Airport loop from Vesturbæjarlaug

This route is an easy, accessible run starting at Vesturbæjarlaug and looping around Reykjavík Airport in Vatnsmýri. The route follows a continuous network of paved walking and cycling paths through Vesturbær, Vatnsmýri, Skerjafjörður and around the airport. Reykjavík Airport has a long history; aviation began in Vatnsmýri in 1919 and the British built a permanent airport during the war years. The route is largely easy and fast, ideal for steady training runs, and runs partly along the shore at Skerjafjörður with wide views. Nearby are Öskjuhlíð, Nauthólsvík and the University of Iceland, and the route easily links to the wider path network, including Ægisíða and Fossvogur. The route is about 8 km with negligible elevation gain, around 30 metres, and is well suited to longer steady-paced training runs. The paths are in part shared by pedestrians and cyclists, so take care and yield to cycle traffic, and some road crossings are needed. As the route is open and runs partly along the sea it can be windy. Parking and swimming facilities are at Vesturbæjarlaug at the start.