What not to miss

Here are a few ideas of some of the most unforgettable experiences the Faroe Islands have to offer. Contact the nearest tourist office for details of the latest weather conditions and the rules on the right to roam. We’ve divided the islands into the six main areas.

Atlantic Airways’ helicopters operates weekly round trips to some of the must see spots in Vágar such as the lake Fjallavatn, Víkar, Mykines, Trælanípa and the famous waterfall Bøsdalafossur.

Duration: 20 min. Where: Departure from Vagar Airport

www.atlantic.fo

Photo: Kazim Ghafoor HISTORIC KIRKJUBØUR Kirkjubøur is the most important historical site in the Faroe Islands. The impressive ruins of the Saint Magnus Cathedral date from the 13th century whilst the church and the family home on the site, Roykstovan, both date from the Middle Ages. Roykstovan is one of the oldest inhabited houses built of logs in the world. For more on Kirkjubøur, see page 60.

Photo: Ólavur Frederiksen KOLTUR ISLAND Against a serene backdrop of a sandy beach and a towering mountain, the island of Koltur, west of the capital, Tórshavn, is the ideal place to experience the Faroe Islands from days gone by. See the exquisitely restored former stone dwellings and learn how people used to live in this remote corner of the islands. For more on Koltur, see page 64.

Photo: Ólavur Frederiksen

Photo: Ólavur Frederiksen TÓRSHAVN OLD TOWN Wander back in time among the old timber homes replete with unruly grass roofs, admire the coarsely-hewn wooden storehouses along the shoreline, which are now home to the Faroese government, and check out the Viking sundial carved into the flat rocks of the promontory here, Tinganes. Remember to respect the privacy of the local people who live here. See more about the area on page 48.

VESTMANNA BIRD CLIFFS This is a perfect opportunity to get up close to many of the various species of birds that call the Faroe Islands home. Your boat will sail deftly into deep grottoes and through narrow straits, giving you stupendous views of the 700m high sheer cliffs, where thousands of puffins, guillemots and fulmars breed every summer. For more on the area, see page 66.

Photo: Lars Bisgaard TJØRNUVÍK It’s hard to think of a more idyllically located village. Sitting snugly at the head of a narrow, sandy bay, backed by towering mountains, gorgeous Tjørnuvík is a handsome place to stroll and take in the stunning views and it’s also a surfers’ paradise. The challenging breakers which roll in off the North Atlantic here are fast becoming the stuff of legend. For more on the area, see page 68.

Photo: Saviour Mifsud

Photo: Ólavur Frederiksen

Photo: Sansir IDYLLIC FUNNINGUR One of the oldest villages in the Faroe Islands, Funningur is small with colourful houses. The tarred, wooden church is a masterly handicraft from 1847. From Funningur, you can hike to the tallest mountain in the Faroe Islands, Slættaratindur and the unique Gjáarskarð that has a view of the characteristic Funningsfjørður. Make sure to check the rules on the right to roam. For more on the area, see page 72.

ELDUVÍK – THE UNDISTURBED GEM A small and charming village by the sea that is surrounded by steep mountains. An ideal place to enjoy unspoiled nature and to witness the waves come crashing into the natural harbour. There is a wondrous gorge for swimmers and divers. The village legend about the merman Marmennilin was made into a statue by the artist Hans Pauli Olsen. For more on the area, see page 73.

AMAZING ARCHITECTURE IN KLAKSVÍK It’s known as Old Nordic Style and it’s at its most impressive in the Faroe Islands’ second largest town, Klaksvík. Here, the awe-inspiring Christian’s Church is a fine example of Old Nordic Style and was one of the first churches in Scandinavia to be constructed using this distinctive approach. For more on the area, see page 82.

Photo: Nico Vera-Ortiz THE SEAL WOMAN OF MIKLADALUR Down by the sea in Mikladalur, Kalsoy, you’ll find the eerily beautiful statue of the Seal Woman. At 3m tall, she towers over the chilly waters of the unforgiving sound, whence she came. She defies the wind and rain to catch a last glimpse of her beloved children whom she must abandon when forced to return to the sea. See page 83, and read more in the "Bradt Guide to the Faroe Islands".

Photo: Shawn Ogulu THE BIRDS OF MYKINES Thousands upon thousands of migratory seabirds breed on the enchanting island of Mykines, in the far west of the Faroe Islands, every summer. Puffin, guillemot, cormorant, razorbill and the mighty gannet, the king of all Faroese birds, can all be found here. Indeed, the gannet breeds nowhere else in the Faroe Islands. For more on the area, see page 91.

Photo: Jana Jacobsen

Photo: Petur Poulsen THE TROLL WOMAN’S FINGER Trøllkonufingur is a 313 m tall monolith on the south-east side of Sandavágur. Only 11 people are known to have reached the top. Legend has it, that Trøllkonufingur is the finger of a witch that came to throw the Faroe Islands to Iceland. When she came to the sea south of Vágar, the sun came up and she was turned into stone and fell into the ocean. For more on Vagar, see page 90.

SØLTUVÍK BAY AND BIRDCLIFFS IN SANDOY Undoubtedly one of the most beautiful bays in the Faroe Islands, the graceful, gentle sweep of Søltuvík, on the western shores of the island of Sandoy, ranks as a Faroese favourite time and again. It’s one of the few places in the islands where you can get up close to the birdcliffs from ground level. For more on the area, see page 95.

Photo: Kirstin Vang ABSEILING DOWN CLIFF FACES IN SANDOY Not for the faint-hearted, a visit to the Faroe Islands offers the opportunity to abseil 300m down a sheer cliff face – if you dare. The location for this extreme sport is Lonin on the western shores of Sandoy – check with the local tourist office for more information. For more on Sandoy, see page 95.

Photo: Fedevphoto

Photo: Ólavur Frederiksen HVANNHAGI IN SUÐUROY It’s for good reason that the Faroese name of this idyllic spot translates as the “field of the wild angelica”. Hvannhagi is, indeed, a beautiful and unspoilt area of natural beauty. A well-signed walking trail from Tvøroyri leads there. From Hvannhagi there are exceptional views of the eastern shores of Suðuroy and the small islands of Lítla Dímun and Stóra Dímun. For more on Suðuroy, see page 98.

BEINISVØRÐ CLIFF IN SUÐUROY Beinisvørð is one of Faroe Islands' most jaw-dropping cliffs, towering high above the tiny settlement of Lopra. It’s a sheer drop of 470m from the clifftop straight down to the sea below. Beinisvørð can be accessed from the old road which winds up over the mountain between Lopra and Sumba and the views will quite simply blow you away. For more on the area, see page 101.