Edge of the Highland July 2025
Day 1 .. 14.7. Monday
The ride starts at Torfastaðir farm where the horses stand, to start the day we ride over a creek and beneath a mountain side, crossing up to the woody hills of another mountain, alongside a small canyon. The paths take us to a sheep-paddock, where we change horses. On we go, climbing a bit and then down the mountain,, with beautiful views of the river, and up to the glaciers.
The paths are excellent for tölting and the horses love them. Riding through the heathlands we see some sheep grazing as we glide smoothly towards the North, and our cabin for the night, at Kringlumýri. The cabin stands beside a sheep-paddock and is the center of farming life in september, when farmers bring their sheep down from their summer fields in the mountains.
Water toilets. No showers. Shared sleeping quarters with bunkers. 30 km
Day 2 .. 15.7. Tuesday
From Kringlumýri we head west towards the National Park at Þingvellir. The terrain is mainly woody lavafields, and the paths therefore somtimes narrow, rocky and slow, but also broad, smooth and easy on the hooves. These paths are ancient and were made by the settlers in the late ninth and early tenth centuires. They end up at the parlament site Þingvellir, where Icelandic settlers founded their parlament in year 930. The uniqe beauty of nature is just undeniable. The views are breathtaking! Looking down to the south we see the big lake of Þingvellir, and looking to the north we see volcanoes and glaciers. We ride through and over canyons and ravines, some filled with weater, but creeks and rivers are not to be seen or crossed. We rest in the cosy cabin at Skógarhólar, where there are rooms, with bunkers for 6 people. Water toilets. Showers. Electricity. 35 km
Day 3 .. 16.7. Wednesday
We ride up to Hofmannaflöt field, and from there into the lavafield above the Goðaskarð pass. We have views of lake Þingvallavatn as well as glacier Langjökull. Actually we ride up close to volcano Skjaldbreiður, which formed the area in a magnificient eruption some 14.000 years ago. Then it created a homeland for elves and trolls. From there the paths bring us up to mighty Mt. Hlöðufell where our cabin lies. No water toilets. No showers. No running water. (no worries we‘ll bring fresh water). 28 km
Day 4 .. 17.7. Thursday
We head north and west through the lavafileds surrounding Skjaldbreiður volcano, with Langjökull glacier to the right. Mt. Hengill volcano lurks in the south, and Mt. Botnssúlur lies to the west. We make our way to a grassy field called Víðiker, where we leave the horses for the night. Bus takes us to a cosy mountain cabin called Gatfell, which lies in total peace and quiet by Mt. Lágafell. Water toilets. No showers. No running water. (no worries we‘ll bring fresh water). 30 km
Day 5 .. 18.7. Friday
From Víðiker we head further west and past Lake Uxavatn, up to the heathland to Lake Eiríksvatn. Mt. Kvígindisfell watches over us to pur left, and the great valley of Skorradalur opens up in front of us as we ride the banks of Fitjaá, which holds waterfalls and rich vegetation. We reach cosy farm Fitjar where we stay for the night. Water toilets. Showers. 43 km
Day 6 .. 19.7. Saturday
Today we ride south up Mt. Gillirahryggur over to the next valley of Botnsdalur in the bottom of fjord Hvalfjörður. On we go up again towards and around Mt. Botnssúlur to the cabin at Skógarhólar, where we stayed the second night. Water toilets. Showers. Electricity. 35 km.
Day 7 .. 20.7. Sunday
Ahead lies the longest day in the saddle, and we ride the same paths as before, giving us yet another angle at the nature and beautiful views. We spend the night at Spirit Farm guesthouse, and it is very nice with made beds, showers and electricity. 48 km