Grundarfoss Waterfall

The water comes off the cliff in three stages and gathers into a stream that runs out across the fields. The setting does as much work as the fall itself. Kirkjufell stands in front of it by the sea, and snow-covered mountains close the view at the back.

The path leads right up to the base, close enough that spray keeps the rock wet. The crowds gather on the right bank. Crossing the stream on rocks puts you on the left side, away from them and with a different angle on the drop. Icelandic horses graze the fields on the way in, and they often come over to look at people, or stand on the path and stay there.

• Footwear: the last stretch to the base is rocky, and spray keeps it wet and slippery. Shoes with grip, not trainers.
• Stream crossing: reaching the left bank means stepping across the stream on rocks.
• Horses: the fields along the way are grazed, and the horses sometimes wander onto the path.
• Crowds: they collect on the right bank near the base, while the left side stays quieter.

Cars stop at the entrance, and the rest of the way is on foot. The path runs over flat ground through grazed fields, so the walking itself is undemanding. Close to the falls the ground turns rocky and wet from spray, and the footing gets awkward. To reach the left bank you cross the stream by stepping from rock to rock.