Real winter wonderland

Snow-capped mountains that go on for miles, volcanoes and waterfalls – Iceland is a place of breathtaking natural beauty.

And that's without even mentioning the marvel of the Northern Lights.

I'd only ever considered visiting Reykjavik on a city break in the past, but after my recent trip to the west of the country, I was bowled over the amount there is to see outside of the capital.

After the short Icelandair flight from Birmingham Airport to Keflavik, my trip started on a high with a visit to the Blue Lagoon geothermal spa.

Despite the freezing cold weather outside, once beneath the 38 degree water, you won't want to get out.

Make your way around the steaming cloudy lagoon, and your skin will feel softer immediately.

You could easily spend a day here with its on-site spa, perfect for a massage, while outside there's a waterfall, sauna and steam rooms. And to get the full experience you must slather your face in the mud from one of the pots around the lagoon. There's also a licensed swim-up bar; if you're feeling healthy go for one of the green juices, or – if you're more like me – a glass of Prosecco.

Fully relaxed, we went off to Munaðarnes Restaurant, where we dined on lobster soup and lamb.

It was here we got our first glimpse of the Northern Lights, and while they may not have been in all their glory, the unmistakeable strips of green light in the night sky are mesmerising and still a sight to behold.

Our base for the night was the Hotel Hamar in Borgarnes.Looking rather like a motel from the outside, once inside rooms were modern, functional and beds comfy. WiFi and a hot tub overlooking the mountains were also a bonus.

After a good night's rest it was up early to explore the island.

My first recommendation would be to hire a car. While the lure of a city break is tempting, there's simply too much to see not to get out and about.

A must-visit is the ice cave, Into the Glacier. Located on one of Europe's largest glacier's, Langjökull, the trip explores the man-made ice tunnels and caves that have been dug inside the glacier.

From the base it takes around half-an-hour to be pulled up to the glacier in the converted NATO trucks up to the entrance – literally a door into the ice. Once inside and fitted with crampons, you'll then get an hour to explore the wondrous glacier, its crevasses and icicles – you'll never see anything like it. It's a cool zero degrees in there, but your mind will boggle at the pools of water that aren't frozen – not the most comforting sign when you are surrounded by ice.

Next up, it was off to the Snæfellsnes Peninsula. Nature lovers will particularly love the beaches, mountains and volcanic craters, while the lakes are rich with trout and the rivers with salmon.

We stopped off in the charming village of Stykkishólmur, a picture-postcard spot of cute, colourful wooden houses and a harbour. And a walk up the hillside overlooking the water is the perfect spot for some all important selfies.

Following a day of waterfalls, caves and scenery, we stopped to fill up at The Settlement Center in Borgarnes. Home to exhibitions which give an insight into Iceland's history, it also boasts a cosy restaurant serving up traditional dishes such as horse, or for the less adventurous, a buffet menu with salad, chicken, fish and vegetables.

After dinner we retired to the Ensku Husin Hotel, a charming guesthouse set in houses that are more than a century old.

The property comprises old fishing lodges, built in 1884 by Brits and is colloquially known as 'the English houses'.

Our group stayed in an extension of the main house which feels like a real home from home, with a large dining room and lounge area, where we talked into the early hours over a few glasses of red.

Our final day proved to be the wettest of our stay, but we were off out again, this time in a Super Jeep tour of the Golden Circle.

The highlights were the Geysir Hot Springs, where you can see water shoot 100ft into the air every few minutes. Meanwhile, the Gullfoss waterfall is a sight to behold; a huge, roaring waterfall. It's one of Iceland's top tourist attractions.

We ended our trip back in Reykjavik where we dined at the Matur og Drykkur restaurant. The cosy venue had a modern-rustic feel, with chic decor and low-lighting, a perfect place for a catch-up with friends or a romantic meal.

The menu was packed with seafood and Icelandic dishes, but my leg of lamb was succulent and a hearty dish after another day of exploring. We topped it off with the cheese board – Icelandic blue cheese, caraway, rye crisps and birch syrup – and it was just a night at the Natura Hotel before heading home.

After not seeing much of Reykjavik, I'll definitely be going back, but will make sure to broaden my horizons and make the most of the rest this beautiful country has to offer.

Travel Facts

Icelandair – Return economy class flights to Reykjavik from Birmingham Airport start from just £139 including taxes. For bookings or customer service contact 020 7874 1000 or visit www.icelandair.co.uk

Promote Iceland – For more information on Iceland please visit: www.iceland.is

Hotel Hamar – Standard summer price is around £146. Visit www.icelandairhotels.com/en/hotels/hamar

Hotel Reykjavik Natura – Standard summer price is £141. Visit www.icelandairhotels.com/en/hotels/natura

Standard entry to the Blue Lagoon is £37 in summer season, and £26 during the winter. Visit www.bluelagoon.com

Into the Glacier – Classic tour from base camp by the glacier edge is £102. Day tour from Reykjavik – £157. Visit www.intotheglacier.is

SuperJeep tours – Day tours from £199 per person and Northern Lights from £109 per person. Visit www.superjeep.is

For further information on planning your trip to Iceland please visit www.visiticeland.com

To book your transport to and from Keflavik Reykjavik airport visit www.re.is