WWW.FAROEISLANDS.COM FREE COPY FAROE ISLANDS National Geographic Traveler: Faroe Islands – The world’s most appealing islands The Faroe Islands are voted the best islands in the world in a National Geographic Traveler survey among 111 island communities TOURIST GUIDE 2013
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FAROE ISLANDS
National Geographic Traveler:Faroe Islands – The world’s most appealing islands
The Faroe Islands are voted the best islands in the world in a National Geographic Traveler survey among 111 island communities
TourisT Guide 2013
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FØROYAR6,50KR
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Trøllanes
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Gorfuglur Pinguinus impennis Astrid Andreasen 2012
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Lad os �yve dig til Færøerne - kåret til verdens bedste øsamfund af National Geographic Traveler.
Vi �yver hele året fra København, Billund, Bergen og Reykjavik og om sommeren også fra Aalborg, London/Gatwick og Barcelona - direkte til Færøerne.
Let us �y you to the Faroe Islands - chosen the world’s most desireableIsland community by National Geographic Traveler.
We �y from Copenhagen, Billund and Aalborg in Denmark, Bergen in Norway, Reykjavik in Iceland, London/Gatwick in England and Barcelona in Spain - directly to the Faroe Islands.
Let us �y you to the Faroe Islands - chosen the world’s most desireableIsland community by National Geographic Traveler.
We �y from Copenhagen, Billund and Aalborg in Denmark, Bergen in Norway, Reykjavik in Iceland, London/Gatwick in England and Barcelona in Spain - directly to the Faroe Islands.
Facts about the Faroe Islands .......................................................................... 6
introduction and ThemesThe islands ........................................................................................................... 8Historical perspective ...................................................................................... 10Challenged by the Faroe Islands ..................................................................... 12The language and the dance ........................................................................... 16The world’s most appealing destination ...................................................... 18No lost musicians here ...................................................................................... 20Design and fashion ............................................................................................ 22A Gourmet’s Larder ............................................................................................ 24The special nature .............................................................................................. 26
about the 6 regions (see map on the left) The capital Tórshavn - and Streymoy southern part .......................... 29 Northern Streymoy .................................................................................... 45 Eysturoy ........................................................................................................ 50 Norðoyggjar (The northern islands) ...................................................... 58 Vágar and Mykines ..................................................................................... 65 Sandoy, Skúvoy and Stóra Dímun .......................................................... 72 Suðuroy and Lítla Dímun .......................................................................... 77
Practical information ........................................................................................... 98Tunnels and road distances in the Faroe Islands ....................................... 103Hotels, guesthouses and youth hostels ....................................................... 104Calendar of events 2013 ................................................................................. 106Regional Festivals ................................................................................................. 107International transport timetables ............................................................... 107SHOPPING
CENTRE
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Atlantic Airways
Smyril Line Atlantic Airways
Smyril Line
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location and sizeSituated in the heart of th e Gulf Stream in the North Atlantic at 62°00’N, the Fa r oe Islands lie n orthwest of Scotland and halfway be tween Iceland and Nor way. The archipelago is compos ed of 18 islands cover ing 1399 km2 (545.3 sq. miles) and is 113 km (70 mi les) long and 75 km (47 miles) wide, roughly in the shape of an arrow head. There are 1100 km (687 mi les) of coastline and at no time is one more than 5 km (3 miles) away from the ocean. The highest moun tain is 882 m (2883 ft) ab ove sea level and the a v e rage height above sea level for the country is 300 m (982 ft). climateThe weather is maritime and quite changeable, from mo ments of brilliant sun shine to misty hill fog, to showers. The Gulf Stream encircling the islands tem pers the climate. The har bours never freeze and the temperature in winter time is very mod erate consi der-ing the high latitude. Snow fall occurs, but is shortliv ed. The aver ag e tempera ture ranges from 3,5°C in win ter to 12°C in the sum mer. In sheltered areas, the tem perature can be much high er, but the air is always fresh and clean no matter what the season.
PopulationThe population is 48,270 (1st February 2012). About 19,900 people li v e in the metro politan area which com prises Tórs havn, Kirkjubøur, Velba staður, Nólsoy, Hestur, Kolt ur, Hoyvík, Argir, Kald bak, Kaldbaksbotnur, Norð radalur, Syðradalur, Hvít a nes, Sund, Kolla fjørð ur, Signabøur and Oyra reingir, while about 4,600 people live in Klaks vík, the s e c o nd lar gest town in the Faroe Islands.
form of GovernmentSince 1948, the Faroe Island s have been a self gover ning region of the King dom of Denmark. It has its own parlia ment and its own flag. It is not, however, a member of the European Union and all trade is go ver ned by special treaties.
languages spokenFaroese is the national lan guage and is rooted in Old Norse. Nordic langu ages are readily understood by most Faroese, and Eng lish is also widely spoken, especially among the youn ger people.
religionReligion plays an important part in Faroese culture and over 80% of the population belong to the established church, the Evan gelical-Lu theran. 10% of the popu lation belong to the Chris t ian Breth ren (Plymouth Breth ren).
industryThe fishing industry is the most important source of income for the Faroes. Fish products account for over 97% of the export volume. Tourism is the second lar gest industry, followed by woollen and other manu factured pro ducts.
