in a socially responsible manner for society, their customers and the environment.

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    Omnom Chocolate
    - award-winning chocolate maker

      Omnom Chocolate is an Icelandic craft chocolate company based in Reykjavík. We produce handcrafted chocolate from organic cacao beans sourced ethically and sustainably. We’ve developed direct relationships to create premium chocolate with fine flavor cacao beans.

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      In only a few short years, we’ve grown from our 50 sq. m. petrol station space and become an award-winning chocolate maker. Now, with our headquarters in 101 Reykjavík, our chocolate is sent out around Iceland and all over the world.

      At the end of the day, our goal is to make chocolate.

       

      Nasdaq

         

        Nasdaq (Nasdaq: NDAQ) is a global technology company serving the capital markets and other industries. Our diverse offering of data, analytics, software and services enables clients to optimize and execute their business vision with confidence.

        With over 4,300 employees in 39 offices around the world, at Nasdaq we all contribute to the success of the company and its culture, and each one of us has the ability to make a difference. When it comes to our core mission and values, we embrace the role of Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging (DIB) as a fundamental driver of our corporate growth, workplace culture and market development. We strive to create a culture that embraces the power of different perspectives—a culture where people’s unique backgrounds and different experiences helps us fuel innovation and support our clients around the world.

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        Blue Lagoon
        - One of the 25 Wonders of the World

        Named by National Geographic as one of the 25 Wonders of the World, the Blue Lagoon is a shimmering expanse of warmth, relaxation, and rejuvenation. Its unique geothermal seawater
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        From its humble beginnings in the shadows of a geothermal power plant, Blue Lagoon has evolved into a world of wonder, now encompassing two hotels, three restaurants, three
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        Achieving harmony with the volcanic landscape, the lagoon and its surrounding architecture embody the unification of the man-made and the natural, and adhere to the highest principles of sustainability.

        The Blue Lagoon. A wonder of the world. A world of wonder.

        Landsbankinn
        - leading financial institution
        Landsbankinn

        Landsbankinn is a leading Icelandic financial institution. It offers a full range of financial services and is the market leader in the Icelandic financial service sector with the largest branch network.

        The present bank was established on 7 October 2008 but the history of its predecessor dates back to 1886. The bank is owned by the National Treasury of Iceland, which holds 98.2% of its share capital, and other shareholders who own 1.8%.

        Landsbankinn’s strategy is to provide comprehensive financial services that meet customer’s needs. It emphasizes providing exemplary service to customers, developing e-banking for their convenience, increasing the efficiency of support functions, modernizing its technology and ensuring effective utilization of its balance sheet.

        The bank’s vision is to be exemplary and its role is to be a trusted financial partner.

        Special emphasis is placed on promoting a performance-oriented culture in the bank. To follow up on the implementation of this strategy, the bank has defined key goals which are measured regularly to determine progress. These goals include, for example, customer satisfaction and loyalty, profitability, cost efficiency and the correlation between risk appetite and employee satisfaction.

        Landsbankinn wishes to lead the development of a sustainable society in Iceland by integrating economic, social and environmental concerns in its operations. The Bank aims to ensure that both its owners and society at large benefit from its activities.

        It intends to achieve this aim by building solid infrastructure and a strong team of 1.100 employees, by listening to its customers and by respecting and encouraging its employees to actively participate in their community. Landsbankinn was a founding member of Festa, a Centre for Corporate Social Responsibility, and is a member of the UN Global Compact.

        Landsbankinn has been a proud sponsor of the Reykjavik Pride since it was first celebrated in Iceland.

        Dohop
        - get inspired
        Dohop

        Dohop allows people to find the cheapest flights available with just one click. Founded in Reykjavik in 2004, it is the only Icelandic company of its kind and quickly became the go-to tool for finding cheap flights among the locals. Dohop finds the best deals among hundreds of different airlines and online travel agencies, to make sure that the user is getting the cheapest price. Dohop also offers hotel and car rental search engines, so users can make all of their travel bookings from a single website.

        Dohop‘s specialty is finding so-called “self-connect” flight options, which can save travelers money by booking a ticket through two or more different airlines. The ability to look for these self-connect option is what sets Dohop apart from its competition, as it can save people hundreds of dollars on certain routes.

        More recently, Dohop has developed a unique product called Dohop Go!, which allows users to check for the cheapest available flights from their home airport. This tool is perfect for those who are looking for travel inspiration but are not willing to overpay for their flight ticket. Dohop Go! is now available in the Dohop Flights App, both for Android and iOS, along with its traditional flight, hotel, and car search engines. “

        VSÓ Ráðgjöf

           

          VSÓ Ráðgjöf er alhliða ráðgjafar- og verkfræðifyrirtæki sem leggur áherslu á trausta og faglega þjónustu sem tryggir viðskiptavinum hagkvæmustu lausnir hverju sinni, skilar raunverulegum árangri og stuðlar að samkeppnisforskoti.  Á skrifstofum VSÓ í Reykjavík og í Noregi starfar yfir 80 manna samhentur hópur verkfræðinga og annarra tæknimenntaðra starfsmanna.

          Macland
          - for all your Apple needs
          Macland

          From starting out as a proper startup with only a good idea and the need to change things, to becoming an established company with 6 employees. Starting from scratch and expanding organically has allowed us to love our expansion and take our customers on the ride with us.

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          Ísey skyr
          - once tasted never forgotten

          Our Story
          Once upon a time, 1,100 years ago in fact, Nordic settlers began arriving in Iceland. They brought with them the skills and knowledge for producing skyr. As time passed, the know-how and recipe for this nutritious food slowly faded out elsewhere in the Nordic region. Luckily, the Icelandic skyr-making tradition continued.

          For centuries, Icelandic skyr formed a cornerstone of the national diet, helping to keep people strong in living conditions that were often harsh. On family farms countrywide, it was the women who nurtured this dairy and passing on both the recipe and the original Icelandic skyr cultures from mother to daughter.

          Ísey skyr builds on this remarkable legacy. It was some of those very same women, the recipients of their mothers’ expertise, who, around 90 years ago, taught Icelandic dairy scientists the art of skyr-making. The production process is more high-tech these days, and the quality standards more rigorous. However, the basic recipe and the use of original cultures to ferment the skimmed milk remain the same. Protein rich, fat-free, creamy and delicious – Ísey skyr is as relevant to consumers now as it was all those centuries ago.
          This is our secret and you are in on it

          You can read more about Ísey skyr on our website.

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