Good morning Iceland.
On the fourth day of our journey we start with a loop towards the north, where the sun is fighting its way through the clouds.
On the fourth day of our journey we start with a loop towards the north, where the sun is fighting its way through the clouds.
The detour was planned, because todays first waterfall Ellifoss is located on the 26 towards Hella.
This would have been hard to photograph without a drone, because the whole area is fenced.
Nevertheless, really worth seeing, because it stands out in its shape from the many other waterfalls.
This would have been hard to photograph without a drone, because the whole area is fenced.
Nevertheless, really worth seeing, because it stands out in its shape from the many other waterfalls.
We made the drive south a bit faster, because we still had some points on our list.
After a short stretch on the ring road, we took the 261, and had to make the first unplanned stop at the Breiðabólstaðarkirkja.
A picturesque church with outbuilding, like from the picture book. There you just have to stop.
To this unplanned stop came a few kilometers later the Hlíðarendakirkja and the small river, which flows with a variety of small waterfalls through the adjacent settlement.
That's how it is when you are in Iceland on photo tour. There are always spontaneous discoveries that quickly torpedo th complete planning.
Leaving them out is also not an option.
It was not far to the first regular sight.
The Þorsteinslundur, a kind of park with a memorial stone for the writer Porsteinn Erlingsson.
We could give our car a little rest, because only a short walk away, we aimed at the next two waterfalls, which all fell from the same edge into the valley.
First came the Þórðarfoss and then the Gluggafoss (Merkjárfoss), both fit picturesquely into the landscape.
When we arrived at Gluggafoss, a pack of 3 sheep came sideways from the waterfall and jumped past us. These have then placed themselves quite photogenic on the slope.
The Þorsteinslundur, a kind of park with a memorial stone for the writer Porsteinn Erlingsson.
We could give our car a little rest, because only a short walk away, we aimed at the next two waterfalls, which all fell from the same edge into the valley.
First came the Þórðarfoss and then the Gluggafoss (Merkjárfoss), both fit picturesquely into the landscape.
When we arrived at Gluggafoss, a pack of 3 sheep came sideways from the waterfall and jumped past us. These have then placed themselves quite photogenic on the slope.
Þorsteinslundur
Þorsteinslundur
Porsteinn Erlingsson
Þorsteinslundur
Þórðarfoss
Þórðarfoss
Þórðarfoss
Gluggafoss
Gluggafoss
Gluggafoss
at Gluggafoss
Although we were able to collect plenty of great motifs today, after a short break we set off for today's highlight, which we did not know at the time.
Next stop: Nauthúsagil & Gljúfrafoss
A gorge towards a waterfall, compared to all the previous places we visited, a real adventure. The gorge has a particularly strong vegetation, which can be seen well on the drone image.
Due to the previous rain, the water was high, much of the way we walked directly through the water or shimmies from stone to stone, along the rugged rock, no rope or other assistance, only a ramshackle and wobbly bridge at the entrance of the gorge.
But to get to the big waterfall, we would have had to take off our boots and pants. The way went through a water basin, which would have been appoximately a half meter deep. The impregnation of the boots would have done nothing more.
At this point the path was over for us and we stopped for a few minutes and enjoyed the originality, which is lost in many places by development for tourism.
After these special impressions we visited two real tourist magnets on our way back.
The Gljúfrabúi and Seljalandsfoss are close to the ring road, I think in 2015 parking was still unregulated (but I'm not quite sure) and in 2017 we certainly already paid parking fee.
And even if this is not what we are looking for in Iceland, both are fantastic waterfalls. It's totally understandable that so many people want to see and visit them.
After an eventful day, with many great impressions to take home, the return trip ended with a double rainbow. 🌈