Facts about the Faroe Islands
See the timetables for airlines and ferries on: www.atlantic.fo and www.smyril-line.foand on page 107
Reykjavík
CopenhagenAalborg
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TórshavnVágar
London
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Seyðisfjørður
ICELAND
ENGLAND
FAROE ISLANDS
NORWAY
DENMARK
Hirtshals
BarcelonaSPAIN
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The islands
Suddenly the dusty conti nents of the ear th are far away; right now it’s only the winds and the seas and you.
The loneliness of the oce an, the silence every-where, inter rupted only by the voices of birds in mo tion, weav ing changing pat terns that recreate the forms of the landscape - its heights, its depths. The sound of water run ning over rocks, and the distant murmur of the sea deep down at the foot of the cliffs. All those millions of tons of water of an ocean which now lazily and com fortably rubs again st these rocks in the middle of no where as if it wanted to scratch its back or shoul ders after the long journey be tween the poles of the globe. Peace-ful and plea sant on a good sum mer´s day, but you know that the ocean has an un predictable power and that it may at any moment change its mind and rise in a frantic rage. What are these rocks anyway? Aren´t they just a speck of dust in its eye which ought not to be there at all?
Sooner or later the ocean may well have its way and wash it all away. But till then the Faroe Islands will defi nitely be here and be a unique reality in this
world, whether you experience them by boat along the coasts, one mo ment blin ded by the re flec tions of the sun in the water and the next moment sur roun ded by the deep dark ness of the sea caves. Or on foot in the mountains with the drifting shadows that leap into the fertile valleys and climb the green slopes, and with the light that can hard ly move from one moun tain top to the next without trying out a new vari ation and a quite dif ferent mood.
Just as the atmosphere chan ges from one village to the next and from one house to the next. A whole society with its own his tory, its own language and its own cul ture. Far away from the wide world, yet at the centre of a world where even the small est things may seem very big because they contain gen uine feelings, genuine cu riosity and genuine friend li ness.
Take a deep breath! Open up your senses and fill your mind! You will be surprised that such a place still exists. Of reasonable size and pro portions, easy to explore and get to know, and yet so infinitely varied and chang ing.
Take a deep breath! fill your lungs! let them open all their folds and leaves and cavities, and from all direc tions the clean air of the sea comes flowing to wards you, into you and through you.
Beautiful view in the calm of the evening as the sun sets and the moon appears
Vehicles (incl. driver)Return ticketCar < 5m10-trip-travelcardMonthly travel-card < 5mCar with trailerCar with caravanBicycleMotorcycle
Please note that these prices are for guidance only.Please check www.ssl.fo before you travel.
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96Travel all over the islands by bus and boat. Buy the TravelCard at the airport or at the terminal in Torshavn. For further information call 34 30 30 or visit www.ssl.foAll Strandfaraskip Landsins bus and ferry routes are included in the following map:
Bus route number
Ferry route number7
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Fares on ferries
Fares on busesPlease check www.ssl.fo.
Shorterroutes
Suðuroy Mykines
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The first settlers may have been Irish monks, prob ably in the middle of the seventh century, seeking a tran quil refuge in these re mote islands. What is better known and well docu men ted, is the Norwegian colo ni za tion, be gin ning about a hundred years later and de veloping throughout the Viking Age, making the Far oes a central part of the Viking settlements along the coasts of the North Atlantic and the Irish Sea.
The Viking settlers estab lished their own parlia ment with local things in dif fe rent parts of the islands and the main thing on Tinganes in Tórshavn. Chris tianity was proclaimed here about the turning of the last mil lennium. Shortly after the islands came under control of the Norwegian kings, one of whom being the famous King Sverre, who was brought up at the Faroese bish op’s seat at Kirkju bøur.
Later the Norweg ian crow n ca me under the Da nish mo narchy, and with the Refor mation, the indepen dent Faroese bishopric was abo lished and its properties taken over by the Crown.
During the Middle Ages, the Faroe Islands were great ly in flu enced by the North Sea coun tri es, espe-cially through the Hanse atic mer chants in Bergen. With the Refor mation the Danish king increased his control of the trade and established a trade mono poly, operated by dif ferent merchants and com panies, but from 1709 taken over by the king him self through the Royal Trade Monopoly.
The islands were now go verned directly from
Copen hagen. Danish offi cials arrived to oversee the trade and protect it from competing merchants and the bands of pirates who for centuries had plagued the islands. Fort Skansin, over looking Tórs havn harbour, is the remnant of the historic fortification.
