The Icelandic sheep round up

One thing I’ve struggled to do so far is go out on too many long walks. I have a wander somewhere and then end up driving on and having a wander there rather than basing myself somewhere for a couple of days. So a new strategy today – 2 nights in one place with a big walk during the day.

There was a trail walk that started from near the campsite, it was only 4.5km but it would be a start and then I could carry on up over the hill and find my own way down somehow. The weather forecast wasn’t great so along with my lunch I packed my waterproofs in my bag and put my fluorescent running top on – partly because I don’t think it’s a bad idea to be seen and partly because it’s one of the only clean items of clothing I have at the moment.

As I was walking up the first hill I could hear some sheep being particularly vociferous. Not too unusual, there are rather a lot of sheep in Iceland. There were some running across the hill and I heard a quad bike. I looked around and in the far distance could see someone in a fluorescent jacket. Then it dawned on me. I’d accidentally walked right into the middle of an annual sheep round-up, which is a big event in Iceland, and I was dressed looking like a marshal.

I quickly put my coat on to hide my top and headed in the direction of a marshal and in my best Icelandic I asked her if it was safe to walk here – feeling satisfied that one of the phrases I had learnt was coming in handy. I didn’t understand her reply but her expression was pretty clear. Then in perfect English she explained to me where they were moving the sheep from and to and told me where it would be ok to walk. So I carried on, surrounded by 4 quad bikes, 2 motorbikes, 2 horses and plenty of marshals. I’d read about the sheep round up and thought it would be good to see one if I could whilst I was here, but this isn’t quite what I had in mind.

I carried on making sure I was behind the sheep and then tried to get above them. These are huge hills so knowing if you’re in front of any isn’t the easiest thing to do. Especially when the rain starts driving across the hills. I thought I was above any sheep so it was safe to walk across without disturbing any but no, a motorbike then re-appeared driving some more towards me. I was trying my best not to be a nuisance but I imagine they didn’t think that. I waited until I was sure they were past me and as the weather was now really bad I needed to start coming down from the hills. I circled round the back of the sheep and spotted a gravel track – I’d get on that and it would eventually lead me down onto the main road. Or right into the farm. One thing I did notice was when one of the quad bikes had driven the last of the sheep over a ridge he waited on top watching me until I reached the track. Either he was making sure I kept out of the way or he was watching to see that I made it off the hills ok, I like the think it was the latter as the wind and rain were sweeping across and visibility had got pretty poor.

The gate into the farm had been closed across the track so I waited for one of the marshals to come over and asked if I could walk through. 500 sheep running around you like loons are a bit scary! I made it through and finished my walk – back to town for some supplies then up to the campsite. An eventful day – just the type I had been craving for the last few days.