Lambagil Waterfall

Lambagil sits at the end of a small canyon in the Westfjords. The lower part of the fall comes first: you can walk right up to it and step into the water. The trail that matters starts on the right-hand side of the canyon. It is marked, but the start is easy to walk straight past. It is narrow, and it climbs a steep slope up into the gorge, close to the main fall. The path runs along the edge of the riverbed, and most people finish the walk with wet feet.

• Footwear: the canyon trail is steep and slippery. Boots with grip, not trainers — and expect wet feet.
• After rain: the path turns to mud and loose rocks, and it runs along the edge of the riverbed. Leave it alone in those conditions.
• Finding the trail: it is marked and starts on the right-hand side of the canyon, but the start is hard to spot.
• Coming down is worse than going up: the steep section is harder to descend than to climb. Turn back if it feels wrong.

Getting to Lambagil means driving. There is no marked bay at the waterfall, so cars stop on firmer ground back from the water. A well-worn path leads from there to the lower fall. Everything beyond that is the canyon trail: it begins on the right-hand side and is marked, though the start is easy to miss. From there it is steep, narrow and slippery underfoot.

Best: a dry spell in summer or early autumn, when the canyon trail is firm underfoot.

Avoid: the days after heavy rain.

Grip is the whole question at Lambagil. Two days of rain are enough to turn the trail to mud and loose rocks, and the edge of the riverbed is right beside it. Dry, the same path is only steep.