Ring Road Iceland - Borgarnes

The Ring Road can be enjoyed in any direction, so I decided to go north and arrived in Borgarnes. It was fun travelling beneath Hvalfjörður fjord through the Hvalfjörður tunnel to get here. This 5.8km (3.8mi) long tunnel connects Reykjavik to the western and northern parts of Iceland. Apparently it reduces the travel by 45km (28mi). I also crossed Iceland's second longest bridge at 521m (1700ft) known as Borgarfjarðarbrú just before entering town.

Borgarnes is the gateway to Snaefellsnes Peninsula and the National Park within it holds Snaefellsjökull, a cone-shaped 700,000 year old glacier-capped stratovolcano that is often referred to as the “crown jewel of the peninsula" and it's the famous setting for Jules Vernes' novel Journey to the Centre of the Earth.

North of the Peninsula is the most photographed Kirkjufell Mountain. At 463m (1519ft) high the mountain beckons hikers to its summit for a breathtaking view but it's only suitable to hikers who don't suffer vertigo and are fit enough to take on the treacherous climb near the top. For movie buffs, Kirkjufell features in Games of Thrones (Season 6 & 7).

Nearby Borgarnes are several waterfalls, each with their own characteristics, such as Glymur, Glanni, Hraunfossar and Barnafossar Waterfalls. Glymur, accessed via a rugged trail, is the second tallest in Iceland with a cascade of 198m (649ft) falling into a canyon. Glanni sits near an ancient lava field but it is also said to be the home of elves and trolls. Hraunfossar and Barnafassor are near each other and both stream out of Hallmundarhraun, a lava plain created by volcanic eruptions on Langjökull, the second largest ice cap in Iceland.

There are four national forests within the region with a mix of birch woods and native conifers, however, some of the tallest and oldest birch trees can be found in Borgarnes. Anyone familiar with Iceland, will probably know that it is quite a treeless landscape largely a result of deforestation during Viking settlement, sheep contributing to soil erosion which couldn't support trees and lastly volcanic eruptions covering areas that previously were fertile areas. Fortunately reforestation projects have been underway for the better part of the century including incentives offered to farmers who can obtain a grant if they create a section of woodland on their land.

Bye for now,

 

Richard

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