In 1856, the Royal Danish Mono poly ended and soon enter prising Faroese busi nessmen were exploring new connections with the outside world. In 1872, an old English sailing smack, named the Fox, was pur chased for deep sea fishing far from the Faroese shore. The Faroe Is lan ders quickly earned the repu tation of being among the best sail-ors and fisher men in the world. The fishing industry grew until it became the main source of income for the is lands.
At the beginning of the twenty first century, the Faro es are vi gorously engaged in ex plo ring the potential for oil pro duction in the seas arou nd the islands.
Yet vestiges of the ancient history are evident wher ever you go in the Faroes and blend with the modern. You can stroll about on Tinganes, now the home of the national go vern ment, estab lished according to the Home Rule constitution adopted in 1948. And there, in his office in one of the former Royal Trade Mono poly store houses, the Lag man, the Prime Minis ter, may lift his eyes up from his computer and look out of the window to mea sure the passage of a thou sand years carved into the stones at the tip of the penin sula.
Historical perspectivefor millions of years the faroe islands stood alone in the heart of the north atlan tic.
Inside "Roykstovan" in Kirkjubour, believed to have been built about 900 years ago
For further information:www.visitfaroeislands.com
Feel the rhythm- hear the sounds and strings of the heart
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In a harsh environment and with survival at stake, the Faroese have developed methods that has made it possible to collect wild bird eggs from small cliff ledges 3-400 metres high, sit on steep hill sides and catch free flying sea birds accompanied by the thunder of waves breaking against the rocks below, and use the sloping grass ledges on the sides of the mountains to graze their sheep during the summer months, from where they will be herded together in the autumn, hauled once again up the steep rock face and brought back to the village to be slaughtered.
Summer and winter, the Faroese rowed out on the open sea to fish for their food and to trade with the local grocer in exchange for necessary goods such as corn and sugar. The use of the Atlantic Ocean as a larder, with its huge waves, strong currents and ever changing weather and wind, demanded a thorough knowledge of the local fishing grounds, excellent seamanship and a well developed hunting instinct.
All hunting and fishing was based on teamwork where the yield depended on the individual’s
knowledge, competence and strength both physical and mental, during constantly changing conditions. The children were taught from a very early age how to handle themselves on the mountains and at sea. By playing role games in a safe familiar environment, they would train themselves in the techniques needed for the future when they would take over from the adults. Generations of practice and training combined with modern professional equipment has today made it possible for the inexperienced to take part in these adventures. Adventures that will give those who want and dare to, the opportunity to experience the unspoilt Faroese nature up close.
With safety a top priority, highly trained instruc-tors, offer you the opportunity to step off the cliff edge and abseil down the precipice, passing the basalt formations, hovering between heaven and the sea. You will have the chance to observe the chicks and their nests whilst the adult birds glide on the airstreams on their way out to sea for food.
Revealed below the surface of the sea is a perfectly
Challenged by the Faroe Islandsdue to the cold climate’s sparse vegetation, the survival of the faroese people has always been dependent upon sheep farming, fishing and bird catching.
There are many exciting adventures awaiting the active tourist
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Visit us for information accommodation cultural education nature’s stimulation travel organisation or just ask about the weather....we know just about everything
contrasting world with spectacular rock formations, rapidly changing landscapes, vast array of fauna, and sensational refraction of light and exotic colours. Guided by expert local instructors through the current filled waters, you will quickly reach the deep water with its cloisters, deep canyons, underwater grottoes with sandy bottoms or forests of seaweed that sway in the strong current. The cold water gives a high level of visibility and the relatively large fauna caused by the high level of salt in the water, gives the diver a unique opportunity to swim through shoals of young coalfish, stroke a fierce catfish or watch the octopus crawl across the sandy seabed, crossing the large edible crab whilst the colourful sea anemone unfolds its tentacles.
Seen from the sea, the Faroe Islands are truly magnificent, be it in a kayak, speedboat, fishing boat or onboard one of the old wooden sloops and what could be more obvious than to complement the captivating views with the opportunity to fish for your own dinner in one of the world’s cleanest oceans. With local fishermen on hand, you can enjoy a memorable experience onboard an ultramodern fishing boat, rocking on the waves with cod, haddock or halibut on the hook and the bracing Atlantic Ocean air rushing through your lungs.
Alone, surrounded by the beautiful nature on a quiet misty morning, concentrating only on the
movement of the fishing rod, eager to catch a sea trout or a salmon; this is the life for a freshwater fisherman. Just as with deep-sea angling, you may use your own equipment as you make yourself at home in your own private paradise amongst the islands many lakes and streams.
What about a spot of adventure riding over the mountains on horseback, swaying to and fro over the stony wilderness and gurgling streams, close to the birds and sheep and at one with nature? If four legs are not to your liking, then you can travel around the Faroe Islands well- developed infrastructure using a bicycle. The steep hills are a challenge for even the most enthusiastic of cyclists but the views are fantastic. Alternatively, attach a motor and you will be able to explore the most remote corners in true biker fashion.
