Travel Guide of the Faroe Islands
The Faroe Islands adrift in the whirling rhythmic North Atlantic Sea, a different world lingers, the 18 islands in the North East Atlantic, characterised by steep cliffs, tall mountains, narrow fjords. A place like no other on earth. The Faroe Islands’s terrain is rugged, and the countryside is dominated by steep mountains, These volcanic islands which make up the Faroe Islands resemble a handful of rocks scattered haphazardly in the deep-sea ocean. An idyllic escape, peacefully set among lush green valleys, imposing basalt cliffs, grand treeless moorlands, and waterfalls plunging directly into the wind-whipped ocean.
Home to mountains of myth, hobbit-like turf-roofed houses, and grazing shaggy sheep, these islands make up the perfect playground for the senses. The subpolar oceanic climate is windy, wet, cloudy, and cool, feel like a haunting melody from another time, a myth whispered by the wind. Fickle and highly changeable weather adds to the charm. They inexplicably unearth a soothing sound of stillness and a touch of rawness, only bettered by the taste of the freshest of air and the sight of sprawling landscapes in any direction.
This mysterious islands jigsaw puzzle of islands is at once ancient and very modern. Multicoloured cottages and grass-roofed wooden churches add focus to the grandly stark, treeless moorlands. Timeless networks of cairn-marked footpaths crisscross craggy layer-cake mountains. Pastures gleam with the greener-than-green hue of divine billiard tables with shaggy sheep, fields are blissfully bouncy under-foot. Even the tiniest once-inaccessible hamlets are now linked by a remarkable series of road-tunnels.
The Faroes are a paradise for fell-walkers and ornithologists who accept the pyrotechnically unpredictable climate. There are about 70,000 sheep and some 2 million pairs of sea birds, including the largest colony of storm petrels in the world. Peeping puffins, dive-bombing skuas and wheeling fulmars glide over dizzying chasms. Wave-battered headlands end in plunging cliffs that are as breathtaking as the wild winds.
Streymoy is the biggest island of the group, and home to the capital Tórshavn, as well as dramatic scenery galore and the unmissable bird cliffs of Vestmanna. While the Southern Islands aren’t quite so dramatic in terms of landscape, islands like Suðuroy and Skúvoy are appealingly low on tourists and high on friendliness.
The Faroese people are shaped and molded by the harsh elements that have surrounded them for generations; a wonderful blend of isolation, robustness, and reserve, open arms, genuineness, and warmth. The communities as small can boast of equally vibrant art and music scene, while Faroese gastronomy has never been more highly thought of. The decidedly slow pace of life on the islands lends itself to hospitable kinfolk and laid-back living. All of this and more creates a unique and inimitable destination at the edge of the world. A place truly unspoiled, unexplored, and unbelievable.
Overview
The Faroe Islands is an archipelago of 18 mountainous islands located halfway between Iceland and Scotland in the North Atlantic Ocean. The islands are believed to have been first settled in year 300 AD, although archaeologists are unable to say by whom. The first known settlers, according to stories passed down through generations, were Irish monks in the sixth century. The name Faroe Islands first appeared as Faereyjar (in approximately 1225), which means “Sheep Islands”.
The islands’ population of 52,000 is spread out across the 17 inhabited islands. These islands are connected by excellent infrastructure linked by together by a comprehensive road network and tunnel and ferry connections. This, along with first class telecommunications and high-speed internet, provides a superb base for maintaining the economic, social and cultural sustainability of communities all around the country.
Located in the Northeast Atlantic, the Faroe Islands’s terrain is rugged, and the subpolar oceanic climate is windy, wet, cloudy, and cool. Verdant green valleys engulfed by steep dramatic mountains, protecting small picturesque villages with colourful turf-topped housed; all home to the freshest of air. The vast ocean is the backdrop to any location, with no place in the Faroe Islands distanced more than 5 kilometres from the North Atlantic.
