Búðir to the crater Búðaklettur

From the car park by the black church take Klettsgata, the old track through the lava, south and then west across Búðahraun, through mossy hollows full of ferns. After about 2.6 km leave it at the signed fork and follow the posts round the east and south sides of Búðaklettur and up onto its rim. Go down the west side to rejoin Klettsgata at the cave Búðahellir, then walk back east along Klettsgata to Búðir.

It is 7.2 km round with 69 m of ascent; allow about 2 hours. The grade is Easy: rough lava underfoot, with a steeper, loose path on the crater.

Búðaklettur is not a cliff but an 88 m crater, the source of the lava several thousand years ago. Búðahraun is one of Iceland's richest lava fields for plants, with many kinds of fern, and has been a nature reserve since 1977. Keep to Klettsgata and the post-marked crater path: the moss is easily damaged, and deep cracks and holes lie beside the track, so take care in fog or snow. Legend once said the cave ran under the crater and out to sea.

We found no parking fee at the car park by the church; the other car park is for hotel guests. Búðir is on a short paved road off road 574 on the south side of Snæfellsnes. There is no bus.

Route drawn by Global Adventurer along OpenStreetMap paths (© OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL), with figures worked out from it. Check the forecast and the ground on the day: paths change.