The accolade for the least attractive name of an Icelandic hiking trail must go to Leggjabrjótur, which can be translated as ‘Legbreaker.’ Leggjabrjótur is an ancient trail that lies between Thingvellir and the fjord of Hvalfjörður, through a pass between the mountains Botnssúlur and Búrfell. The hike is roughly 16 km long, with a gradual incline of about 350 m for the first 8 km and then a decline down to 50 m into Botnsdalur Valley in Hvalfjörður fjord. If you are interested, Hvalfjörður fjord played a big role as a naval base for the Allies in the second world war.
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It was the gathering point for many convoys that carried armaments and supplies to the Soviet Union. The wonderful waterfall Glymur is also in Botnsdalur Valley.
Leggjabrjótur is a sweet and short hiking trail
It typically takes about 6 hours to hike this trail. Leggjabrjótur, despite its formidable name, is a relatively easy hiking trail. However, you will pass through rocky ground and walk down rocky slopes. I once heard that the explanation for the Leggjabrjótur name was that the trail would be difficult for pack horses with heavy loads back in the day. Unfortunately, they would occasionally stumble and be injured.
I love going on short hikes where I can return home in the evening. Leggjabrjótur fits this template well since you typically start from Thingvellir, only 40 minutes from Reykjavik. I convinced my daughter to join me on the trail. I also found a local tour company we could join for a bus ride and guided tour to boot. The thing with Leggjabrjótur is that it is not a circle. You typically start in Thingvellir and end up in a remote corner of Hvalfjörður fjord, which is about a 50-minute drive from Reykjavik. So keep this in mind if you want to hike Leggjabrjótur.
Beautiful landscape
The Leggjabrjótur trail takes you through a beautiful, cairn-marked trail. Occasionally you have to pass through streams. We could easily either walk on rocks sticking out of the water or simply jump over without putting on the wading shoes we had brought with us. But it is necessary to have good waterproof footwear. I wore my Goretex Brooks trail running shoes and had no problems at all.
The view on the Legbreaker trail is beautiful. You get a pretty great view of Thingvellir in the early part of the trail. When you approach Hvalfjörður fjord you come across a beautiful waterfall in the Fossá river (this river is literally called Waterfall river!), and you get a view of the impressive Glymur waterfall in the distance.
How to find the Leggjabrjótur hiking trail
Download the Icelandic Wapp hiking app and look up Leggjabrjótur. This will guide you on your way. Never embark on a hiking tour in Iceland without paying close attention to the weather forecast. Read and follow the instructions on the Safetravel website before you start on your trip. Make sure you are dressed correctly for a hiking trip in Iceland Have fun!