A journey into the mountains of the Faroe Islands will give you a sense of peace and liberation. The only audible sounds are those of running streams or birdsongs (and the occasional bleating sheep, of course!). The magnificent nature offers the perfect setting for an opportunity to step back and feel that sense of inner peace, a chance to hear that inner voice. Moments of complete relaxation. Nature in its whole is revered here. Its influence on local culture cannot be undervalued and its significance in shaping the islands’ inhabitants is profoundly evident in their character and way of thinking.
Through the centuries, the Faroese have defied the harsh nature and living conditions. Enduring today is a nation in which the living standard is one of the highest in the world. A highly industrial economy mainly based on fisheries and aquaculture continues to flourish, while a Nordic welfare model ensures everyone the opportunity to explore his or her own potential. Many Faroese fish products are renowned for their quality. Among the Faroe Islands’ other important economic activities are financial services, energy-related businesses, shipping, manufacturing for the maritime sector, IT and telecommunication, tourism and creative industries.
The Faroe Islands are a self-governing nation under the external sovereignty of the Kingdom of Denmark. Faroe Islands have exclusive competence to legislate and govern independently in a wide range of areas. For generations the islands were isolated and self-sustaining, until the emergence of industrial fisheries in the late 1800s led to the Faroe Islands becoming part of the international economy. These include for example the conservation and management of living marine resources, protection of the environment, sub-surface resources, trade, taxation, industrial relations, energy, transport, communications, social security, culture, education and research.
The marine eco-systems around the Faroe Islands are highly productive with a diverse abundance of marine species. A variety of fish stocks are utilised in Faroese waters, as well as from international waters and in other nations zones through fisheries agreements. The clean, temperate oceanic waters and strong currents in the fjords around the Faroe Islands are ideal for fish farming and premium Salmon production. Many Faroese fish products have become renowned for their high quality, such as Faroese Cod, Langoustines and farmed Salmon.
The Faroe Islands have a highly developed infrastructure: telecommunications and high-speed internet plus a comprehensive road network and tunnel and ferry connections all provide an excellent base for maintaining the economic, social and cultural viability of communities all around the country.The excellent transportation links between the different areas in the Faroe Islands are of great importance to local businesses and people alike.
Active participation in all aspects of local community life characterises the Faroe Islands. This contributes to social cohesion and a strong sense of local identity. Centuries of relative isolation have resulted in the preservation of ancient traditions that to this day shape life in the Faroe Islands. The unique mixture of traditional and modern culture characterises the Faroese society, constituting a strong sense of local community and an active outlook as a globalized Nordic nation.
Regions
The archipelago is composed of 18 islands covering 1,399 km² (545.3 sq mi) and is 113 km (70 mi) long and 75 km (47 mi) wide. 17 islands are inhabited, leaving just one uninhabited island, the smallest island, Lítla Dímum. There are a lot of smaller islets and skerries around the Faroe Islands. Including the 18 islands, there are 779 islands, islets and skerries in the Faroe Islands. A large part of these are around the island Suðuroy, which consists of 263 islets and skerries, including the island itself. The precipitous terrain limits habitation to small coastal lowlands. The islands are connected by tunnels, causeways and a regular public ferry service.
Northern Islands (Norðoyar) – The six Northern Islands (Borðoy, Kunoy, Kalsoy, Viðoy, Svínoy and Fugloy) have made up one administrative area since Norse times and is home to the archipelago’s second-largest city, Klaksvík. The volcanic origin of the Faroe Islands is more pronounced here than anywhere else. The landscape is very dramatic.
Eysturoy – The second largest island. The landscape in the north is very steep.
Streymoy – Streymoy is the largest and main island. The north is less densely populated but there are some wonderful villages. In the south the capital Tórshavn is situated and the area surrounding the capital is where the largest number of people live. The smaller islands of Nólsoy, Hestur, and Koltur are also included in this region.
Vágar – Vágar is the third largest island and is where the airport is situated. Mykines, the small island to the west, is well known for its bird life and remote location.
Sandoyar – The region is made up of three islands with the largest being Sandoy, the other two are Skúvoy and Stóra Dímun.
Suðuroy- The most southerly island and Lítla Dímun – the smallest island, which is uninhabited.
