As we edge ever closer to Christmas, it’s getting colder and colder in North Yorkshire! If you’re feeling the chill, spare a thought for Matt Todd, Director of Herbert Todd & Son (and regular Your Local Link property columnist), who’ll soon be embarking on an epic trek across Iceland in aid of St Leonard’s Hospice. We caught up with Matt to get the inside scoop, before he hits the trail…
Why have you chosen Iceland as the destination for your trek, and which specific route will you be taking?
St Leonard’s has teamed up with The Different Travel company to offer this once-in-a-lifetime trekking experience in Iceland. It’s a place I have always wanted to visit, and a local charity that makes a huge difference to anyone they come into contact with, so it wasn’t hard to say, yes!
Our itinerary is as follows:
Day 1: REYKJADALUR (14km, 6 hours) – We begin at the foot of Reykjadalur. We will hike across a field of geothermal activity with bubbling mud pools to the top of the Dalaskaro Pass. From there, we continue down to the magical valley of Solfataras and the Reykjadalur hot springs. Those brave enough, like me, can enjoy a dip in the naturally hot waters!
Day 2: HENGILL – MT. VÖRÐUSKEGGI (14km, 8 hours) – After a good breakfast, we drive up to the Mt Hengill area. From there, we will hike up to Vörðuskeggi Peak (805m). From the top, we can enjoy stunning views of Lake Þingvellir and Langjökull to the north, and Eyjafjallajökull and the distant Westman Islands to the West. From here, we will hike up to Mt Skeggi, the highest peak in the Hengill Heritage Site, before returning to our hotel for dinner and a well-earned jacuzzi.
Day 3: ÞINGELLIR NATIONAL PARK – REYKJAVIK (10km, 4 hours) – A short drive brings us to the National Park of Thingvellir, where we will hike along the fault line that divides America and Europe. After the hike, we drive to Reykjavik (approximately 45 minutes) for dinner in town and our last night at Hotel Leifur Eiríkssonm with a celebratory farewell dinner at a local restaurant to end the trip.
Which section of the journey are you most excited about?
We’re all very excited to get up close with the incredible natural beauty of Iceland, but the mud pools, hot springs and, hopefully, lava flows will definitely be the highlights for me.
Are you an experienced trekker, and are you nervous about undertaking such a monumental task?
My wife Cheryl and I have two dogs, so we are always out walking. My parents instilled in me the benefits of hill walking when, as kids, the whole family would attempt the best hills that the Lake District had to offer, often getting quite lost! The four of us in my fundraising group are all fairly fit, but Dale, our resident Iron Man challenger, will most likely lead us around.
We hear that Iceland can be awfully cold at this time of year! We trust that you’ll be wrapping up warm to protect yourselves from the elements?
If (and that’s a big if) the weather is around the seasonal average, then we should be in for temperatures between zero and ten degrees centigrade, which is very pleasant for walking. If it’s at the lower end and it starts raining, that’s when the foul-weather gear will come out of our day packs, and we will have to settle in for the slog!
Aside from the necessary hiking gear, which items will you be packing in your rucksack? Any Yorkshire home comforts?
We’re all taking walking poles, as the volcanic rock underfoot can be very uneven but, more importantly, I will have a stack of York’s own KitKats to hand in case energy levels fall off, and a big bag of Jelly Babies for emergencies only!
I’m sure your trek will go swimmingly, but do you have any plans in case you happen to get lost along the way?
Full disclosure – I am definitely not Bear Grills, and apart from being able to carry out basic first aid and primitive compass use, I will be relying on the travel company’s guides that will be with us throughout.
What advice would you have for any prospective trekkers thinking of hitting the trail?
For specific advice for Iceland, I’ll tell you when I get back! For trekking in the UK, just pick trails that suit your ability and comfort level. We always used to use books to guide us around the hills (Wainwright being a personal favourite), but you can download some brilliant apps these days that make route selection easy, and will even give you step-by-step guidance like a sat-nav.
Why did you decide to raise funds for St Leonard’s Hospice, and is this charity close to your heart?
We all knew of St Leonard’s and the amazing work they do, but Kate, who’s trekking with us, has had first-hand experience of the vital role the charity has in providing the best end-of-life care. Thankfully, very few of us know what that time in our lives will look like, but should you need them, St Leonard’s is on hand to guide families through with care, compassion and humility, to make things as normal as they can be and allow everyone the necessary space and comfort. This great work requires six million pounds in funding every year, and that’s where we can all do our little bit to help them back.
How can Your Local Link readers support your efforts?
If anyone reading this would like to help us reach our goal of raising £6000 for St Leonard’s Hospice, please follow the link below. 100% of your donation goes to the charity..
To make a donation, please visit: https://www.justgiving.com/page/kate-burton-1733929161226?utm_medium=FR&utm_source=CL
Add a comment