Iceland's réttir: Sheep roundup and a country party

Sheep are integral to Iceland: some 400,000 roam the country, more than the human population, and they’ve sustained the island’s inhabitants for centuries. Best of all, they’re almost entirely free range. After lambing time in May, farmers turn their flocks loose to graze on the lush highland grasses and berries of Iceland’s interior.

September brings réttir – the nationwide roundup where people on foot, ATVs or Icelandic horses retrieve their stock from the mountains and valleys, aided by trusty sheepdogs. The grueling endeavor sometimes requires days in the saddle, and entire communities turn out in support.

The ancient tradition is followed by sorting at réttir, circular pens with radiating sections where farmers separate their herds. It’s a grand country party, where friends, family, and neighbors come together to play music, picnic outdoors, and help each other marshal their sheep. Tourists are welcome to join in on the fun.

A schedule for réttir events in 2024 has been released (in Icelandic, in the local farming newspaper), broken down by region. A number of tour companies offer day trips to see réttir in country areas.

Below, images capture iconic moments of réttir in Skagafjörður, North Iceland.

_{A bird’s-eye view of Stafnsrétt reveals how the farmers' sections radiate like spokes on a wheel.
Photo by Ross Weinberg
Banner photo by Rebecca Stumpf}

_{Children delight in the bustling excitement of the sorting.
Photo by Rebecca Stumpf}

_{Stafnsrétt, located in the valley of Svartárdalur, is a prime example of a traditional rétt for sorting livestock.
Photo by Ross Weinberg}

_{The réttir is a group effort, with dozens of people on foot, horseback, and in support vehicles working together during each roundup to herd thousands of sheep.
Photo by Rebecca Stumpf}

_{At Mælifellsrétt, sheep wait patiently beneath a blustery September sky.
Photo by Ross Weinberg}

_{Sorting complete, members of Starrastaðir farm guide their flock home.
Photo by Rebecca Stumpf}

Travel notes

Experienced horse riders can often join tours that are involved in the réttir, while spectators are usually welcome at events. The roundups are held around the country September, with local newspapers publishing the schedule ahead of time.

Text by Karen Carmichael
Photos by Ross Weinberg and Rebecca Stumpf