Nothing beats the peace and quiet of moving at your own tempo along the old paths between villages, with only the cairns to guide you. Enjoy the sounds and smells, sense the wind against your skin as the fog slowly creeps along the water’s edge below. Far in the distance a lamb calls for its mother, a bird shoots from its nest – otherwise it is calm and beautiful. Everywhere the eye can see is breathtak-ingly beautiful. This is the Faroe Islands.
Enjoy the nature by land and sea!
15Photo: Ingi Sørensen
2013
The Nordichouse iN The Faroe islaNds
“…a resounding instrument, a work of art and a masterpiece of Nordic architecture"Gunnar Hoydal, author
The Nordic House and the Café Borðkrókur are open every day at 10.00 – 17.00 andSundays at 14.00 – 17.00
www.nlh.fo
years
In 2013 the Nordic House celebrates its 30 year anniversary
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The Vikings, who came mainly from Norway, sailed
westwards looking for new land and reached the
coasts of Scotland, Shetland, Orkney, the Hebrides, the
Faroes and Iceland. At that time Viking culture was
uniform and there were few linguistic differences.
In due course, the various countries developed their own culture and Old Norse split into different dialects, dying out completely in some places.
The Faroese language survived as an independent language, but was threatened with extinction. After the reformation, Danish became the language of the church, also the written language and was eventually used in all official matters. When the first research into the Faroese language was started at the end of the 18th century, its aim was to collect and document the remains of the old language. But research revealed an overwhelming collection of old words and sayings, established turns of speech, legends and ballads. The ancient and heroic ballads alone numbered 70,000 verses, all of which had been handed down orally from generation to generation.
How could this be, in a population that for hundreds
of years had numbered between 4,000 and 5,000 people? An important part of the answer lies in the renowned Faroese dance, for which it is necessary to learn and remember a long story. This dance is a direct continuation of the medieval ring dance that began in France and spread throughout Europe. The ring dance went out of fashion or was forbidden by the authorities, but lived on in the Faroes.
The special features of the Faroese dance are the song and story. There is no instrumental accompani-ment, only the voices and feet are heard. While a single or a few singers lead the song, the others take part with their dance steps and by singing the refrain after each verse. There is a live bond between the sto-ry of the ballad and the mood of the dance. The dance steps are always the same; if the story is a sad one, the steps are soft; if dramatic, the feet tramp hard. If it is a ballad that makes fun of something, the rhythm is springy and light. It is a dance where many take part, faces pass by one another; the dance turns inwards and can be difficult to appreciate from the outside. You have to participate, and when it is at its
The language and the danceThe faroese language has its roots in old norse from the Viking age.
best the chain melts together and you feel a part of something vast.
The collection and documentation of the vast amount of oral material formed the foundation for the preservation of the language. The establishment of the written language in the middle of the 19th century created the basis for the renewal that has taken place. While other languages disappear, the Faroese language is developing and is today the pride of Faroese culture.
a and æ = æ, sometimes ah;á = åah (but short);í and ý = uj;ó: before lk = ø, before gv = e,otherwise ow;ú = yw;y = i;ei = aj;oy = j; ð: between open vowel and u = v, between other vowels = j,otherwise silent;ge = dje;gi/gy = dji;ggj = dj;hv = kv;ke = tje;key = tjey;ki/ky = tji;kj = tj;ll = dl;ng = ng+g;rn = often dn;rs = rsch;rt = rscht.
Guide to the pronunciation of faroese
Explore the Faroe Islands with us• Small privately owned company ensures personal attention
• The trip of your life tailored to fit you
• Bilingual experienced drivers
• Safety our top priority
• Buses seating 10 to 52 passengers
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In 2007, the National Geographic (National Geographic Traveler and National Geographic Center for Sustainable Destinations), conducted a comprehensive survey of 111 island communities throughout the world. A panel of 522 well-travelled experts in sustainable tourism assessed the islands rating them on a list of the most unspoiled. The Faroe Islands came out on top as the most appealing destination in the world.
Rated ahead of the Azores, Lofoten and exotic islands such as Bermuda and Hawaii, the Faroe Islands received these remarks from the panel: „Lovely unspoiled islands - a delight to the traveller.“ The islands earned high marks for preservation of nature, historic architecture and local pride.
National Geographic Traveler chose in particular, small and medium-sized islands or island groups, but made a few excep tions with large, uniform
count ries such as Iceland and Tas mania. The magazine asked the experts to evaluate the islands that they knew, using six diffe rent criteria: environmental and ecological quality, social and cultural integrity, condition of historic buildings and their archaeological interest, aesthe tic appeal, responsible ma na gement of tourism and outlook for the future. This is an extract from the panel of expert’s survey:
„Superb glaciated landscape with incredibly steep slopes. Only a small amount of flat land. A unified local community, resolutely Faroese not Danish, with its own language. It has a unique architectural heritage, right down to the grass roofs, quite rightly preserved and cherished. Tourists are ad venturous and well-inform ed.“
In particular, the panel mentioned the island of Koltur, where visitors can meet the farmer, tour the island, ex pe rience a living museum of farming
The world's most appealing destinationThe faroe islands has come under scrutiny in one of the world’s great periodicals.
