Skutustadagigar

The craters here never erupted. Lava spread over wet ground, the trapped steam and gas blew through the surface, and the ground collapsed into bowls and rings. Grass covers most of them now. They stand in the wetlands along the southern shore of Lake Mývatn, and the lake stays in view for much of the walk.

Paths run over the rims and between the craters. An extended loop takes in more of the field and about two hours of unhurried walking. Birds work the wetlands all around, and sheep graze the slopes in summer.

• Flies: in summer the area swarms with flies that land on you constantly. A head net makes the difference between a walk and a retreat.
• Wind: the craters are open ground and it blows hard even in June. Bring layers.
• Time: allow around two hours for the extended loop at an unhurried pace.
• With children: the main trail is mostly paved and takes pushchairs.
• Toilets: there are toilets on site.

Nearly everyone arrives by car. The Ring Road runs along the south side of Lake Mývatn and passes the site, and the car park is right at the entrance. The walking route starts there, so there is no approach to cover before the craters begin. The trail is mostly paved from the first steps.

Better: outside high summer. The site is open around the clock, so the loop can be walked at any hour of the day.

Avoid: high summer, when flies swarm the wetlands and settle on anything that moves. They can ruin the walk on their own.

The ground is open and often windy whatever the month, so bring layers rather than count on a warm afternoon.