Pic by: http://www.lonelyplanet.com

By Wandernests Dispatch – Travel Nest I 19 Aug, 2025

Tucked between Iceland and Norway in the North Atlantic Ocean, the Faroe Islands are an untouched, wind-swept gem. The archipelago is made up of 18 volcanic islands, linked by tunnels, ferries, and legends. The Faroes are a self-governing part of the Kingdom of Denmark. They are best known for their dramatic cliffs, ever-changing skies, and a sheep-to-human ratio of 8:1. Yes – the sheep rule here.

For hiking enthusiasts, the Faroe Islands are a dream. Rugged coastal paths, bird cliffs, waterfall trails await. Ridge-top hikes deliver views that defy belief. Every day here feels like a scene out of a Nordic saga. In May, the spring fog lifts and wildflowers peek through the mossy ground. The islands feel both desolate and divine.

We designed our week-long holiday itinerary to chase this very experience. Read on for our trail-tested adventure. It’s perfect for hikers craving cinematic views and zero crowds.

Getting to the Faroe Islands from the UK – Flights, Ferries & FaroeJet

Reaching the Faroe Islands feels like the start of an adventure in itself. These remote isles are not yet overrun with tourists, so while flights are limited, they’re manageable with a bit of planning.

From London, you have a few good options:

London – Copenhagen – Vágar
This is the most common route. Fly from London Heathrow or Gatwick to Copenhagen, and from there take a connecting flight with Atlantic Airways – the national carrier of the Faroe Islands – to Vágar Airport (FAE).

London – Edinburgh/ Aberdeen – Vágar
During summer months, there are also seasonal direct flights with Atlantic Airways from Edinburgh or Aberdeen, making it a more direct hop across the North Atlantic.

Alternative – Ferry from Denmark
If you’re feeling adventurous (and patient), you could also take a car ferry from Hirtshals, Denmark, to Tórshavn, the capital – but this journey takes over 36 hours and is only for the truly slow-travel inclined.

Pic by: http://www.faroeislands.fo

Car Hire is Non-Negotiable in the Faroes

Once you land in Vágar, renting a car is essential. The Faroe Islands consist of 18 volcanic islands. Many are rugged, remote and sparsely populated. Public transport is minimal and infrequent. Guided tours can’t match the flexibility you need, especially as a hiker or explorer.

Tunnels That Changed Everything

The Faroese have solved the challenge of connectivity with a feat of engineering brilliance – a network of undersea tunnels linking the major islands. The most famous is the Eysturoyartunnilin, an 11km long subsea tunnel with the world’s only undersea roundabout – yes, a roundabout beneath the Atlantic! It connects Streymoy, Eysturoy, and Runavík, slashing travel time and making road-tripping easier than ever.

Pic courtesy The Eysturoyartunnilin I http://www.guidetofaroeislands.fo

Driving through these tunnels (many of which are tolled) is part of the experience – it gives you a front-row seat to how this island nation has engineered its way through dramatic natural barriers.

Day 1 – Arrival & Into the Wild

Our Faroese adventure began in Tórshavn, the pint-sized capital full of charm. With just over 13,000 residents, it’s often called the smallest capital city in the world. What it lacks in size, it makes up for in character. Picture black-tarred cottages with turf roofs, winding alleyways, and cosy cafés. Down at the harbour, fishing boats bob gently in the breeze.

We based ourselves at the Hilton Garden Inn Faroe Islands. This sleek, modern hotel sits on a gentle hill in the Ona district, just a short walk from Tórshavn’s town centre. From its elevated position, you get sweeping views across the surrounding fjords. On clear days, the ocean sparkles in the distance. It’s one of the best hotels in the country. Expect minimalist Nordic design, hearty Faroese breakfasts and warm hospitality that makes you feel at home.

