Iceland hikes: Leaving UK between waves of the Covid-19 pandemic

As someone who has been spending part of his retirement years walking long distances on paths across Europe, it is frustrating having to stay at home in order to fight the spread on Covid-19, the new Coronavirus. I started 2020 by walking the Israel National Trail but was obliged to return to the UK as the pandemic started to escalate. Fortunately I had finished 90% of the route, having hiked the dramatic Negev desert section and visited the historic sites in Jerusalem, Bethlehem and Nazareth. A few days following my return, Britain went into a full "lockdown", "Stay at Home" we were told, so any further plans had to be put on hold. Frustrating but I know many people are in a much more difficult position than myself, some of them are dead! However, knowing that I no longer have to worry about a job, or amuse children or look after a vulnerable mother, does not make the "lockdown" any easier. Although the government gets much criticism as they deal with this brand new virus, they were right to allow us out of our homes to exercise. The reality is that diabetes related to obesity and other diseases associated with a sedentary lifestyle cause many more premature deaths than the Coronavirus is likely to, certainly they increase the risk of death from Covid-19. Maybe the signs I see when walking in the nearby countryside, saying "Save the NHS, Go home" should say "Save the NHS, loose weight and get some exercise". Don't think it will catch on though.

Thinking that overnight travel in the UK would be possible before international travel, I started planning to walk the Cambrian Way in Wales, but I was wrong, accommodation is still closed and in Wales travel further than 5 miles from your home is not permitted. I read in a weekend newspaper that Iceland will start accepting visitors from 15 June. Although I have never visited the country, due to an interest in Geology it is a place I have considered before. In addition there are a number of short treks described in Cicerone's "Walking and Trekking in Iceland", one of which, the Laugavegur Trail, is among National Geographic's top 20 hikes in the world. So visiting Iceland seemed a good idea. I will have to take a test for Covid-19 on arriving at the airport, and if it proves positive the bad news is that I will have to isolate for 14 days. As the risk of having Covid-19 is now one in seventeen thousand according to the Office of National Statistics it seems a chance worth taking. The other downside is that on my return to the UK I will have to quarantine for 14 days, if the policy has not changed by then. If this policy was based on science it would not be necessary as Iceland has very few cases now, averaging one or two a day according to Google, hopefully Britain's policy will change by the time I plan to return.

Easyjet had flights to Reykjavik from Luton starting 1 July, so I booked a seat on the 2 July for just under £20 for me, too good to miss, albeit space in the hold for my rucksack will cost rather more! The price has now risen to £53 implying that a few people have now booked and the flight will not be cancelled. Getting excited!