The schooner "Norðlýsið" in the centre, with the island of Koltur to the left
today and sample local tradition-al food. They went on to explain that, quite naturally, tourists were expected to do as the Faroese such as travelling on the rolling ferries and hiking through all sorts of weather.
The Faroese were more than a little surprised that their islands did so well in the survey. They thought that sunny beaches and modern cities with large shopping centres were the most appealing destinations in the world. After all, how can a few remote rocky islands in the Atlantic Ocean compare to these? Nevertheless, of course, the result of the survey was received with pride on the islands and the Faroese have been telling the world about it ever since.
However, National Geo graphic Traveler warned its readers that it was necessary to ‘tread carefully’ in order not to destroy the very places that we love the most, especially islands of such a modest size. Nevertheless, as the expert panel concluded, where there is a strong sense of identity and cultural heritage, there is a solid foundation for sensible development.
So, welcome to the world’s most beautiful islands!
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no lost musicians here - Faroese music life reaches way over the cliff edge.
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The pleasure derived from music is immense on the Faroes; almost every occasion is an opportunity to sing and play. The islands have several summer music festivals and a stunning Nordic House that offers a wide variety of musical events. As a tourist, you are more than likely to experience a live music event during the summer months. For example, Summartónar, a classical and modern music festival which is held in churches, museums and other public venues around the Faroe Islands. There are also free live concerts every weekday at 4pm in the TUTL shop on the high street in Tórshavn throughout the summer.
The Faroese tradition for unaccompanied singing began back in the Middle Ages with the chain dance, still a prominent part of the Faroese cultural and musical life today, just as it was then. The chain dance ballads are rhythmic tales that have their origins in the songs about heroes and legends. You
have the opportunity to experience this special art form in the centre of Tórshavn during the St Olav’s Day celebrations at the end of July. The story is emphasized at its most dramatic points by singing louder and stamping the dance steps quite forcefully...
Contemporary Faroese music stars also favour elements from the ancient singing tradition. A prime example is Eivør Pálsdottir, an attractive singer with mermaid style hair and a huge fan club. Her music is a rare modern interpretation of folk music, spiced with jazz and melodious stringed instruments. In contrast, the Viking heavy metal band ‘Tyr’, simply oozes masculinity. There is drama in the air when they swing their hair and guitars as they perform their songs. The American and German markets in particular are captivated by the four men that are currently at number 88 on the list of best selling bands in the Federal Republic. On the other hand,
in the last five years, the faroese music life has really taken off – far beyond the rocky islands own horizon. formidable sounding names such as Teitur, eivør, sunleif, Budam and orka are apparently no hindrance for international success – on the contrary.
Teitur Lassen TýrEivør Pálsdóttir
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there are no electric guitars in the band called ‘Budam’, who has performed on numerous occasions in London. Teitur Lassen is the Faroe Islands undisputed singer and songwriter star touring both the USA and Europe. His almost ‘crying’ voice and innovative musical arrangements reach into the very heart of a wide group of fans, spanning from Detroit to the Roskilde Festival where he performed last year. Also performing at the Roskilde Festival is the group ‘Orka’, whose first CD was recorded on a farm using everything from barrels to barbed wire fencing, rubber tyres and bottles. Amongst other things, Orka is inspired by the avant-garde style of the composer Kristian Blak. In the summer it is possible to join Kristian on a sailing trip into the deep grottoes along the rocky coast whilst listening to music from a variety of instruments accompanied by the lapping waves, seagull’s cries and the grottoes unique acoustic.
Kristian Blak has also composed classical music together with Sunleif Rasmussen, another composer inspired by the Faroese nature. In 2002, Sunleif received the Nordic Council’s Music Prize for his symphony, ‘Oceanic Days’.
In the rock/pop departments we can mention The Dreams, who in terms of genre, place themselves on the border between pop and emo punk. They received their big breakthrough on MTV Europe’s band competition ‘A Cut’ in 2005. Boys in a Band, an indie rock band won the ‘Global Battle of the Bands’ in 2007 with a prize of $100.000 and a world tour.
The islands can offer everything the heart desires and more in the way of musical experiences and genres. “William Heinesen’s future generations of musicians are far from lost and just like Baker Hansen, can play on everything under the sun”.
Týr
Top: Sunleif RasmussenLeft and below: Grotto concert on the eastern side of Nólsoy island
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Wool has been the main material, taken from over 75.000 sheep that freely graze on the mountains. Its insulating and water-repellent characteristics have been vital qualities in the clothes worn by these outdoor working and seafaring people.
There were various different techniques used in the spinning, weaving and knitting processes, depending on the type of garment being made. Wool taken from the belly of sheep that had been grazing high up on the mountains was hand spun and made into underwear that would keep the Faroese men warm whilst fishing in the icy weather of Iceland and east Greenland. Woollen socks containing lanolin kept the shepherds warm and dry on long rainy days in the mountains and the prickly wool from the backs of the
sheep would gently massage frozen limbs, stimulat-ing the circulation after long days at sea in rowing boats.
