Woman looks to break Arctic record made possible by melting ice
A British woman is getting ready to try and break a record by becoming the first person to sail on her own around the Arctic Circle.Ella Hibbert is thought to be the first person to attempt to do so in a single trip.But she says the chance of breaking this record isn't all positive.She said: "It will be a bittersweet record to achieve because if I make it all the way round in a single season, it will prove that the Arctic no longer has the ice covering that it is supposed to."
Ella, sets off from Gosport, near Portsmouth, and head to Iceland and Norway on 24 May ahead of her 10,000 mile journey, which is expected to take five months.Her route will take her north of Iceland, down around southern Greenland, up through Canada and across the north of Alaska before heading back to Norway.She'll only be able to sleep for 20 minutes at a time when she hits the Arctic Circle, and will face other challenges like polar bears and extreme conditions."It's not something that you can prepare for until you're there in it, and there's all sorts of weather around the Arctic."
While she is on her challenge, Ella will also be helping with research which hopes to show the impact of climate change.She'll record depth soundings while she travels - this tells you the distance between the sea bed and the surface. She also plans to auction off her boat when she finishes the trip to raise money for conservation charities, which she hopes is a way of giving back to the Arctic for the time she will be spending there.
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The Guardian
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Where to stay The dapper Hotel Blönduós has doubles from £260 and a good restaurant. Day 5: Trollaskagi Peninsula and Akureyri Turf houses, fjords and sushi Not far from Blonduos lies the small town of Glaumbaer, where you can see some preserved turf houses, while the lovely village of Hólar boasts the oldest stone church in Iceland. Follow Road 76 around the striking TröllaskagiPeninsula (Troll Peninsula), a dramatically beautiful mix of valleys, fjords and mountains. Stop at Siglufjörður, a former fishing town, to admire the old wooden houses and have lunch at Torgið. A bit more driving along more picturesque fjords will bring you to the capital of the north, Akureyri, tucked atmospherically into the bottom of the Eyjafjörður fjord. Spend the remainder of the day exploring its pretty churches, art galleries and botanical gardens. For dinner, Rub23 has excellent Icelandic fish, lamb, and beef dishes – and some of the best sushi in the country, served with the restaurant's own locally-grown wasabi. Where to stay Akureyri - Berjaya Iceland Hotels has doubles from £225. Day 6: Husavik and Myvatn Whale-watching, waterfalls and geothermal hikes After Akureyri, head east to majestic Godafoss (the 'Waterfall of the Gods') and then north to Húsavík, famed for its whale-watching tours: if you're lucky you might spot humpbacks, minke, orcas or dolphins. Lunch at Gamli Baukur, which overlooks the harbour before following the road around the fjord to the spectacular Ásbyrgi Canyon and Hljóðaklettar, a cluster of photogenic rock columns; a footpath guides you from here through the gorgeous Jökulsárgljúfur canyon to Hólmatungur. Make one final stop at Dettifoss, Europe's most powerful waterfall, before driving to Mývatn – a wonderland of geothermal activity, with plentiful hiking opportunities and the option of a dip at Mývatn Nature Baths. Dine at farm restaurant Vogafjós. Where to stay Vogafjós also offers rustic guest rooms from £240 per night. Day 7: East Coast East fjords, puffins and lobster soup Today's drive takes you through the enigmatic East Fjords via Egilsstaðir and the mountains and valleys of the Herad region. The first stop should be Borgarfjörður eystri, home to around 10,000 pairs of nesting puffins in summer. Egilsstaðir is the largest town in the region and a good place to stop and refuel, but a little farther on is Seyðisfjörður, whose dramatic surroundings can be enjoyed from a brand new viewing platform. Lunch at Skaftfell Bistro before heading to the small peninsula of Hvalnes and the village of Djúpivogur, where you can hike and admire the scenery. The final stretch, to Höfn, takes around an hour and a half but you'll be rewarded with views of the mighty Vatnajökull Glacier and surrounding fjords – and lobster soup at Otto Matur & Drykkur. Where to stay Hotel Höfn has doubles from £220. Day 8: South Coast