Riders will retell Njáls saga along the arsonists’ trail

Riders will follow the route taken by the men who burned Njáll and his sons inside Bergþórshvoll, in an event organised by the Njáls saga Society on Saturday, mbl.is reports.

The six-hour ride will begin at Fljótshlíðarrétt, where participants are expected to gather between 11am and 1pm. Riders must wear cloaks to take part. The fee is 10,000 Icelandic krónur for those who have their own cloaks and 15,000 krónur for those who need one.

“The burners gathered at Þríhyrningshálsar on the second day of the week, eight weeks before winter, to burn Njáll and his sons inside Bergþórshvoll, so we are more or less at that time,” said Hermann Árnason, the expedition leader for the society.

The riders will cover about five kilometres between stops. At each rest point, Friðbjörn Garðarsson and Lárus from Miðhús will recount the saga. The first stop will be at Aurasel, followed by a ride along the banks of the Affall river towards Bergþórshvoll, following the route taken by Brennu-Flosi, a figure in the saga.

The ride will end with meat soup and singing at Káragerði, near Bergþórshvoll. Ásta and Didda will prepare the food, while Benjamín Sandur and his family will welcome participants in the riding hall.

Food and entertainment will cost 3,000 krónur. Troubadour Hlynur Snær will lead a singalong, which Hermann said would be open to riders and anyone else wishing to join the meal and festivities.