The ‘King’s farms’ with large numbers of sheep, exported many of the beautifully patterned Faroese sweaters to Denmark. Transportation was via ‘The Icelandic Company’, which has misleadingly given the sweaters the name ‘Icelandic’. The pretty patterns, with names such as Wave, Seven star and Sheep path, were not only for decoration but actually made the sweaters more durable and better able to insulate. They were so popular, that an agreement was made in the 1900’s that all soldiers in the Danish army should have a Faroese sweater as part of their uniform.
Just as the islands have always been an isolated fishing and farming community in the middle of the atlantic ocean, so has faroese design always been based upon the functional, practical everyday.
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Inspiration for the traditional Faroese designs has always come from daily life and the magnificent Faroese nature and this is still the case today. Even though the Faroe Islands, like most other modern societies, has been influenced by the opportunities of globalisation, the competent and internationally successful Faroese designers are very conscious of their roots. They travel to Denmark, England, Italy and Japan for educational purposes and inspiration. They experiment with traditional patterns and materials whilst developing a style not always immediately associated with the place they come from.
However, if you look closely, you can see the dark
winter nights, the dizzy hike along a mountain path, the tiny arctic flower and the curiosity about what hides over the next stonewall. All this and more, interpreted into a wonderfully useful garment to take with you and enjoy, just as they do in the fashionable high-street shops of New York, Paris and Tokyo. Places where people have also discovered the unique Faroese style and where they tell each other stories about the tiny country in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, where famous designers make genuine hand-knitted sweaters, avant-garde dresses and colourful jumpers, all with a little flavour of the Faroes.
A small selection of exciting creations by various Faroese designers
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a gourmet’s larder
However, the quantity of produce available is limited and most certainly the reason why use of this nature’s treasure trove has so far been reserved for the exclusive club of resident islanders and tourists who manage to find their way to this remote corner of the world.
The high quality can be attributed in part to the slow growing conditions created by the cold climate, where the vegetation is able to draw all the nutrients from the earth on the steep mountain slopes before being eaten by the sheep. This gives a particularly delicious organic meat, some of which is dried to become ‘skerpikjøt, a Faroese delicacy, perhaps best enjoyed by the islanders themselves. The high quality can also be attributed to species. Cod, on one occasion mistaken for shellfish by a Spanish chef due to its succulent taste, angler fish and cultivated salmon are luxury items exported all over the world. The shellfish and Norway lobster are amongst the best to be found and much sought after by the world’s Michelin elite.
The Faroese, resident in this gourmet larder, can survey the many links in the food chain from the comfort of their homes and have always sustained
themselves with this modern cuisine. Happily oblivious to the high quality of its produce, the traditional Faroese cuisine has wind dried, salted and hung its meat, fish and birds, eating them with boiled potatoes and turnips. This rather monoto-nous and meagre vegetable diet was supplemented with wild herbs and grasses to avoid deficiency diseases.
With the sea roaring in over the islands, wind whistling through the ravines and sheep grazing in the most impassable places, you will find the most luscious and diverse vegetation growing in rock crevices, ditches and between houses. There is Angelica, rich in vitamin C and effective against scurvy, the Common Nettle with its high iron and mineral content and Scurvy grass, whose sour leaves can compensate for the lack of fresh vegetables. Potatoes and turnips, juicy as pears, are grown in the meadows.
The Faroese restaurants are active participants in the successful initiative called New Nordic Food and are acutely aware of the high quality Faroese produce and the expectations in its preparation. Here, in the world’s smallest capital, you will find
in the middle of the atlantic ocean, where the warm Gulfstream returns from the arctic ocean, there is a small group of islands called the faroes. some of the world’s finest raw produce has recently been discovered here and has been highly praised by leading gourmet chefs.
Fish out to dry in the wind
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world class Sushi, famous far beyond the Nordic borders. There is rustic food interpreted and prepared á la 21st century, alongside avant-garde gourmet cuisine of an international standard that delights the eye and palate. Unseen combinations conjured up to seduce the discerning senses with a symphony of tastes, sounds, smells and colours; all of course, inspired by the nature, country and tradition.
The restaurants focus on the islands unique culinary competence and exceptional terroir. This has led to an escalation in interest for developing and processing the quality and flavour of local specialities using the basics of the traditional preserving and preparation methods to develop new products. Consequently, the high quality of the drinking water has seen the opening of new mini breweries focusing on export.
In contrast, away from the civilisation of culinary
experiences, there is the opportunity to sit on a late spring day between the giant rocks strewn across the puffin’s breeding ground, eating a homemade lambs liver pâté sandwich with freshly picked Cuckoo flower. You can enjoy the sight and sound of puffins gliding in circles on their way out to sea, returning with a beak full of freshly caught sand eel for their hungry chicks in their nest holes. Here, in the centre of nature’s unspoilt larder, you can experience the sensually satisfying taste of the Faroe Islands.
