Last day in Iceland

By Li

After a lazy late start, we went down for a simple continental breakfast. Afterwards we went to the local leisure centre which was a bargain for geothermal heated pools approx £15 for all of us.

There was various temperature pools, huge water slide, obstacle course and the pools were warm. The kids had fun chilling out and I enjoyed relaxing in the 38 degree pool.

We headed into town for lunch and found a Vietnamese restaurant. William and Tony opted for Beef Pho noodles, Rebecca had summer rolls (with vermicelli noodles) and I opted for grilled pork with rice and salad. All was rather tasty.

Couldn’t work out what to do in the afternoon so we decided to find a drinking spot and park ourselves there. We found the Loft (hostel bar) with a roof terrace. The kids enjoyed table football and Tony and I enjoyed the terrace in the sunshine.

Several hours later, we are still chilling out in the Loft Bar, the sun is shining and we sat outside albeit with some blankets.

Our last meal is at an Italian restaurant where me and the kids had seafood linguine and Tony had a spicy pizza. It’s still daylight outside at 8pm.

Let the packing commence …..

To Reykjavik we go…for shopping and beer!

By Li

Last breakfast at our guesthouse. The host was very nice and was grateful for some of our unopened food we had to leave behind as we won’t have cooking facilities in our next stop. The pate was the key item he loved. It turns out it was made with smoked sheep head, a delicacy. Tony’s face was a picture as he’d eaten some the previous night. He did say it was a jellied in some parts and not great. LOL might be the eyeballs.

All packed up and out the doors by 10.30am, we stopped off at a geothermal power plant en-route to Reykjavik. It was very commercialised and the exhibition was aimed at the adults more. Not worth the cost that we had to pay. We actually preferred the hydro energy plant we went to the other day. However, some bits were interesting and you could see in to the plant.

We arrived at our hotel and it is very basic compared to the other places we stayed in but we have a quintuple room with 3 beds on the top mezzanine. The kids enjoyed having their secret floor.

We found some lunch in a foodhall and went shopping afterwards. Tony and I picked up a few pieces in 66 degrees North (an Icelandic brand and expensive). Kids picked up a few souvenirs.

We wrapped up the day with a walk down by the harbour and then dinner at the ‘Old Iceland Restaurant’, very nice cosy place and the food was good although the lamb still didn’t meet Tony’s expectations after having a fantastic dinner at one of the hotels we stayed in.

Geothermal Bread, Hot Pools, Waterfalls & Geysers

By Tony

Breakfast was again pretty basic, but fine. I could do with some bacon and egg though!

We went to a bread making place, we followed a 45-50 year old man, who led us through a narrow path to a lake, where people were kayaking on the lake. He stood next to a small mountain of dirt, and he chose me to dig the bread up, he gave me a big spade and I started to dig. I found the bread, he took the pot of bread out of the hole and put it into the lake and washed it. He opened it then in a few seconds, we could smell the bread then after that we went to the hole again and we decided to dig down to the pool of boiling hot water.

We saw it bubbling up and down then we put the new bread in the hole and covered it up with the dirt, we made the mountain again then I placed the stone on top the mountain and claimed the bread as mine. We went back to the building and then we tried the bread and with butter and trout on top. It was very nice.

By William

After that session we headed straight for the pool. Mummy and I went into a different passage, to get changed, to Daddy and William. Once I was changed, I was ready to jump (well step) into the pool.

The first one I went into had these black, plastic obstacle things in (this was probably my favourite pool). Next I went into a pool that looked like a mini swimming pool (about 5 meters). The 3rd pool was really strange as there was stones/gravel on the floor. Finally there was the 4th pool which was boiling and was round like a hot tub. I also did a challenge so William and I could get a slushie. The challenge was submerging myself into a freezing cold lake!

Overall I enjoyed my time in the pools and I think Mummy, Daddy and William liked it too.

By Rebecca

We left the hot pools and travelled the 30 minutes to Gullfoss. Li and I have been before, but it’s still worth going to. On arrival the first thing we noticed, as it was hard not to, was an enormous bus with enormous wheels!

