Travel Faroe Islands | Incredible Nature And Soothing Landscape
The Faroe Islands are known for their breath taking nature and fast becoming a favourite Nordic destination. The Faroe Islands or simply the Faroes or Faeroes are a North Atlanticarchipelago and island country part of the Kingdom of Denmark. Through the centuries, the Faroese have defied the harsh nature and living conditions. An idyllic escape, peacefully set among lush green valleys, imposing basalt cliffs and waterfalls plunging directly into the wind whipped ocean. The 18 jagged volcanic islands resemble a handful of rocks scattered haphazardly in the deep-sea 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.
One of the main reasons that people visit the Faroe Islands is the incredible nature and scenery. The Faroe Islands turn extraordinarily green during the summertime. The fresh air, the deep blue ocean, the vertical sea cliffs and the green mountains with their picturesque valleys, is something which would amaze anyone who enjoys being surrounded by nature. This terrain is rugged, and the subpolar oceanic climate (Cfc) is windy, wet, cloudy, and cool. Winters are surprisingly mild here, with temperatures rarely dropping below freezing. But when the islands and villages are graced with a dusting of snow, they somehow look even more magical than they do during the green summer months. Most visitors to the islands come between early July and late August.
Located in the Northeast Atlantic, the Faroe Islands comprise 18 small islands, characterised by steep cliffs, tall mountains, narrow fjords. While part of the Kingdom of Denmark, the Faroe Islands have been self-governing since 1948, controlling most areas apart from military defence, policing, justice, currency, and foreign affairs. It is one of the three constituent countries that form the Kingdom of Denmark along with Denmark and Greenland.
Greenland: Largest Island And National Park In The World
Distance from the Faroe Islands to:
Rona, Scotland (uninhabited): 260 kilometres (160 mi)
Shetland (Foula), Scotland: 285 kilometres (177 mi)
Orkney (Westray), Scotland: 300 kilometres (190 mi)
Scotland (mainland): 320 kilometres (200 mi)
Iceland: 450 kilometres (280 mi)
Norway: 590 kilometres (370 mi)
Ireland: 670 kilometres (420 mi)
Denmark: 990 kilometres (620 mi)
The name of the islands, Føroyar, means "Sheep Islands". Norsemen settled the islands in the 800s, and the name derives from old Norse. The Faroese currency is the Faroese króna abbreviated kr. It is not an independent currency, but a version of the Danish krone, hence they are equal in value. The Faroese language derives from Old Norse, which was spoken by the Norsemen who settled the islands 1200 years ago.
A place like no other on earth and therefore adventurers are starting to catch wind of the archipelago's steep cliffs, hiking trails, waterfalls, and rocky coastlines. The archipelago has the type of striking views typical of volcanic islands, like windswept mountains, crashing waves, and jagged coastlines like the rock formations of Drangarnir, the name of two sea stacks between Tindhólmur and Vágar. The waterfall is like something from a fantasy novel, falling over the rocky cliffs of Vagar Island to the ocean below, with the the green hills of Gásadalur village as a backdrop.
Aside from Mulafossur, perhaps the most iconic landscape in the country is the Shire-like village of Saksun on the northwestern coast of Streymoy. The hamlet and its mid-nineteenth-century church sit in a natural amphitheater above a lagoon, with views of mountains stretching in every direction.
The culture of the Faroe Islands has its roots in the Nordic culture with a population of 53,882 as of April 2022 and there are approximately 70,000 sheep living on the islands. The Faroese have a word, “heimablídni,” which translates to “home hospitality,” and you can find that hospitality all over the islands. In fact, the nation has a program in which tourists can have dinner in locals’ homes, eating traditional food and hearing stories about their particular village. 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.
Lofoten Island: Spectacular Beauty Around Every Corner And Truly Unparalleled
The capital of Tórshavn (pop. 13,083) is also the largest city on the Faroe Islands, settled behind a busy harbor on the east coast of Streymoy Island. Within the 66.8-square-mile city are eighteenth-century churches, a handful of museums, a tiny Old Town, and rows of brightly painted houses.
One of the most popular excursions in the Faroes are boat trips to the Vestmanna bird cliffs—rock walls that rise nearly 2,000 feet above the Atlantic waters on Streymoy Island. Day-trippers can enjoy the impressive sight of moss-speckled sea stacks, dark grottoes, and thousands of birds that nest here during the summer. Another famous cliffside site is Trøllkonufingur; translating to “Trollwoman's Finger,” the 1,027-foot monolith juts off the southeast side of Sandavágur.
There are bus rides, horse trekking, mountain hikes and boat trips which allow you to enjoy the magnificent wild green landscape. Sometimes the summer fog creates a mystical landscape, in which you may vividly imagine the great history and mystical stories belonging to the islands.
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. There are no railways.
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.
By sea, Smyril Line operates a regular international passenger, car and freight service linking the Faroe Islands with Seyðisfjörður, Iceland and Hirtshals, Denmark.