Left: Fir smoked lobster and toasted bread with fresh cream cheese and fir butter - new culinary delights using unique Faroese products. Top right: Dried fish, blubber, potatoes and dried whale meat. Bottom right: Sheep carcasses hanging to dry in the "hjallur" - a special Faroese slatted outhouse
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This layer effect is most pronounced along the more peaceful and protected fjords and sounds. Along the shores of these fjords and sounds lie the towns and villages of the Faroes, which sparkle in multicoloured splendour against the deepgreen swath of cultivated past ureland sur round ing them. Above them rise the moun tains with their green slop ing fells bounded by dark stony crags. This interplay between the green fells and rocky protru sions give the mountains their layered look.
The craggy protrusions visible in the mountains are the vestiges of enormous layers of basalt laid down by gigantic volcanoes in the tertiary period some 60 million years ago. Each basalt layer represents one or more volcanic events. In between the basalt layers are bands of red tuff, which is the compressed ash spewed out by the volcanoes between erup tions. Tuff is softer than basalt and erodes more quickly. The basalt layers
gradually erode and fall down on to the layer below to eventually crumble onto the earthen slopes where the grasses and heather flourish.
The western and northern coasts face the unrelent-ing on slaught of the sea. Especially in winter the storms break loose and the ocean swells up to crash against the rocky shoulder of the Faroes. The sea rushes in, roaring and rumb ling, and lashes its full power against the cliffs. The clamour reverberates from top to bottom as if the tumult came from the very core of the earth; the sea explodes into foamy surf and slips back muttering crude, rumbling epithets and promising revenge. Land and sea wage an endless battle which con tinues throughout the dark, lonely nights of winter, year after year, century after century.
Eventually the soft light of summer returns and all is at peace. The sea stretches out in stillness, friendly and inviting. The long summer days teem with
The special natureThe faroe islands are built up of layers of volcanic basalt and, as a rule, are tilted with the eastern shores sloping into the sea and the western coasts rising up in soaring cliffs.
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The village of Gásadalur on Vagar. Stormy weather and lashing surf causes the water to run upwards!
seabirds flocking to the soaring cliffs. The collision of cold arctic currents with the warm Gulf Stream near the Faroe Islands has created an especially nutrient-rich en vironment for the many birds that breed here. Orni tho logists have identi fied around 300 bird species in the Faroe Islands, whereof 40 are regular breeding birds and another 40 are but infrequent guests. Colonies of puffins inhabit the many ledges and green swaths at the top of the cliffs. Their breeding grounds are quite con spicuous because of the deep, bluegreen colour of the grass, which is a by-product of years of their active fertilisation.
Now and again a seal sticks its dark and shiny head up out of the water to see what is happening just as the individual hiker, having forsaken the delights of the sea, rises above the clouds lingering about the mountain tops. On occasion, the weather may not look so promising to the novice hill walker; the clouds sweep in low and wisps of tattered cloud play about the moun tain slopes. The experienced local guide is confident however, and quickly selects the correct path and course. Soon both guide and hill walker emerge from the woollen kingdom of the clouds, to behold the spectacular vistas of land and sea that stretch out before them into infinity. Surveying such a vista, one can conjure up a vision of a once vast and mighty con tinent, alas now sunk below the sea millions of years ago.
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Of course, there are days when the fog envelops everything and all you can see is the closest surroundings. It is then that the flowers come into their own, undisturbed by what is around them, they stand and nod to the attentive observer. There is the marsh marigold, recently appointed the Faroese national flower, found in ditches and wet places in the early summer months. Then there are all the
other more humble flowers, different from island to island and from hollows to heights.
Notice the heather flowers, the scotch heather with its violet petals, the bell heather or the moss campion that stands like a little bush with flowers that change from pink to dark red. What about all the saxifrage flowers, ragged robin and the spotted orchid which in its day, just as the vigorous rose root, was
regarded as natures own viagra? Not forgetting the Faroese lady’s mantle that grows nowhere else in the world or the glacier buttercup only to be found up on the highest mountains?
Just a short distance from the new asphalt roads, the bold wayfarer is soon alone in the mountain heath, in a lone some valley, or clambering over rocky heights. There an ethereal silence reigns, full of nature’s own sounds – the sounds of trembling water over stone or tufts of grass, the sound of the sea, the golden plover, the curlew, and the snipe. Perchance the coarse call of the gull may descend into the tranquillity of the moment and penetrate the deep reflections of the more intrepid wanderers, as he either explores the sec rets of the moor or she rests briefly upon a white, lichen covered rock before setting out upon the next segment of their trek.
Those that travel with their computer or mobile telephone by their side or swiftly journey from village to village looking only at the mileage or their watch, may begin to think to their amaze ment that this country is much too small to en com pass so grand a display of nature. But for those that emerge from their modern technological shells, they will discover that the natural wonders of the Faroes cannot be reckoned by size or distance, but only by their eternal essence.