Pic by http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk I Hilton Hotel Faroe Islands

After landing at Vágar Airport via Copenhagen, we picked up our rental car – essential for island-hopping. From here, it’s a scenic 45-minute drive to Tórshavn. Driving here feels surreal. There’s no traffic, just open roads hugging cliffs. Waterfalls tumble beside the road, and grass-roofed homes dot the landscape. Stock up on essentials at the local supermarket – they close early, especially on Sundays. Then stroll into the old town for a seafood dinner and breathe in the briny Atlantic air. That first Faroese sunset was wild, windy and golden. It’s a memory that will stay with you long after you leave.

Day 2 – Saksun to Tjørnuvík to Fossa – North Streymoy’s Classic Duo

Our first full day of hiking began with a drive through winding mountain roads. We arrived in Saksun, a village so tucked away it feels like a secret. Saksun sits in a glacial amphitheatre. It is home to just a handful of turf-roofed houses, a tiny white church, and a tidal lagoon of black volcanic sand. When the tide is out, the lagoon stretches toward the sea like an otherworldly runway. Towering green cliffs frame the view.

From here, we picked up the coastal trail to Tjørnuvík. It is the northernmost village on Streymoy Island. The 7km hike followed undulating grass paths. The Atlantic lay on one side and dramatic cliff faces on the other. The soundtrack? The wind in our ears, the crunch of boots on moss, and the comic baaing of the resident sheep.

Pic by http://www.guidetofaroeislands.fo I Saksun, Faroe Islands

As Tjørnuvík came into view, the silhouettes of Risin og Kellingin – the Giant and the Witch – rose from the sea. Local legend says these towering sea stacks are a petrified pair, frozen forever in stone while trying to drag the Faroe Islands back to Iceland. Seeing them loom against the horizon felt like stepping into a Norse myth.

We capped off the day with a detour to Fossa Waterfall, the tallest in the Faroes. Cascading in two tiers straight from the mountains into the sea, its sheer scale makes you feel wonderfully small. Standing there, mist on our faces, was the perfect finale to a day already bursting with wild beauty.

Day 3 – Kalsoy Island & the Kallur Lighthouse – Hiking to the Edge of the World

No hiking trip to the Faroes is complete without standing at the windswept tip of Kallur Lighthouse – a place so cinematic it became the final backdrop in James Bond – No Time to Die. It’s that dramatic, although getting there is an adventure in itself.

From Klaksvík, we boarded a small car ferry to Kalsoy Island, nicknamed the flute for its long, narrow shape and series of tunnels bored through its spine. The road hugs sheer drops and passes villages where turf-roofed homes huddle against the wind, as if bracing for centuries of storms.

Pic by http://www.guidetofaroeislands.fo I Views from Kallur Lighthouse, Faroe Islands

The trail to Kallur starts innocuously enough near the village of Trøllanes – but don’t expect a neat, signposted path. The route is a farmer’s field, and access comes with a small toll payable to the landowner. From there, it’s a steep climb over uneven grass, often slick with mist, before the ridge flattens into a long, exposed plateau. With no clear track, you follow sheep trods and the distant glimmer of the lighthouse itself.

And then – there it is. Kallur Lighthouse, perched precariously on a narrow finger of land, with cliffs plunging hundreds of metres into the Atlantic on either side. Behind you, jagged fjords stretch endlessly; in front, the ocean feels infinite. On a clear day, you can see as far as the neighbouring islands. On a foggy one, the whole world feels reduced to you, the lighthouse and the wind.

It’s a hike that combines physical grit with sheer awe and one you’ll carry in memory long after you’ve left the Faroes.

Day 4 – Hestur Island via RIB62 and Eysturoy’s Highs

The day began not on foot, but on the water – with a heart-thumping RIB62 boat tour to Hestur Island. Skimming across the glassy surface of the fjord at speed, we closed in on towering cliffs alive with seabirds. Sheer walls of volcanic rock loomed above us, streaked with moss and echoing with the cries of puffins, guillemots, and fulmars. At times, the boat nosed into sea caves so deep they swallowed the daylight, the water glowing an otherworldly green under the hull. It was a rare view of the Faroes few hikers get to see and it left us grinning like kids.

