Waterfalls, glaciers and volcanoes!

Over the half-term break, it was finally time for the Geography Department to resume its programme of overseas trips after the disruption of the pandemic.

Four members of staff accompanied 40 students from Years 8-10 on a whistle-stop tour of some of Iceland’s most majestic scenery and attractions. We were barely off the plane when we found ourselves walking through steaming volcanic landscapes, picking up that whiff of rotten eggs that is so characteristic of geothermal activity.

Highlights of the trip including visiting a number of giant waterfalls as well as a black sand beach with cliffs made of hexagonal basalt columns. On the ferry across to the Westman Islands, we were able to watch an assortment of seabirds, including puffins, fly low across the water and witness the effects of the famous Heimeay eruption of 1973, when a lava flow almost sealed off the town’s main harbour from the sea. Although the local midges caused us a few problems, any itching was eased by time spent in our hostel’s two naturally heated hot tubs.

Mr Porter did an expert job as our unofficial tour guide and I think everyone returned having had a really enjoyable time, even if the very short Icelandic nights made it difficult to get much sleep!