Glaciers, lakes and black sand beaches It's not really a trip to Iceland if you don't get up a glacier. From Höfn, explore Vatnajökull via one of the local companies offering ice climbing, ice walks and ice cave tours. Alternatively, enjoy a scenic hike in the slightly quieter Skaftafell National Park – just be sure to save time for the drive along the sight-laden south coast, where highlights include the Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon and associated Diamond Beach, where icy chunks from Vatnajökull wash up photogenically onto black sands; and Dyrhólaey, a large promontory with splendid views of the coastline and the Reynisdrangar sea stacks. If you need to break the journey up along the way, stop at Kjarr in Kirkjubæjarklaustur for lunch, or head straight to Vik, where you can feast on burgers and more at Smiðjan Brugghús. Where to stay Hotel Kria has apartments in Vik from £250. Day 9: Westman Islands and the Highlands Volcano hikes, puffins and mountain adventures Continue south, stopping at Skógafoss and Seljalandsfoss waterfalls, before taking a break from the car and catching the Herjólfur ferry from Landeyjafjara to the Westman Islands. You'll arrive at Heimaey, where you can climb the Eldfell volcano, which erupted in 1973, forcing the evacuation of the entire island; the dramatic story is told in detail at the Eldheimar Museum. Enjoy lunch at Voruhusid before catching the ferry back to the mainland and driving to Midgard Base Camp. A hotel and tour operator all in one, they are well-equipped for a guided tour into otherwise inaccessible highland areas such as Þórsmörk, Landmannalaugar or Fjallabak. In the evening, dine at Midgard's in-house restaurant. Where to stay Midgard Base Camp has doubles from £185. Day 10: Golden Circle and the Reykjanes Peninsula Viking parliament, waterfalls and hot springs For the final leg of the trip, explore the Golden Circle. Start with a drive to the Kerið Crater Lake (you can walk around its rim), before heading to the UNESCO World Heritage site Thingvellir, the location of Iceland's ancient parliament, founded in 930 AD. Stroll between the North American and European tectonic plates at the Almannagja Gorge, and enjoy the park's lava fields and lakes. Gullfoss, one of Iceland's most iconic waterfalls, should not be missed, and although the world-famous Geysir is nowadays dormant, the Haukadalur valley has plenty of other spurting hot springs (such as Strokkur) to see. If you're heading back to Reykjavik and want to see more, drive the Reykjanes Peninsula to see Iceland's oldest lighthouse (Reykjanesviti), the bubbling mud pits of Krysuvík and Seltun, and maybe pay a visit to the Blue Lagoon. Alternatively, stay at the plush new Hotel Geysir, which has doubles from £280 and a very good restaurant, before heading to Keflavik airport the next morning. Where to stay If you head back to Reykjavik, the chic Canopy Hotel has doubles from £300. How to do it When to go This tour has been designed for summer (approximately June to August) for several reasons. Firstly, Iceland experiences almost 24 hours of daylight during the summer season, meaning there is much more time to enjoy the sights, especially on longer driving days. The more remote parts of the country – and the mountain F-roads leading to them – are more accessible, and summer also brings better general driving conditions since the roads are clear of snow and ice. The higher temperatures mean outdoor activities are also more enjoyable. If you can't go in the summer, try and stay as close to the summer shoulder seasons as possible since many roads only remain open between the end of April to around mid-September. However, although much of this route will be inaccessible during deep winter, you can certainly do some of it, with the bonus of snow-covered landscapes and a higher chance of seeing the Northern Lights. What to book While the above itinerary is custom-made and not specifically offered by a tour operator, Arctic Adventures offer a nine-day tour that covers a fair bit of it for around £2,300 per person, with basic accommodation and breakfasts included. Midgard Adventure also offers all-inclusive packages such as a four-Day Northern Lights Adventure that covers the Golden Circle, the south coast and Þórsmörk, plus 'off the beaten path' experiences such as super jeep tours, ice caves, and glacier walks for around £1,500 per person; they also have a private day tours to the Westman Islands and a Þórsmörk Super Jeep Day Tour that start at around £200 per person.
