Riding the Redhills Lava, 15 Minutes from Reykjavík

The lava field is 15 minutes from the middle of Reykjavík, which is the first surprise. Before anything else, the gear: rain clothing and winter overalls are handed out, and then a horse is picked to match the rider rather than the other way round. The riding is 5 to 7 kilometres depending on who is in the group, and the route is chosen the same way. Beginners get the smooth path along the Redhills; a group of experienced riders goes by Rauðavatn instead. Both are natural riding paths. At Heiðmörk the hills are lava, and the volcano that made them is 5,000 years old. At Rauðavatn, forestry in Iceland took its first steps at the start of the 20th century. The whole thing takes about two and a half hours, with one and a half to two of those in the saddle. Pick-up is from hotels, guesthouses and the BSÍ bus terminal only. Be at the meeting point 15 minutes before departure.