Silfra, in case you're not aware, is the spot in Iceland where two tectonic plates are pulling apart, and you can actually get right between them.

Iceland has no shortage of 'hot pots', and they can mean just about anything.  It could be a plastic pool with warm water and slides, the Blue Lagoon its alcohol and masseuses, a hot rocky pot in the middle of (seemingly) nowhere, or anything in between. 

This weekend Skagaströnd saw the first stages of the annual horse roundup or rettír.  The hundreds of horses who spent summer living on the mountains were herded down to a paddock to be sorted and checked on.

Getting a tattoo in Iceland was an idea that had been floating around my head for a while, but I'm not someone to ask for a line drawing of a compass or the word 'wanderlust' on my forearm.

I've been in this strange place between being incredibly busy, and incredibly stagnant.  

Let me introduce you to an Icelandic word I learnt recently: Sólarhringur.  With this word in mind, let's say goodbye to my Scandinavian summer.

I have been in Iceland for two months today, which is completely surreal.  The last week brought a flu I'm still shaking off, and there's nothing like getting sick to make you miss home.

For the last couple of weeks I had been flirting with the idea of swimming in the sea. 

As you've probably read or deduced (or maybe you're new... hi!), I'm currently living and working in Iceland since late June.  

Scotland's Isle of Skye, one of the Inner Hebrides, is a day's drive from Glasgow or Edinburgh and one of the most popular sites in Britain.  With the ominous Cuillin mountains looming overhead, clear waterfalls and lush, green countryside, it's easy to see why.

The Hurtigruten exemplifies Norway.  Whether it’s sitting in a Jacuzzi in the midnight sun, passing by snowcapped mountains and dramatic fjords or sipping Hot Toddy’s under the dazzling Northern Lights, the Hurtigruten provides the perfect mix of rugged landscape, luxury and arctic intrigue.

I've been in Iceland for four weeks now (which seems impossible), but haven't blogged my daily adventures, like I have done over the last few months.  Most days would go something like "I woke up, faffed around in my studio for six hours, collected objects from the beach, watched an episode of The Undersea World of Jacques Cousteau and went to bed."  It wouldn't make the most riveting of journals, but that doesn't mean it isn't magical.

A notoriously expensive but famously beautiful country, Norway is paradise for those who are seeking wilderness, inspiration and adventure. 

Driving around Lake Myvatn and its surrounds was like driving on a different planet - milky blue pools contrasted with the sprawling orange deserts, and steamy mud pots gurgled and bubbled underfoot. 

Boiling hot geysers, a spectacular waterfall, the magical national park of Þingvellir... all within a days drive - there's a reason that the Golden Circle is the most touristed route in Iceland.  Here are some tips to soak up the beauty without being knocked about by crowds.