Sprangan

Sprangan is the practice of moving across a cliff face on a rope fixed above, pushing off with the feet and swinging sideways, and in the Westman Islands it was not a game but a skill: men lowered themselves down the bird cliffs to gather eggs and birds, and children learned the technique on a practice cliff by the town so they would be able to work when older. Egg gathering has largely stopped, but the ropes are still there and islanders still use them, particularly around Thjodhatid. Visitors are welcome to try, with the obvious caveat that it is a real cliff and the ropes are not a supervised attraction.

What you actually see

• Ropes fixed on a practice cliff - in the town, by the shore.
• A working skill, not a game - learned for the egg and bird cliffs.
• Still used by islanders - especially around the August festival.
• Open to anyone - with no supervision and no safety equipment.

When to go

June to August, when islanders are using it. An hour.

Honest expectations

There is no instructor, no harness and no one checking the ropes - injuries happen and this is entirely at your own risk. It is much harder than experienced islanders make it look. Watching is the sensible option for most visitors.

Nearby

The harbour and Skansinn are minutes away; Eldfell is above the town.