Landbrotalaug Hot Springs

About Landbrotalaug Hot Springs

Landbrotalaug is a tiny natural hot pool on the eastern side of the Snæfellsnes peninsula in West Iceland, on the land of the farm Stóra-Hraun near the Eldborg crater. It lies in flat, marshy lava country a short way off Route 54, under an hour's drive north-west of Borgarnes, and is one of the few natural hot pots on the way into Snæfellsnes.

There are two small pools. The main one is a deep, narrow hole in the ground, just big enough for two or three people to sit in at once, with warm water welling up from the bottom; a second, shallower pool nearby is edged with a low stone wall. The water is comfortably hot rather than scalding, but it can change with the weather. With no building, no fence and no lights, the main appeal is the setting: open moorland, a wide sky, and on dark winter nights a chance of northern lights.

The pool is reached along a short, bumpy gravel track from Route 54 that ends in a small parking area a short walk from the water; an ordinary car usually manages it in dry conditions, but it can be muddy or icy. There are no toilets, changing rooms or bins, so change in your car, take all rubbish away and leave nothing behind. Because the pool is so small, arrive early or late in the day, and be ready to wait or move on if others are already in.

Entry is free and there is no booking. The pool is on private land, and access has depended on the landowner's goodwill; it has been closed at times in the past because of crowding and damage to the surroundings. Keep noise down, do not use soap or shampoo, and check current access before making a special trip.