Iceland – The Golden Circle Coach Tour
The Golden Circle is a trip that takes you eastwards across Iceland from Reykjavik as far as the Gullfoss or Golden Waterfall. The tour also takes in the moorlands of Mosfellsheiði, the Geysir Geothermal Area and the Thingvellir National Park. You can travel the circle clockwise or anticlockwise but today we go anticlockwise.
It is a dull and wet Wednesday morning when we set out to travel east on the Route 1, but the modern Icelandic roads make for safe and easy travel, at least in this early summer. We soon start passing through some unique geothermal areas that are mainly devoid of vegetation and said to resemble barren planets and moons. These areas are often used in sci-fi movies, special field training exercises and geological education. Whilst viewing them from a coach seat may be comfortable, you don’t get to see very much. Soon we approach Hveragerði, with a nickname of ‘the Earthquake Town’, known for its active geology, it can produce fruit and veg using heat from the hot springs. However, it is sat close to a precarious tectonic plate boundary that can spring a surprise from time to time.
Just before we cross the Ölfusá river into Selfoss we turn northwards up the Route 35. The Ölfusá river is a combination of the Sogið and Hvitá rivers that make for a large volume of water flowing south into the North Atlantic Ocean. From here we get a good look at the flat plain to the east at a place known as the Ölfusá Overlook.
To the west is a steep sided Tuya or volcano named Ingólfsfjall after the founder of Reykjavík Ingólfur Arnarson, whom we saw yesterday in statue. These steep slopes are littered with large boulders that remind you of just how precarious life can be in this terrain. Once a forested island, now the bare slopes offer little protection from erosion and gravity.
Soon we are heading north east towards the small town of Borg. To the south we passed by the Kerid Crater, a relatively young volcanic crater, that is part of the Grímsnes fissure that extends to the Hvítá river. Much of the area around has been reforested and provides a unique opportunity to built homes that are well spaced out and many used as corporate holiday locations, such as Kerengi to the north, pictured below.
Moving on up to Borg we pass by the pretty hamlet and church, Stóruborgarkirkja, then on to Reykholt and past the Fellskot Guest House. Don’t confuse this with the other Reykholt, the home of the great Snorri Sturluson. This is mainly greenhouses, not tales of super heroes.
We pass by Faxafoss Waterfalls without stopping, as we are headed for something much bigger. Now in the distance, beyond the Vatnsleysa Farm, we see the high peaks that surround the Langjökull Glacier, Icelands second largest. You can see clearly how the landscape changes from the verdant green pastures to the moorlands and up into the high peaks.
As we approach the junction with Route 37, the sun picks out the colours of another seemingly nameless volcanic mound.
The cloud cover quickly moves on to highlight another layer above. Just 14 seconds separates these images.
Turning right to continue on Route 35 we next get to the Geysir Hot Springs. We will return this way after our visit to Gullfoss Waterfalls. Surrounding the Geysir area are these mounds that give another vantage point to see the geysers blow. As you can see from the image below, some visitors will climb these peaks.
Finally, we reach the Gullfoss falls. There is a lower car parking area that allows level access to the lower viewing points. You can walk up and down a good metal staircase otherwise, but the main visitor centre is at the top level.
The next post will show the Gullfoss falls and surrounding vistas.