Economy
The Faroe Islands have a small open economy, which is largely dependent on areas of expertise that are related to the ocean and associated fields of knowledge. The work being done within the fields of fisheries, shipping, aquaculture, marine biology, navigation, oceanography and biotech is continuously ground-breaking and serves to sustain the Faroese economy. The Faroese economy is ranked amongst the highest in the world based on GDP per capita.
The Faroe Islanders are a seafaring people and the maritime expertise of the Faroese is widely renowned. Over the centuries, the Faroese have developed the skills necessary to make the most of the valuable resources of the North Atlantic, and the Faroe Islands export seafood to all six continents. Since 2000, the government has fostered new information technology and business projects to attract new investment. The Faroese business sector is gradually becoming more and more diversified. Important and promising industries include financial services, petroleum related businesses, shipping, maritime services, civil aviation, IT and telecommunications, tourism and creative industries. Some are already well established, while others are up-and-coming.
Infrastructure
The Faroe Islands have a highly advanced domestic infrastructure in transportation and digital networks. Paved roads connect all inhabited villages, and all the islands are connected either by subsea tunnels, bridges, ferries or by helicopter. From the Faroe Islands there are daily flights and regular ferry and cargo links to all neighboring countries.
Historically, the most common way to travel to the Faroe Islands has been by sea. The ferry Norröna, which is operated by Smyril Line, sails to Hirtshals in Denmark and to Seyðisfjørður in Iceland, transporting both passengers and cargo. Telecommunications and high-speed internet connection across the whole country also provide an excellent base for maintaining the economic, social and cultural viability of remoter communities.
By road, the main islands are connected by bridges and tunnels. Government-owned Strandfaraskip Landsins provides public bus and ferry service to the main towns and villages. Paved roads connect all the inhabited villages, and the populated areas are connected by 17 land tunnels. The various islands are connected by two underwater tunnels, in addition to three bridges and seven ferry lines. There are seventeen tunnels on land in the Faroe Islands. The tunnels have drastically improved the accessibility of many key locations by making it possible to drive to regions that had previously been accessible only with boats or by walking over high mountains.
Because of the rugged terrain, road transport in the Faroe Islands was not as extensive as in other parts of the world. This has now changed, and the infrastructure has been developed extensively. Some 80 percent of the population of the islands is connected by tunnels through the mountains and between the islands, bridges and causeways that link together the three largest islands and three other islands to the northeast. While the other two large islands to the south, Sandoy and Suðuroy, are connected to the main area with ferries, the small islands Koltur and Stóra Dímun have no ferry connection, only a helicopter service. Other small islands—Mykines to the west, Kalsoy, Svínoy and Fugloy to the north, Hestur west of Streymoy, and Nólsoy east of Tórshavn—have smaller ferries and some of these islands also have a helicopter service.
By air, Scandinavian Airlines and the government-owned Atlantic Airways both have scheduled international flights to Vágar Airport, the islands’ only airport. Atlantic Airways also provides helicopter service to each of the islands. All civil aviation matters are controlled from the Civil Aviation Administration Denmark.
The Faroe Islands have a highly developed communication network, which covers the whole country. From telecommunication and mobile phones to the internet and media, the Faroe Islands are at the forefront of modern communications technology. Working within the special geographic circumstances of the Faroe Islands, Faroese companies have become world experts in providing digital communication solutions to remote and sparsely populated areas. Today you can get fast and reliable broadband internet connection in every village in the country, something which has boosted the competitiveness of local commerce, in addition to benefiting local communities, educational institutions, and individual households.
With the arrival of the internet, the demand for better connectivity rose and the existing telecommunication cables were insufficient for large-scale broadband internet connection. The situation was improved drastically with the installation of the FARICE submarine communication cable between Iceland, the Faroe Islands and Scotland in 2004. Connections were improved further in 2008 with the installation of the SHEFA2 submarine cable between the Faroe Islands, Shetland, Orkney and the Scottish mainland. The installation of these two high-tech fibre optic cables, combined with comprehensive installation of domestic broadband cables, have significantly improved connectivity between the Faroe Islands and the rest of the world.
