Iceland – I Am A Polar Bear

One really simply does not walk into Mordor: swimming in a volcano & getting stranded in a lava field

February 2, 2026

This is a really old adventure that’s had two or three posts over the years but deserves a new write-up and a new place at the very front of this blog rather than being buried in its bowels: the day I swam in an active volcano, got stranded for hours in a lava field and … More One really simply does not walk into Mordor: swimming in a volcano & getting stranded in a lava field

Iceland on film (winter 2024 edition)

December 22, 2025

If you’ve been around this blog for long, you probably know I like to take film photos. I possess a wonderful 1960s SLR camera which turned up in the loft some ten years after its previous owner, my grandad, died. But it’s too heavy to carry around, so most of my photos are actually taken … More Iceland on film (winter 2024 edition)

Iceland on film (summer 2025 edition)

December 18, 2025

For the last few years, I’ve often taken a film camera with me on trips. Nothing exciting, either a 90s holiday camera from eBay or a really light plasticky new camera once the 90s one started misbehaving. There are no settings except flash on/off and the 90s one doesn’t even have that. I made it … More Iceland on film (summer 2025 edition)

Stupid questions you were afraid to ask the first time you went to Iceland (winter edition)

December 1, 2025

Back in the summer, shortly after joining a Facebook group for advice on trip to Iceland, I wrote a post called Stupid questions you were afraid to ask the first time you went to Iceland (summer edition) and now I’m back with a second part, the winter edition, featuring all the questions you were afraid … More Stupid questions you were afraid to ask the first time you went to Iceland (winter edition)

Easy hikes in Iceland: Svartifoss

October 13, 2025

If you’re looking for an easy hike in Iceland with something worth seeing at the end, you’re spoiled for choice. A popular one is Stuðlagil, which is about a 6km round trip from the lower, eastern car park and is pretty much flat and paved all the way. But today we’re going to a more … More Easy hikes in Iceland: Svartifoss

Mývatn Nature Baths becomes Earth Lagoon and other changes in Iceland’s lagoons

October 9, 2025

Imagine the shock I got on Monday night, lounging in the bath after walking a mile uphill from Rangers to be greeted on Instagram by an announcement from an unknown Earth Lagoon in Iceland. A new lagoon? How did I not know it was coming? The mystery was quickly solved: after 21 years in business, … More Mývatn Nature Baths becomes Earth Lagoon and other changes in Iceland’s lagoons

What was the best place I swam in Iceland?

October 6, 2025

That was the question my boss asked as I signed off the day before I headed to London. “I want you to do me a favour. Tell me where you swim and tell me which is the best pool”. I already knew that was far too big a question to be answered with a single … More What was the best place I swam in Iceland?

The best-kept secrets of the North West of Iceland (North Iceland part 3)

September 8, 2025

When I was planning, or half-planning, my two-week adventure around Iceland’s Ring Road, I wanted to schedule in time to cover the north. I meant to do it last time but ended up accidentally driving the entire Ring Road instead of doing the north west to east then turning round and going back again, so … More The best-kept secrets of the North West of Iceland (North Iceland part 3)

An unbirthday on Iceland’s Diamond Circle (North Iceland part 2)

September 4, 2025

The reason I had two whole weeks in Iceland in a campervan was that I had A Birthday while I was there. The capitals signify the significance, I’m still not comfortable with saying the actual number out loud. The way the trip seemed to be panning out, I was going to be somewhere in the … More An unbirthday on Iceland’s Diamond Circle (North Iceland part 2)

Grettislaug: camping at a saga pool (North Iceland part 1)

September 1, 2025

This is the first of a little trilogy about the north of Iceland. Tourists flood to the south west and the South Coast but tend to skip over the north. If you ever watch a Ring Road vlog on YouTube, they cover the South Coast in excruciating detail, might do Stuðlagil and then skip over … More Grettislaug: camping at a saga pool (North Iceland part 1)