Vatnsendahlíð from Guðmundarlundur

This route is a varied trail run through the uninhabited Vatnsendahlíð, starting at Guðmundarlundur, a popular woodland in the Kópavogur area above the Þing neighbourhood. Guðmundarlundur has a nice history; in 1997 Guðmundur Jónsson and his family gave the Kópavogur Forestry Society a plot where they had cultivated barren land, and the grove is named after the donor. Today it is a lush woodland of about 11 hectares, with a paved main path, barbecue facilities, a minigolf course and a playground. From Guðmundarlundur a loop is run around the hillside, and it can be taken in either direction. The route passes through three different ecosystems in a short time: the forest in Guðmundarlundur where songbirds live, the shrubland and moorland of Vatnsendahlíð where moorland birds nest, and down to Elliðavatn where waterfowl can be seen. There are mountain views in all directions in clear weather, and it is interesting to observe the fault valleys and imagine Elliðavatn as it was before it became a reservoir about a century ago and grew considerably. The route is about 5.6 km with around 140 metres of ascent. The surface is mixed; wood chips on forest paths, gravel roads and newly paved paths, but some tracks can become wet in rainy weather. The route is passable year-round, but on snowy winter days it may be wise to park at the Kórinn sports hall.