Unique Places in Faroe Islands

If you have access to your own transportation you must drive through some of the tunnels that connect the northern islands.

These tunnels are mostly single track unlit with passing places. One way of the traffic has piority (usually stated just beofre the entrance to the tunnel) and the other way has to give way and use the passing places. When pulled over some people dip the main beam to just head lights which makes the tunnels so dark, but allows you not to blind the on coming driver.

It can be hard to judge how far away an on comign car is in the dark, so we went by the rule that if we saw someone coming we pulled in. However even the Faroes find it difficult judging distance in the tunnels and you might have to do a bit of reversing if missed judged.

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We found the Faroes remarkably uncrowded and to that extent it's hard to say for most places that they are NOT off the beaten path. However some are more off than others and the one we reached was Soltuvik. This is on the west side of Sandoy and can be reached by walking from Sandur or by following an unclassified (very) road through beautiful scenery.

At time the 'road' calls for strong nerves but it passes a lake where two types of geese were browsing and goes above cliffs where puffin observation and mushroom picking combine very well.

At the end of the road there is entry to a beach and to a rocky headland, where the terns are not over hospitable! The views up the west coast are superb. There are also two anchors (photo) clearly meant to represent something - but what? There is no habitation here.

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There is a very little lake (maybe I should call it a "puddle") in the hills above Midvagur (some locals do not even know about its existence) I was told (by Johan, who is extremely nice and knowlegeable and works for the info-point at the airport) that this is an artificial lake, started by someone in the 1930s who had some plans of using waterpower to produce electicity. The powerplant idea did't become reality, but the mini-lake still is. So, this is the way to get there: From the youthhostel walk up to the museum "Kalvalid", keep going uphill, passing the museum which is on the left side of the street. When you see a big concrete waste-water tank on your right, follow the little creek next to it uphill. Best to walk up to the left of the water. There will not be a paved path, it's very rocky, sometimes slippery. but just continue uphill. You'll have to get over a couple of fences. the first one I think has some kind of ladder to get across. At one point, the river will split. Either you follow the left arm now, you will have to climb over the fence (please don't damage it!) though. Or you continue the right arm and climb over the fence when you see the lake on your left.

The lake is just cute. has two miniature islands in its middle. VERY ROMANTIC

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this is how to walk to the point above the village of Sandavagur, from where you can get a beautiful view at the "Trollsfinger" and at the entire bay between the two towns (of course you can see the youthhostel from up there as well).

You walk on the mainroad into Sandavagur. Just a few meters past the "FK-grocery-store" (which will be on your right) there will be a little creek coming down from the hills to your left. To the left of this creek, there will be a very narrow, paved path leading uphill. Just follow this path (it will cross a couple of streets) until it finally ends on a paved/pebbled road (above which it will not further continue). Follow this paved/pebbled street to the right. Keep going, always the water to your right, the hills to your left. You will have to go through one of the wooden sheep-gates (don't forget to close it behind you) and continue uphill. When you come to a second wooden gate, this comfortable paved path will end. After this gate, you will somehow have to get across the rocky bed of this little river (I managed, hopping from rock to rock, not to get my feet wet), then continue another perhaps 200m or so uphill on a very narrow, steep, sandy path to the top of the hill.

Due to the pouring rain and the low hanging clouds on the day I walked up there my pictures did't come out so well, but I'll share them anyway.

The Enniberg headland is located at the northernmost point of the Faroe Islands on the island of Viðoy. They are within easy walking distance of the most northely Faroese village of Viðareiði. It is however a bit of a slog up to the top and great care should be taken if there is low cloud as the cliff edge is not fenced off.

The Enniberg cliffs are the highest sea cliffs in Europe (750m) and are a good place for watching sea birds with Puffins and Fulmars in abundance.

The photo by the way taken about half way up the headland.

Or may be some comment ! This cat is taking advantage of every minute of sunshine ! As the weather is changing so rapidly, it has better not waste any moment ! Don't disturb ! Why is it black ? Because black is the color that adsorbs the most the heat of the sun, then it gets a few more calories than a white cat would do !!

In the mind of most peoples, orchids are associated with tropical countries. However, orchids grow wild in the Feroes, at sea level. They are small species of the same type than those found in the Alps between 1,000 and 1,500 m elevation.

In order to protect the young potato plants from the strong winds, the tubercles are planted underneath thin slabs of peat. When the plant grows and goes out of its protection, it is strong enough to resist to the wind.