Skaftafell forms part of Europe’s largest National Park – Vatnajökull – and makes a good day out from the hotel. Skaftafell may be 120km to the east but is easily manageable in a day and you will be well rewarded. As you approach the mighty mountains and glaciers you will cross the vast outwash sands in front of Skeiðarárjökull that were awash in the eruption of 1996. From the visitor centre you can walk to the beautiful Svartifoss waterfall that tumbles over polygonal basalt columns and cross the heath to overlook the Skaftafellsjökull with the backdrop of Iceland’s highest mountain, Hvannadalshnúkur. Ice climbing and walking tours are also available here. Several of the big glaciers are accessible here but don’t miss the gem of a turf church at Hof as you drive around to the iceberg lake, Jökulsárlón, made famous by the James Bond film ‘A View to a Kill’.