Garðabæjarhringur from Vídalínskirkja

A varied running route around Garðabær connecting history, neighbourhoods and nature. The route starts at Vídalínskirkja, and it is worth beginning or ending by visiting the Hofsstaðir heritage park nearby, where one of the largest settlement-era longhouses found in Iceland was excavated. The run follows a path along the top of the ridge between the neighbourhoods, past Holtstún and on along Reykjanesbraut and over the bridge toward Vífilsstaðir. The route passes below Vífilsstaðir along Hraunstígur to Vífilsstaðavatn lake; above stands the old Vífilsstaðir sanatorium, a tuberculosis hospital operated from 1910. From the lake it continues toward Vífilsstaðahlíð and onto the path along the Urriðaholt neighbourhood. A short stretch follows Elliðavatnsvegur (the so-called Refugee Road) before joining the path at Urriðaholt, crossing Urriðaholtsstræti and the bridge over Reykjanesbraut. From there a path leads out onto the Garðahraun lava field and crosses the rugged lava, then through the Flatir residential area and back up to Vídalínskirkja. The surface is mostly asphalt and paths, with a lava section, and the route is almost flat. Toilets and facilities are available at the start.