In this last post of my little series about North Iceland we return to Vesturdalur. Instead of revisiting the basalt cones at Hljóðaklettar, we hike another loop to Svínadalur.
It begins with massive basalt formations. When in Hljóðaklettar they were well placed accents in the landscape, here one is overwhelmed to the extent that one doesn’t quite know where to look. Then the landscape unfolds.
Who would want to live here?
The little mounds are what is left of Svínadalur, a farm abandoned over 50 years ago. One can barely trace the contours of a handful of small houses.
Who dares to build a home at a place like this where you have an open view of 50 km in every direction?
And then, after having built that home, why would you leave? The trail continues towards the Jökulsá á Fjöllum and the views become more dramatic again.
Maybe this place is too beautyful to bear it for too long.
The Inner Frame 