Onto the waterfall itself, and it remains as before, pretty spectacular. We couldn’t walk much around as some of the path was closed, but we still were able to get great views.

Leaving Gullfoss, we headed for the geothermal area where the eruptions occur quite regularly in a geyser named Strokkur. We did have to wait for it a little, but eventually it came good and demonstrated the awesome power of nature.

Golden Circle – Thingvellir National Park

By Li

A good start to the morning, we were up and about and down for breakfast by 9am, breakfast was simple but there was a few Icelandic specialties, such as sour cream and brown sugar. It’s very filling and the sugar gives a good source of energy. There was a selection of pickled herring and other cold meats. The kids seem to love the sour cream and sugar.

After breakfast, we hit the road to the Thingvellir and we stopped off at the Kerid crater first, it was a drizzly day and very windy. At one point, William was nearly blown over near the crater lake. The crater was fairly big and impressive. Strange how the perception was on how deep the lake is, we assumed it was very deep but it was like a bowl and it’s approximately 7-14m deep.

Next stop was the National Park but we passed a hydropower plant (Ljósafossstöð power station) and decided to stop in. It was free and we enjoyed looking around and had a lot of interactive displays and explaining energy and generating electricity,etc. It was the oldest and 1 of 3 hydropower plants on the River Sog.

After our little detour, we finally made it to the Thingvellir National Park visitor centre. It is a historic site where the Icelandic parliament was created from 10th to the 18th century. The park also sits in a Rift Valley caused by separation of 2 tectonic plates. The rift was a fairly decent size and went on for ages.

We also stopped off to see the local waterfall Öxarárfoss. It was pretty and not as big as some waterfalls we have seen but the kids loved walking on the rocks below.

We decided the weather wasn’t playing ball so we opted to head back to the guesthouse to thaw out and relax, via of course another viewpoint!

And then William flooded the bathroom…

Secret Passages And Hot Springs

By All of Us!

We cracked breakfast this morning by arriving significantly earlier than yesterday, as a result we discovered a great selection of fruit, cheese and ham, as well as, unexpectedly, donuts!

We’re getting reasonably swift at packing now, so was out of the hotel and on the road quickly after breakfast, heading for our first destination, a couple of waterfalls around 30 minutes drive

When we first pulled up in the car park Mummy and I both said that we shouldn’t have a walk around the waterfalls because we had to pay for the car park, we didn’t really feel like doing it but I am grateful we did take the opportunity!

We walked to the first waterfall and found out that there was a passage behind it. The view from behind the waterfall was amazing. The very small amount of water was silhouetted against the the bright blue sky. Of course something had to go wrong, turns out that Mummy had lost William’s sunglasses case. So we had to spend the next 10 minutes hunting for it.

Once Mummy had found it, we took a short walk next to a stream. We stopped a few times in some caves and chasms along the way. When we got into the sunlight we saw people laying on the grass (only in one area though) which was quite strange. Then I looked into a chasm and found a HUGE WATERFALL inside! It was so cool because there were stepping stones through the water and onto a bank in the chasm. There was a giant rock that we climbed onto a took a few pictures of (no not the rock, us and the waterfall).

By the time we were out Daddy and I had realised why people were laying on the grass. They were soaking wet and so were we! William I got a bit bored so we started playing pooh sticks. By about the 3rd go Daddy started to join. It was so annoying because after Daddy joined in he basically won all of them.

☹️☹️☹️

After a while, we had to stop because Mummy needed the toilet (unhelpful). So we went these horrible porta-loos. Next we went back to the car and drove off (broooom broooom)

By Rebecca

When we arrived at the Secret Hot Springs, at first me and mummy saw a monster truck, then we realised it was a public truck, for tourists.

Daddy and Rebecca and mummy and I went into the building where the hot springs were then we had to take of our shoes then mummy and Rebecca went to a different changing room. Daddy and I went to the men’s changing room we got undressed and did not put our swimming trunks on as we had to shower without them.

