Trail of Legends

Trail of Legends

A Journey Through West
Iceland

Trail of Legends is a six-day Riding
Journey for experienced riders, travelling with a free-running herd through the
historic landscapes of West Iceland.

Starting at Stóri-Kálfalækur farm, we
travel from one destination to the next through Mýrar and Borgarfjörður,
following a continuous route of almost 170 kilometres before reaching Geldingaá
near the coast.

Each day takes us further on our Journey.
The horses remain where the day's riding ends and, the following morning, we
rejoin them and continue from where we left off. While the horses travel
onwards, we return each evening to Fossatún, our home throughout the Journey.

The route builds gradually towards our
longest riding day, when we cover around 40 kilometres from Heggstaðir to
Geldingaá. The following morning brings a very different finale: a final ride
across the wide sands of Melabakkar beach.

Trail of Legends is a Journey through

the countryside and history of West Iceland – six days travelling with the herd
from the farms of Mýrar through Borgarfjörður and all the way to the Atlantic
coast.

The Journey – Day by Day

Day 1 – Stóri-Kálfalækur →Grímsstaðir · approximately
27 km

Our Journey begins at Stóri-Kálfalækur
farm, where we meet the horses and prepare for the days ahead.

Once everyone is ready, we set out with the
herd and begin our Journey through Mýrar. This first day gives riders time to
become familiar with the horses, the herd and the way we travel together.

At Grímsstaðir, we leave the horses for the
night and transfer back to Fossatún for dinner and our first evening together.

Day 2 – Grímsstaðir to Eskiholt · approximately
20 km

After breakfast at Fossatún, we return to
Grímsstaðir, rejoin the horses and continue our Journey through Mýrar towards
Eskiholt.

Along the way, we cross the Langá, a
36-kilometre river flowing from Lake Langavatn towards the sea and well known
for its salmon fishing. As we approach Eskiholt, we may also encounter one of
the area's herds of Icelandic goats – still a relatively rare sight in Iceland.

At Eskiholt, we leave the horses and return
to Fossatún. As this is one of our shorter riding days, there is an opportunity
to visit Krauma, where geothermal water from Deildartunguhver feeds a
series of warm pools – a particularly welcome way to relax after two days in
the saddle.

Day 3 – Eskiholt to Brekka · approximately
32 km

We return to Eskiholt after breakfast and
set out on one of the longer stages of our Journey, riding more than 30
kilometres deeper into Borgarfjörður.

Our route takes us through the beautiful
Jafnaskarð area and alongside Lake Hreðavatn. As we approach Brekka, the
landscape is dominated by Grábrók, a large volcanic crater rising above the
surrounding moss-covered lava fields.

At Brekka, we settle the horses for the
night before transferring back to Fossatún for dinner and a well-earned evening
of rest.

Day 4 – Brekka to Heggstaðir · approximately
30 km

After breakfast, we return to Brekka and
set out again with the herd.

Early in the day, we cross the Norðurá, one
of Iceland's renowned salmon rivers, which flows through Borgarfjörður from
Lake Holtavörðuvatn. Unfortunately, catching salmon from horseback is not part
of today's programme.

Our route brings us back to the Norðurá
later in the day. Near Ystatunga and Hvítá, we cross the river again, this time
over an old bridge dating from 1928, before continuing towards Heggstaðir.

By now, riders have become familiar with
the rhythm of travelling with the herd – changing horses along the way as the
landscape unfolds around us.

The horses remain at Heggstaðir overnight
while we return to Fossatún.

Day 5 – Heggstaðir to Geldingaá · approximately
40 km

Our longest travelling day takes us from
Heggstaðir all the way to Geldingaá.

At around 40 kilometres, this is the most
demanding stage of the Journey and a fitting culmination to five consecutive
days travelling across West Iceland with the herd.

Today our route brings us towards the coast
of Borgarfjörður, riding beneath the impressive mountain Hafnarfjall as we make
our way towards Geldingaá.

When we reach Geldingaá, the point-to-point
part of our Journey is complete. The horses stay here for the night while we
return to Fossatún for our final evening together.

Tomorrow there is nowhere further we need
to travel. Instead, we have one final ride to enjoy.

Day 6 – Melabakkar Beach · approximately
20 km

After breakfast at Fossatún, we pack our
luggage and prepare a packed lunch before travelling to Geldingaá to meet the
horses one last time.

Our final ride takes us onto the wide sands
of Melabakkar beach.

With the travelling part of our Journey
behind us, today is about enjoying the horses and the extraordinary feeling of
riding across the open beach. The timing of the ride is determined by the
tides, which reveal the firm sands on which we can ride.

After returning to Geldingaá, we enjoy our
packed lunch with the horses before saying goodbye to them and our guides.

From here, we continue to Reykjavík,
bringing our six-day Journey through West Iceland to an end.