We've all gone to Iceland! Shropshire students' trip with a difference
While the county was enjoying a heatwave students from a Shropshire college were experiencing one of Iceland's greyest and wettest summers on record.
But the group from Concord College said the volcanoes, waterfalls and Geysir Hot Springs were well worth sacrificing the sun for.
On the first day, the group climbed to the top of the volcano which erupted in 2010 and disrupted air travel across large parts of Europe.
Teacher, Dr Phil Outram said: "The Icelandic scenery is very raw and wild. as well as very remote. We were a 30km drive off dirt tracks and a long way from civilisation. Our 12 days included four days of walking, and to climb up the volcano and see it at first hand was an amazing experience.
"The eruption changed the landscape quite dramatically. The crater at the top of the volcano had fresh lava surrounded by snow and there was also black ash in the glaciers. Snow-capped mountains and rivers surrounded us and the waterfalls and glaciers were spectacular.
"We also visited the Golden Circle where we saw the hot springs at Geysir, the waterfall at Gullfoss and the rift valley at Thingvellir where the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates are moving apart by 2.5cm a year.
"On the final day we went whale watching off Reykjavik and also saw puffins. We also came close to the Arctic fox which is the only native land mammal in Iceland."
The nine students will give an assembly presentation to their fellow students about their experiences at the start of next term.
