Laugaland Hot Springs

Varmaland sits between the Hvítá and Norðurá rivers, with a wooded hillside behind the village. At nearby Laugaland, hot water from the property supplies greenhouse heat. This is a small agricultural settlement rather than a developed hot-spring bathing attraction.

The hillside walk is a useful reason to stop when you have time in Borgarfjörður. For a short visit, look around the village and continue toward Grábrók or Glanni.

The regional tourism board describes year-round cucumber growing at Laugaland. Pure Arctic's producer profile dates the operation to 1942 and explains that a hot spring on the property heats its greenhouses.

Follow public paths and local signs. The sources establish geothermal cultivation, but not public access to the spring or greenhouse interiors. For a dedicated geothermal viewing stop elsewhere in Borgarfjörður, compare Deildartunguhver.

The ridge above Varmaland is part of the published 5 km village walk.

Visit West Iceland lists a 5.03 km route starting at Hotel Varmaland, reached by road 527. Its terrain description includes grass, small rocks and steps, with 75 metres of elevation. Allow roughly one to two hours as a planning estimate, depending on pace and stops.

A short paved section does not mean the whole route is step-free. Wear suitable shoes, follow the signed path and shorten the outing if footing or visibility deteriorates. The route is unlit, so plan the return within daylight.

Borgarbyggð describes the pool as open to the public in summer. During winter it is mainly used for school swimming, with public access dependent on the teaching schedule. Confirm directly with the municipality; published tourism and municipal timetables differ, so a fixed opening-hour promise would be unreliable.

A paved section near Varmaland; the complete walk also includes uneven ground and steps.

Grábrók offers a crater climb, while Glanni provides a river-and-lava walk near Bifröst. These are useful comparisons if the time available is shorter than Varmaland's full trail.

Deildartunguhver and Hraunfossar belong to a longer Borgarfjörður outing. Hvanneyri is another option for agricultural and settlement history. Choose according to your direction of travel and leave enough time for the main walk.

• Use the signed trail start at Hotel Varmaland; the attraction map pin gives area context, not permission to enter farm property.
• Confirm pool access with Borgarbyggð before traveling specifically to swim.
• Check road conditions and daylight, and keep the ridge walk flexible in poor weather.