Sustainability
The Faroese people have lived off the ocean and have a deep respect for the ocean and the environment. The Faroese aquaculture industry is committed to sustainability and sound stewardship of the environment. Safeguarding the marine environment and using its resources sustainably is a major priority for the Faroe Islands, and a responsibility which is shared both with neighbouring countries in the North Atlantic and with the rest of the international community. Faroese fisheries and aquaculture are multifaceted. Not only do they contribute to global food security, but they also supply international markets with high-quality products and provide the people of the Faroe Islands with sustainable livelihoods.
The government of the Faroe Islands allocates significant resources to secure a controlled and sustainable utilization of fish stocks. This is administered through an effort based regulatory system, managed by the Ministry of Fisheries on the basis of national and international scientific advise. Marine research in the Faroe Islands aims to provide the best possible scientific basis for sustainable exploitation of marine resources. This research is incorporated into the specialist working groups under the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES), which then provide the basis for the Faroe Marine Research Institute’s advice to the Government.
The geographical position of the Faroe Islands is ideal for farming Atlantic salmon. The remote location of the Faroe Islands is complemented by pristine clear waters, cool steady sea temperatures, strong currents and accessible fjords. Farmed salmon is a vital part of the Faroese economy, representing half of the country’s export value and providing valuable jobs for communities around the islands. The combination of ideal natural conditions for salmon farming and a commitment to sustainability and quality is now being recognised around the world.
Faroe Islands is one of the world’s leading nations in producing sustainable electricity with over 50% of the nation’s electricity deriving from renewable energy sources. The main energy supplier of the Faroe Islands, SEV, has officially announced that the goal is to have 100% green energy production by 2030. There is great potential in the Faroe Islands for the exploitation of renewable energy: hydropower, wind and tidal power. In order to utilize the islands’ domestic energy potential, the government’s policy is to transform the heating of buildings from oil to electricity, and to transform the production of electricity from oil to renewables. Long-term, the transport sector will also run on electricity, produced by renewable energy.
Arts & Culture
The culture of the Faroe Islands has its roots in the Nordic culture. Full of vibrant creativity and innovation the Faroe Islands offer an exciting variety of cultural experiences in fields such as music, art, literature, crafts, design and gastronomy. The Faroe Islands were long isolated from the main cultural phases and movements that swept across parts of Europe. This means that they have maintained a great part of their traditional culture. In the Faroe Islands traditions of old, have retained their importance, while still allowing new creative forces to flourish.
For millenia nature and the cultivation of deep rooted tradition has been the teacher and a source of inspiration to artists in the Faroe Islands. Today they master the art of coupling tradition and late modernity in cultural experiments within the fields of music, poetry, painting and design which tey share with and present to the rest of the world.
The language spoken is Faroese, all poems and stories were handed down orally. These works were split into the following divisions: sagnir (historical), ævintýr (stories) and kvæði (ballads), often set to music and the medieval chain dance. Even though the Faroese language was not officially acknowledged until 1938, it has always been a fundamental and vibrant part of Faroese culture and arts. With increasingly varied literary publications, in contemporary songs and the Faroese art scene, the language has not only persevered, but is thriving.
Secluded in the North Atlantic, a distinctive and rich culture developed in the Faroe Islands. Relative isolation meant that access to instruments, tools and materials used to be very limited. A strong oral and vocal tradition has a significant role in Faroese cultural heritage with storytelling, ballads and the characteristic chain dance – and singing is deeply anchored in the Faroese culture. The cultural scene evolves and grows as the Faroe Islands, through the last centuries, have become increasingly connected to the rest of the world, but artists in all fields still draw inspiration from the riches of Faroese tradition and nature.
Architecture
Faroese architecture is a special Nordic mix of traditions and inspirations from Norwegian and Danish architecture, formed in this special Faroese context of a demanding natural environment, a profound sense of community balanced with a strong and colourful individualism. Faroese architecture is a tradition mix innovative modernity. Medieval Faroese houses were farmhouses preserved with surrounding environments. Traditionally building materials were what could be found in the surrounding natural environment – stone, turf and wood. Farmhouses were clustered closely together in small villages scattered around the islands.
