We left Grindavik at around 12:30 – we were pretty exhausted from the volcano hike the day before. It was chilly and a bit windy (normal Iceland summer weather). On the outskirts of town were Arctic Terns in a protected nesting area. We pulled off the road and got a few pictures from the car.
We headed west along the Reykanes peninsula to connect with the Ring Road, our route around all of Iceland. Our goal that day was one of Iceland’s iconic waterfalls, Seljalandsfoss. It’s noted for a path that lets you walk behind the glacier-fed waterfall as it plunges 200 feet over a sheer cliff. It was about a 2 hour drive from the Grindavik campground, but it took us more than twice that to make the drive due to frequent stops for photos and birdwatching. We also stopped for late lunch (a hot dog with Icelandic-style toppings) at a gas station restaurant.
Campground at Seljalandsfoss
The camping area itself was a mowed field, a typical Icelandic campground. The facilities were limited and a bit neglected. The owners get away with this because the location is in front of a quarter-mile of sheer cliffs and several waterfalls, including one of the most iconic waterfalls in Iceland. We spent the early evening photographing birds nesting on the cliffs (fulmars) and snapped a few pics of the waterfalls too.
Look for some waterfall pictures on Day 4.