We put our swimming trunks on then we went to the pool (outside) then mummy and Rebecca arrived from the women’s changing room the we sat in the pool 2 hours and played. We went into the pool and found floats that looked like armchairs and a seahorse that was blue. Some bits were very very hot in the pool. Rebecca and I found crocodile shaped floats and the tooth squirted water.

Mummy went into the bar and got a Pepsi for Rebecca and me, and mummy got a Prosecco and daddy had a beer. Mummy, Rebecca and I went outside the pool and saw small spouting geysers. After we saw a big geyser with smoke coming out of it. We left after a hot shower with slimy soap. I enjoyed the heat of the water and playing with Rebecca on the crocodiles.

By William

After the secret hot springs, we managed to dive in to a supermarket and pick up a few ingredients for dinner the next few nights.  Tonight’s dinner was chicken fajitas with nachos. Managed to make some salsa too. 

The owner of the guesthouse was very nice and cleaned the trampoline for the kids. He also treated us to sample some Icelandic delicacy Hákarl which is fermented Greenland shark (very toxic if not fermented properly). The pieces were ever so very small (as I believe it’s very expensive), it tasted very chewy and the smell was like a strong ammonia and the flavour was like sun dried scallops with a very strong horrible lingering taste. The kids declined after they found out it was shark, so I ended up having 2 pieces as Tony declined. I didn’t want to appear ungrateful and throw it in the bin given how much a small tub costs. However, it did take several herbal teas and some dime pieces to get rid of the taste.

Waterfall walking

By Tony

I’d be planning todays hike for a while and was looking forward to it. The aim was to walk up next to a river, following the hike known as Fimmvorduhals Trailhead

After quite a basic breakfast we headed off, and it was lovely not to have to drive anywhere as the start of the trail is right next to the hotel. The starting point is actually Skógafoss Waterfall, which is pretty spectacular.

Following some great photo opportunities we headed up the steps, 426 in total the kids tell me, next to the waterfall. Photos from the top were taken and the we headed onto the trail itself. It’s around 15 miles total, but point to point so you need to get a bus back, or walk back again. Neither of which was going to happen so we planned on around 3 or 4 each way

Following the trail was spectacular, waterfall after waterfall, amazing scenery and canyons all the way!

Some of the hiking was a bit tricky, having to climb over ice sheets, through waterfalls and across rivers; however, this was great fun with the kids.

After around 2.5 hours, we climbed out final peak, had some packed lunch and then headed back. Li recorded 15Km by the end, which we discussed over a beer on the bar terrace. Dinner was again in the hotel restaurant, it’s not a patch on the last hotel; however, reasonably decent food, and a view that’s amazing.

Moving on to Skagafoss

By Li

Easter morning, the Easter bunny had come. Mummy came prepared Lindt bunnies and mini eggs but it seems the Easter bunny came with Icelandic filled eggs with a various sweets (jelly beans, liquorice sweets, chewy sweets, mini chocolate sweets and some fruit rock pieces). After all the excitement, we went down for breakfast and filled our tummies up for the journey ahead.

Along our road trip to Skagafoss, there were so many waterfalls en-route and the landscape varied along the way. We stopped off to the side of the road at one point and the moss growing at the sides was very thick and bouncy. It was like walking on the rubber bouncy mat.

Further along the car trip, we saw a few cars parked to one side and decided to investigate; there was a river with some impressive rapids. There was even a few guys fly fishing in it.

First stop was Fjaðrárgljúfur Canyon, the view was pretty awesome. It’s about 100m deep and about a 1km long. Parts of it was rather narrow and the sides was steep.

We finally stopped for some food, short stint off our second planned stop – Black Sand beach, it was a very impressive pit stop. Large shopping mall and a bistro for food. Spent more time in the store than eating. Tony was very taken with all the outdoor clothing by Ice Wear.

When we pulled up into the car park, I was confused, why were we here? Then I discovered that we were going to have lunch; I was relieved as my tummy was rumbling. We found a shop called ‘Ice Wear’ as soon as William and I saw these amazing hats I immediately wanted them! They were sheep hats! After, we had lunch I was quite sad because I had wanted them but we couldn’t get them because first we had to have lunch.