Classical housing pattern developed slowly from isolated farmhouses into villages, some of them have grown into towns, with the emergence of the commercial fishing industry from the late 19th century onwards, when fishing became the main industry. new villages, independent of the farmers and the landowners, was founded. At around the end of the 19th century, a new type of house appeared. The classical fisherman’s house, wood-built and tarred brown or black with white painted windows and boards, but still under a heavy grass roof and built on top of a new housing element; a basement of the local field stones and often whitewashed. The houses had lifted themselves up from the ground and now they stood as buildings in their own right, although common dimensions, materials and colours kept them together.
The Faroese are deeply rooted in community and tradition. At the same time they are an innovative and highly individualistic people. A typical characteristic of Faroese villages and towns is the high degree of variation in colour. This tendency is very well illustrated in the intriguingly imaginative housing development at the Northern outskirts of Tórshavn, designed by the Faroese architect Gunnar Hoydal. Here we find the snakelike terrace houses, called randarhús (border houses), as they mark the outer borders of the city, much like the walls of medieval cities. Though they are attached to each other in a row, these terrace houses all have their own individualistic shape and colour.
With growing wealth, these houses were gradually replaced by larger houses with high attics and carved details – still wooden houses, but now with corrugated sheeting to protect the boarding. This sheeting needed painting every other year, and suddenly the houses leapt out of the landscape and became individual manifestations of the owner’s special preferences for colours. This individuality has been described as a cultural loss, and the characteristic unity of past times seems to have disintegrated. On the other hand, these houses reflect a heartiness and gaiety which, in the course of time, has become a quality of its own.
The remaining wooden churches, built in a brief period of time from about 1830 to 1850. Although modest in size, these churches dominate the villages with their whitewashed stone foundation, black tarred boarding, white windows, and, as the distinctive feature, the white bell tower on the green turf roof. The interior is a veritable treasure of detailed woodwork in unpainted scrubbed pine. The design is humble, yet elegant in its simplicity. The supporting timbers and joists are exposed, and each detail reveals a distinct profile or bears a special carving, most outspokenly in the choir screen, which is carved into a latticework of different figures: the cross, hearts, bells, ocean waves and the tree of life. Even violins are carved; an instrument very rare in the Faroes of the time, yet so delicately carved.
The last fifty years have seen a fast-growing capital city, this growth has required some active town planning, resulting in projects that can perhaps be called special – not only in the Faroe Islands. One of them is the long line of terraced houses on top of the hill, Inni á Gøtu, at the entrance to Tórshavn from the North. The strong wishes for individual expression be respected in a concept based on density, shelter and good neighbourhood formation, to allowing everybody to build his or her individual house in a strong structure built in advance. The idea was to link together the unity of the past with the variety of the present, inviting the individual builders to be their own architects. Thus, this multi-coloured serpent of houses has become an architectural landmark and a tourist attraction for many foreign visitors to the Faroes Islands.
Music
Music plays an integral role in Faroese culture and society, because it is so deeply rooted in the islands’ centuries-long tradition of storytelling. The Faroe Islands have an active music scene, with live music being a regular part of the Islands’ life and many Faroese being proficient at a number of instruments. The vocal traditions have been exceptionally rich and versatile; All stories, myths, songs and ballads were handed down from one generation to the next orally, and people had to learn by heart to take part in this exchange, which today sums up most of their cultural heritage. Again, remoteness played a decisive part in the development; as there were no musical instruments of significance until the mid 1800s the voice was the only music-making tool available, and as a result singing is deeply anchored in their national identity.
One of the most unique cultural features is the chain dance, which originally was a mediaeval ring dance. The Faroese chain dance, with its quirky rhythm and ballads about kings and heroes of days gone by, uses no musical instruments. The dancers form a circle, holding each other’s hand while expressively singing or chanting (called kvøðing). A skipper, or captain, leads the dance and starts each verse. The rhythm is quite quirky and the ballads about kings and heroes may have several hundred verses. The captain leads the singing and everybody joins in the chorus. The symbolic significance of the chain dance is the full circle of people from all walks of life who hold each others’ hands and meet face-to-face while sharing a moment of true common ground.