Pic by http://www.rexby.com I Hestur Island, Faroe Islands

After lunch, we swapped sea spray for summit winds and set out to conquer Slættaratindur, the tallest mountain in the Faroe Islands at 880 metres. The climb is not technical – no ropes or scrambling – but it is relentless: steep, grassy slopes that test your calves and make you grateful for every pause to catch your breath. Sheep stare in mild amusement as you zig-zag upwards.

At the summit, the reward is staggering. On a clear day, you can see almost the entire Faroese archipelago laid out like a topographical map, with its fjords and islands stitched together by undersea tunnels and shimmering stretches of ocean. And far on the horizon, faint but magical – you may even glimpse Iceland.

The descent is almost as demanding as the climb, your knees feeling every metre. But relief comes in the form of Gjógv, a postcard-perfect village named after its natural sea gorge. We ended the day here, watching waves swirl into the narrow channel, pastel houses glowing under the soft evening light.

Day 5 – The Lake Above the Ocean – Trælanípa and Bøsdalafossur

If we had to choose one hike that captures the surreal magic of the Faroes, it would be the Trælanípa trail – a walk where the land plays tricks on the eyes. Starting just outside Miðvágur, the 3 km path is gentle enough to lull you into a steady rhythm, winding through windswept grassland with sheep as your silent companions.

Then, without warning, the famous optical illusion unfolds – Lake Sørvágsvatn appears to hover hundreds of metres above the Atlantic Ocean. In reality, the lake sits on a steep cliff, but from this vantage point, it seems suspended in mid-air, a shimmering mirror cupped by grassy ridges. The Faroese name it Leitisvatn, but most visitors simply call it the lake above the ocean.

Pic by http://www.guidetofaroeislands.fo I Lake Above the Ocean, Faroe Islands

Following the cliff edge, we reached Bøsdalafossur, where the lake’s fresh water spills directly into the saltwater of the Atlantic in a single, defiant leap. The wind here is relentless – gusts tug at your jacket, the roar of water and waves merging into one wild soundtrack.

We closed the day in Gásadalur, a tiny hamlet once only accessible by hiking over a mountain. Today, a tunnel links it to the rest of Vágar Island, but it still feels tucked away from time. Here, the Múlafossur Waterfall drops straight from a grassy cliff into the ocean, framed by mountains that seem to guard the village. Standing there, with sea spray on our faces and the Atlantic stretching endlessly beyond, it felt like the Faroes were giving us their postcard-perfect farewell.

Day 6 – Souvenir Strolls and Sad Goodbyes

Our final morning was unhurried, a gentle exhale after days of wind, cliffs, and summits. We wandered the cobbled streets of Tórshavn, peeking into small boutiques selling Faroese knitwear, ceramics and handcrafted keepsakes – pieces of the islands you can carry home. The harbour bustled softly with fishing boats and seabirds, as if going about their own quiet routines.

Pic by http://www.guidetofaroeislands.fo I Tinganes Area, Torshavn, Faroe Islands

With time for one last stroll through the old town, we paused to take in the details we’d grown to love – turf roofs beaded with dew, the smell of salt and grass in the air, and the way the light shifted so quickly that every corner felt like a new photograph.

Our legs were pleasantly sore, our memory cards full, and our hearts brimming with moments – fog-laced ridges, waterfalls tumbling into the sea and the constant companionship of sheep. The Faroe Islands had not just delivered on our hiking hopes – they’d exceeded them in every way, leaving us with that rare mix of awe and longing that only the most special places can give.

Final Thoughts – Hiking in the Faroe Islands is Pure Magic

From misty peaks to ocean-carved cliffs, the Faroe Islands offer hikes unlike anywhere else in the world. It’s a place where silence roars, sheep outnumber people, and every trail feels like a secret. If you’re seeking a remote hiking escape that leaves you breathless – in both scenery and solitude – the Faroes are your next adventure.

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