Grímannsfell from Gljúfrasteinn

This is a challenging mountain run on Grímannsfell, sometimes also written Grímarsfell, the highest mountain in the Mosfellsbær area at 484 metres. The route starts at Gljúfrasteinn in Mosfellsdalur, the home of the Nobel laureate Halldór Laxness, now a museum, and crosses historic ground. The writer is said to have often walked along Kaldakvísl for his health, up to Helgufoss and back. From the museum you follow a waymarked path, often called the Poet's Route, along the Kaldakvísl river. You soon reach Helgufoss, a beautiful waterfall with a pleasant resting spot and protected ruins of a shieling named after Helga. Above the waterfall you cross the river on a bridge and head up the mountain. The path is waymarked all the way with posts. The highest part of the mountain is called Stórhóll, while the western peak is Flatafell. From the top there are magnificent views over Mosfellsheiði, the slopes of Esja, Móskarðshnúkar and the whole greater Reykjavík area. On the descent you can take a loop at the top over Katlagil, which lengthens the route slightly but opens new views of Mosfellsdalur. The route is about 10.5 km with around 475 metres of ascent and suits experienced runners in good shape. The surface is mixed; fields, moorland, tussocky ground and waymarked paths. Near the mountain the ground can be wet and boggy except in dry spells. Parking and the museum are at Gljúfrasteinn.