The ballads have been orally transmitted since the 13th century. For centuries, these ballads were not only sung while dancing, but also used in normal everyday life; for instance, during the evenings when families would gather to knit or work with wool. The ballads were written down for the first time at the beginning of the 19th century. Today there are 15 Faroese Dance Associations and one in Denmark. Also theatre has enjoyed periods of great importance for the cultural life of the Faroe Islands and has also functioned as a unifying medium and developer of a national horizon. This rich tradition of singing and dancing without instruments has often been deemed the reason why the Faroe Islands have continuously produced a relatively high number of musicians in comparison to the country’s small population.
Although non-instrumental musical traditions, such as the Faroese chain dance, still thrive today, there is no denying that Faroese music has embraced the addition of instruments and the influence of foreign music. The Faroese music scene has never buzzed more loudly, with artists and creators across all genres consistently delivering world-class performances and recordings. The numerous music festivals held annually in the Faroe Islands give proof to the fact that the music scene is thriving. The types of festivals vary greatly from Faroese Folk music to Pop, Doom Metal to Country.
Faroese food
Faroese dining offering a vast array of dishes, ranging from the very traditional to food influenced by foreign cultures. Traditional Faroese food is mainly based on meat, seafood and potatoes and uses few fresh vegetables. Mutton of the Faroe sheep is the basis of many meals, and one of the most popular treats is skerpikjøt, well-aged, wind-dried, quite chewy mutton. The drying shed, known as a hjallur, is a standard feature in many Faroese homes, particularly in small towns and villages. Other traditional foods are ræst kjøt (semi-dried mutton) and ræstur fiskur (matured fish). Another Faroese specialty is tvøst og spik, made from pilot whale meat and blubber. (A parallel meat/fat dish made with offal is garnatálg.) The tradition of consuming meat and blubber from pilot whales arises from the fact that a single kill can provide many meals. Fresh fish also features strongly in the traditional local diet, as do seabirds, such as Faroese puffins, and their eggs. Dried fish is also commonly eaten.
Plan to trying traditional Faroese food (fermented lamb and fish, rye bread, blood sausage, and stewed rhubarb), check out the new restaurant, Ræst (the Faroese word for “fermentation”). Other excellent restaurants that serve Faroese produce include Barbara Fish House, Katrina Christiansen, Italian-fusion Skeiva Pakkhús, Áarstova, and ROKS. Places like Angus Steakhouse, The Tarv, Italian-inspired Toscana, and Restaurant Hafnia serve great steaks. For vegan/vegetarian eaters, Bitin is a great option to serve tasty salads and new nordic sandwiches, and newly opened Restaurant Ruts is the place to go. Also, check out this guide to eating in the Faroe Islands.
Be sure to check out the vibrant & cool Suppugarðurin, a traditional Japanese ramen and beer bar and OY, a newly established brewery serving light dishes and Faroese delicatessens. Cafés line the streets of Tórshavn and are found in most of the larger villages. Good cafés include Panamé, Brell, Kaffihúsið, Gómagott, Kafé Umami, Kafé Kaspar and the organic Systrar in Tórshavn and Café Fríða in Klaksvík, Kafé Mormor in Tvøroyri and Café Cibo in Saltangará. Check out the Faroes’ only juice bar at No 12.
Outdoor activities
The Faroe Islands are a great destination. The slow pace of life and safeness of the islands are ideal ingredients for a fun, relaxing adventure. Instead of an actual theme park made of concrete, the islands function as a natural theme park with beautiful outdoor locations spread all across the eighteen islands. Easy hikes, ferry rides from one island to another, indoor swimming pools, and outdoor play areas are all popular activities for families of all ages to enjoy.
The Faroe Islands aren’t just ideal for relaxing and taking your mind off things – they’re also the perfect playground for adventure sports of all sorts. Try kayaking in the ocean, mountain biking, cliff jumping, surfing, rappelling, snorkeling, speed boating, and much more.