For lunch William and I shared a portion of fish and chips, Mummy had lamb soup and Daddy had a classic cheese burger. Once we had finished we went into a different shop (which didn’t have the sheep hats in). Eventually we did go to the shop which had sheep hats in. Guess what? We got them! William and I now have our very own sheep hats to wear.

By Rebecca

It turns out we were walking distance from another part of Black sand beach and we took a mooch along it where the children tried to avoid the enormous waves crashing along the beach.

We decided to still stop off at our next destination and there was a very impressive cave like structure with balsat columns like you get at the Giant Causeway. Some of the columns stuck out of the cave walls.

We went to black sand beach (the sand was black all over) there were these rocks ( they looked like the giants causeway) we climbed them and daddy took some photos of us, then climbed down and me and Rebecca went to the waves and when the waves came near us we ran back and again and again.

By William

We took a slight detour to see the lighthouse at the top of Black sand beach and the views were spectacular albeit some parts were a little dicey right at the edge of the cliffs. It was lovely having the sun beaming down in the early evening approx 7pm. By the time we wrapped up, it was getting late so we went straight on to our hotel.

Wow wow wow, the hotel turns out to be right next to the Skógafoss waterfall, pretty impressive!! We had dinner in the hotel restaurant with the view of the waterfall in the background. Tony didn’t think the food was as good as the last hotel we stayed in and they certainly didn’t cater for the children as well. However, we still had a nice meal – kids and Tony had BBQ ribs and fries. I decided to opt for a lovely lamb shank.

Glacier trekking

By Li

Earlier start than normal, down to breakfast for 8.30am. Breakfast wasn’t a bad selection, there was lovely fresh bread, bacon, eggs, beans, pickled herring, selection of ham and cheese. Kids even got to have hot chocolate with their breakfast.

Even though we got out on time, we followed the sat nav and ended up in the wrong place. Thankfully it wasn’t too much of a detour. After checking in for our glacier hike, we wasted a lot of time waiting for others who arrived late.

We got all geared up with harnesses, crampons and ice picks before setting off on a short bus ride to the foot of the glacier. It was a bit of a walk up to the glacier.

Once we got up, there was a lot more mincing waiting to get in to an ice cave. We finally got our turn and it was obvious where the cave entrance has collapsed, it was a bit of a tight squeeze getting in and no fun for tall people.

Inside the cave was small but really bizarre, natural light was coming in through the thick ice walls but inside the cave walls was melting as water built up on the floors. We squeezed through a very narrow corridor into another room. The ice was very blue inside.

After our close up encounters inside the cave, we embarked up the glacier. There was a loud crack where the glacier was shifting, a little scary but nothing to worry about. There is some serious deep crevices we had to walk around, apparently the glacier depth can be as much as 200m deep.

We also got to try drinking glacier water from a river coming down, strange way of drinking it – using a pick axe as a lever and doing a press up. Water tasted very cold and fresh though. Hi

For what we paid for, the ice cave extra was a complete rip off costing 45 minutes of lost time waiting around and £80. However, overall trip was an experience.

We got back to the hotel afterwards to dry off as it rained while we were out. We had some sandwiches and a cup a soup for lunch. Seeing as the weather is awful, we opted to stay out and chill out at the hotel. Not to mention less spending since the last 2 days have been quite extortionate which makes dinner at the Ritz look cheap.

Dinner was once again in the hotel, expectations were high given the quality of food last night and we weren’t disappointed

Li had chicken, William of course went for the lamb again as did I, and Rebecca opted for a chickpea curry.

So, back to my lamb, amazing just doesn’t do it justification; it’s shockingly good, the best I’ve ever had! Tender like you’d not believe, deliciously flavoursome and mind blowing taste. Top work to the chef!

By Tony

Vatnajökull National Park

By Tony

Today is going to be a turning point, the weather has sorted itself out, breakfast was not too bad at all and the kids even got themselves ready without too much stress. Happy days!

