The Sheep Farming Museum

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A lively cultural Centre in Sævangur

The Sheep Farming Museum in Strandir is a lively cultural centre located in Sævangur by Steingrímsfjörður, founded in 2002. The museum is situated 12 km south of Hólmavík and offers a wide range of activities for the whole family.

Sheep and Rural Life

Their permanent exhibition, Sheep and Rural Life, explores sheep farming from every possible angle. It covers lambing season, haymaking, soil cultivation, field management, sheep diseases, markings and ear tags, products, slaughter season, herding, sheep pens, wool processing, sheep houses and things that threaten the Icelandic sheep.

Exhibitions and cultural activities

The Sheep Farming Museum in Strandir usually hosts four historical or art exhibitions at a time. In addition to the permanent exhibition, three temporary exhibitions run for 1–2 years. The museum also works on various cultural projects and events throughout the year.

Kaffi Kind and local crafts

The café Kaffi Kind operates in Sævangur, offering homemade pastries, soups, ice cream from Erpsstaðir and other treats. The museum also features a small crafts and souvenir shop where visitors can purchase gifts and keepsakes.

Groups and gatherings

The Sheep Farming Museum in Strandir welcomes groups, and Sævangur can easily be rented for meetings, celebrations, courses or other gatherings, both summer and winter. The museum is a popular destination for travellers and locals alike.

Nature and outdoor activities

The surroundings of the Sheep Farming Museum in Strandir are ideal for walking and outdoor recreation. During summer, eider ducks nest on Orrustutangi, and the shoreline is rich in birdlife. The coastal path Sjávarslóð runs through the area, and a marked hiking route up Kirkjubólsfjall is nearby. The Nature School activity area, operated in connection with the museum, is also located on site.

Opening hours

The Sheep Farming Museum in Strandir is open daily from 1 June to 31 August, 10:00–18:00. During winter, visits can be arranged by appointment. Regular events are held at the museum.

Ten ideas for things to do in Hólmavík and nearby areas:

  1. Go whale watching from Hólmavík with Láki Tours.
  2. Take a dip in the swimming pool in Hólmavík or Drangsnes.
  3. Visit the Museum of Sorcery & Witchcraft in Hólmavík and learn about the 17th‑century witchcraft persecutions in the Strandir region.
  4. Explore the Sorcerer’s Cottage in Bjarnarfjörður and then enjoy a swim at Laugarhóll.
  5. Visit the small village of Drangsnes and take a boat trip to Grímsey in Steingrímsfjörður, home to a large puffin colony.
  6. Travel north to Árneshreppur and explore the history of herring in Djúpavík and Ingólfsfjörður, visit Hvalárfoss in Ófeigsfjörður, and relax in the geothermal pool at Krossneslaug.
  7. Drive across Steingrímsfjörður heath and visit Heydalur in Mjóifjörður and a nearby natural pool.
  8. Visit the Boat and Gift of Nature Exhibition at Reykhólar.
  9. Visit Ólafsdalur in Gilsfjörður, where Iceland’s first agricultural school was founded in 1880, and walk to the Viking longhouse discovered in 2017.
  10. In the Dalir district, visit the zoo at Hólar Petting Farm, the Leifur Eiriksson Center in Búðardalur, and Eiríksstaðir in Haukadalur.

For further information, visit www.westfjords.is

Sævangi, 511 Hólmavík
saudfjarsetur@saudfjarsetur.is
+354 693 3474
Opening hours:
  • June – August all days 10-18.
  • At other times upon a request.
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Icelandic Saga & Heritage Association (ISHA) was founded in 2006 (then named Iceland Saga Trail Association). It is a forum for collaboration for those involved in heritage tourism in Iceland, especially regarding publicity, quality and professional standards.

Contact us

Email: info@sagatrail.is