Hiking
A short hike into the Faroese mountains affords numerous vantage points that overlook awe-inspiring peaks in one direction and the dishevelled surface of the ocean in another. One of the many special features of the Faroe Islands is that you don’t have to go far to experience magnificent and untouched nature. Enjoy a fresh breeze of salt water blended with cool and lush moss on the rocks. Rugged, sheer, harrowing; at every sight a vast cliff or crooked spire can be seen rising out and falling out of the ocean. Rich birdlife, dramatic seas, and rolling, green hills as far as the eye can see. Experience dusk and dawn then overlap in a hazy fog until it clears again, you will most likely catch both occurrences in a scant handful of hours.
With an abundance of majestic routes to choose from, it is simply up to each individual where the first step starts. Get off the beaten path on foot, the mountains and valleys will open up in marvellous and unexpected ways. Most of the paths described in the hiking guide are old village paths, These are along ancient footpaths that have been tread through the ages. The hiking paths such as on the mountains Slættaratindur, Bøsdalafossur and Klakkur. Before the roads came, you would travel between the villages using these paths, e.g. to trade, to visit family, to a Thing (local assembly) or to church. The paths are marked with ancient cairns, a heap of stones set up as a landmark showing the way, so you don’t get lost. Some routes are not along the old village paths.
There are birds on many of the islands: Curlew, Snipe, Plovers, Oystercatchers, Skuas, Great Skuas, Ravens and Crows. Sheep, geese and hares are also common. In the outfield, you also get an idea of how the ancestors of the Faroese people lived and got by. Stone outhouses, boat houses, Teigalendi (old arable strips), peat fields and Kráir (stone stores for peat) tell us how close to nature people have lived. You see old infield walls, drovers, sheep pens, sheep shelters, sheep houses and Fransatoftir (Frenchman’s Ruins, which are ruins of small houses where people took refuge from pirates in the old days).
Bicycling
Explore the Faroe Islands from the saddle on their bicycles, to experience the spectacular beauty one can see from the roads, mountains, and valleys. The infrastructure in the Faroe Islands is excellent, with all islands accessible either by sub-sea tunnels, bridges, or ferries. This, combined with low volume traffic on most roads, makes bicycling in the Faroe Islands a pleasurable experience. However, the weather can be unpredictable and change quickly, so it is important to keep some things in mind before setting off on your adventure. You should wear good, protective clothing that is both warm and water-resistant. It is a good idea to wear gloves, as temperatures can fluctuate suddenly. Note also that there are many tunnels in the Faroe Islands, and in some cases, these can be quite dark.
Birdwatching
A total of 305 bird species have been recorded in the Faroe Islands, around 50 species regularly breed on the islands and another 60 are regular visitors, while almost 200 of the recorded bird species are either scarce or rare visitors to the Faroe Islands. Birdwatching is seasonal, thousands of birds come to the Faroe Islands each summer to breed. Thousands and thousands of puffins flying over your head; black sea cliffs painted white by the sheer number of birds breeding there; the constant and powerful roar of thousands of kittiwakes calling at the same time; the power of a gannet as it dives and penetrates the water like a torpedo in the hunt for fish.
Sailing
Explore the fiords of the Faroe Islands with a Faroese boat. The 18 islands of the Faroe Islands are surrounded by the North Atlantic Ocean, Sailing is a fantastic way to experience the beautiful landscapes of the islands, offering completely different views such as the islands’ most breath-taking spots like Drangarnir sea stacks, Tindhólmur islet and the most Instagrammed waterfall in the world, Múlafossur in Gásadalur Discover these views of the Faroe Islands by sea while sailing with ships, boats, or even an old schooner. Some of these ships or schooners are old and have a great history, making the journey even more interesting. Whether you enjoy fishing or just sailing along the seashore, this is a unique experience.
Fishing
Faroe Islanders have fished for centuries, and fishing still plays an essential role in the community. The Faroe Islands have good fishing areas and sheltered fishing grounds away from strong winds, making it possible to fish most days regardless of wind direction. The two main types of fishing in the Faroe Islands are deep-sea fishing and fly fishing. Fishing and angling in the Faroe Islands is unlike anything you have experienced before; the beautiful scenery and splendid tranquillity makes fishing a truly extraordinary experience. Whether by boat or from shore, there are plenty of opportunities to fish in the Faroe Islands.