We left the “country hotel”and headed into the Vatnajökull National Park. The park is one enormous great big glacier, covering around 10% of Iceland. At the southern most area there are a couple of big lagoons created by the meltwater and the glacier itself.

Our first stop was at one of the lagoons, we wandered along the shoreline that was littered with glacier ice; more floated in the lagoon and was beautifully blue.

After the walk we headed to “Diamond Beach”, so called due to the ice that is scattered along the shoreline contrasting against the black sand.

Another short car ride and we arrived at the next lagoon where we unexpectedly had some open wallet surgery to take a boat tour on the lagoon right up to the glacier. I did wonder how I was going to get the boat home that I had obviously purchased, but happily they informed me that I was misunderstood.

The boat tour was a few hours wait, so a quick instant noodle in the car park was followed by a cracking walk along the lagoon edge, although the we did seem to miss the intended circular route and had to practically jog back!

Arriving for our boat tour, we were kitted out with the necessary waterproofs, life vest, etc and made our way to the ribs. One great point was the lack of people, so it ended up only 7of us in our boat.

We had a charming beaded Icelandic chap called Yuri, he gave some really colour to the tour, providing history of the glacier and how things are changing with climate change.

The kids loved the boat ride and we were able to get really close to the glacier. Rebecca and William also got to hold some ice which the skipper pulled out of the lagoon, which was quite cool.


As we got closer to the glacier, the man stopped the boat and we started to hear a sound like wind chimes. Then, he picked out a piece of ice from the lake. We all got to hold it. I described it as ‘honeycomb’ it was so lovely, until William & I got to put it back but we didn’t see the ice that we dropped it on hence it smashed.

By Rebecca

We went on a big drive to a glacier and we went on a boat ride around the lake that surrounded the glacier. The man in charge off the boat told us that the black ice was just dirty ice.

Before that we went on a hike around the grounds.

By William

30 minutes down the road, our hotel was comfortable and although we are again split over multiple rooms at least we have a great view!

As we’ve found out dinner was expensive but excellent, great quality and the kids are really well looked after. In our hotel, half size potions for 50% of the cost; but, they are not half size, at least 70% of an adult. Top stuff. William had the most amazing lamb, I had pork Schnitzel, Li had pork tenderloin, and Rebecca had Arctic char again. Chocolate Brownie for dessert!

A Puffin waste of time

By Tony

Well that was quite a rubbish day! It started of so good with a really nice breakfast and Rebecca particularly enjoyed making her own pancakes.

Post breakfast we headed out with a feeling of excitement in the air; we’re off to see some Puffins in one of the biggest and best places to see them in Iceland

The risks were of course known, it’s right at the start of the season, only a week or two into it, but with the confidence of David fighting Goliath we devoured mile after mile of boring landscape

Puffins, it now appears, can’t read calendars very well so were still in the middle of the Pacific maybe; the key thing is, the harbour, the rocks, the nesting sites they return to each and every year, were Puffinless

We had sad and disappointed children and adults alike, and more significantly another 90 minutes drive back to exactly where we started. Still, at least there was a petrol station there to fill the car back up at the bargain price of £1.80/L. What a puffin waste of time!

Lunch on the other hand, in the same place as we dined yesterday, was once again excellent. Mexican burritos, tacos and spicy lamb was consumed with significant enthusiasm by all as we recounted the days exciting adventures

Back on the road, the weather decided to put an extra spin on the proceedings, turning pleasant views into near zero visibility as the road turned from tarmac to a gravel track with football size potholes, and shear cliffs on both sides. Lovely driving!

Not wishing to be left out, the torrential rain commenced; but this actually did provide some amazing waterfalls to watch cascading down the cliffs above us as we continued our journey along the coast

Our “Country Hotel” was slightly below expectations however, warm, dry and finally interconnecting rooms.

Dinner in Holf was excellent. A fantastically tender lamb steak for Li and I, with some Salt Cod for the kids