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Tourist attractionsEnjoy a tour around the
best sights on the islands, in the safety and comfort
of an experienced chauffeur driven car
For example, experience Kirkjubøur, Saksun, Gjógv, Viðareiði, Bøur, Gásadalur - see description, prices, distances and duration on auto.fo
Airport taxi
Special offer to/from Tórshavn:
180 kr per person or 600 kr for
a car with maximum 4 persons
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The capital Tórshavn - and streymoy southern part
it began with a Viking “Thing”, followed by a mar ket, later it be came a thriving town, and today it is one of the smallest and most pleasant capital cities in the world.
This is, in brief, the history of Tórshavn which began centuries ago when Vikings from Western
Nor way first discovered the is lands. In summer, and in the middle of the islands, they met here for their annual gathering. They came to settle their quarrels or impose their will, to talk to gether and to trade. This sum mer court and market gradu ally grew into a perma nent trad ing area.
Under Norwegian and then later Danish rule, government officials ma de Tórshavn their home. They built forts to protect the town and their monopoly trade from marau ding pirates. The poor and those without land
tried their luck in Tórshavn working at the forts and with the monopoly trade.
The trade monopoly even tu ally ended in 1856. From that time on, free trade developed quickly, and spurred on by an expanding fishing fleet, the village soon became a real town. In 1801 the population of Tórs havn was 554. By 1950 it had grown tenfold to 5,600. After the merger with Kollafjørður some years ago, the municipality of Tórshavn has seen its population rise to over 19.000, approx i ma te ly 40% of the total po pu lation.
See map on page 4
Tinganes in the foreground - the original site of open air court meetings. There are several inscriptions, dates and compass cards engraved on the flat stones
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But the old centre of the town is still well pre served and lively. When you enter the old town and walk around among its old houses, you will find your self in a con fusion of lanes and narrow passages, steps and rocks and tiny black-tarred houses with white windows and green turfed roofs. You may think that you have lost your way onto the set of an historical film or into a museum, but what you see is in fact a genuine town dating from the Middle Ages and still alive with hens and children and all the buzz of ordinary life. A town that never fell prey to an all-de stroy-ing fire, as was the case of almost all other Nordic timber-built towns of that time, and thus it is unique not only in the Faroes but in the world.
The old town of Tórs havn is the dwelling place of history and stories. It is the hometown of the great story teller William Heine sen. He was born on 15 January 1900 in Bringsnagøta, and from the high attic in his father’s shop he could look down onto the small grass turf covered houses, right out
over the sea and into the infinite cosmos. From here he saw Adam sitting in a garden full of wild chervil and ange lica, nam ing the animals, and on especially good days he could see, on the moun-tain ridge towards the west, the remains of Noah’s Ark. It was also here in the loft that he met the dream and elf girl Tarira, who now stands as the Heinesen monu ment in the town’s park, cast in bronze in the sculptor Hans Pauli Olsen’s repre-sent ation.
Here his “Lost Musi cians” wan de red among the houses, drea mers and visionaries who on ce having heard the wind harp’s music in the church tower, could never be the same as other ordi na ry folk. Here in a doorway stands Fina i Tranten and her bea u tiful daughter Rose dukken, and soon all the others arrive. In the old story-teller’s narratives live the alleys and passageways, hens fly down from roofs, women talk to each other from win dow to win dow, the world is being created and the world is being destroyed with horrors and
Above: Outdoor training in TórshavnLeft: Crashing surf at Hoyvíkshólmur, just outside Hoyvík
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delights. The Faroese Museum of His tory,
together with the open air museum in the old village of Hoyvík, is well worth a visit if you want to learn more about the cultural history of the Faroe Islands. For those who are inte rested in natural history, then the Museum of Natural History is the obvious place to go with its exhibitions about the island’s geology and animal life. The Faroese National Gallery of Art displays a comprehensive collec tion of powerful and vivid Faro ese works of art. And then, of course, there is the Nordic House with its architecture and cultural events which make for a unique experience. Føroya Sjósavn – the Faroese Aquarium, is the latest attraction where you can experi-ence up close just some of the fish, squid, starfish, mussels and other species that swim in the sea around the islands.
Vestaravág, Tórshavn’s west ern
Good atmosphere at the one-day festival Voxbotn, in Tórshavn A lovely summer day at the beach in Tórshavn
Order or download the catalogue at www.greengate.fo
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bay, has gradually become ‘the’ place to experience various events in the town. At the head of the bay, there are three red gabled buildings that are a part of the old commercial house in Vágsbotn. It was here in 1768, that the Danish businessman, Niels Ryberg, established his business in trading luxury goods from places such as the West Indies. He became one of Denmark’s richest men by smuggling the goods on to the United Kingdom.
The old dairy and margarine factory are in the same road and these now function as a youth centre with facilities for various youth groups and as theatre premises for the new Faroese national theatre.
In the square opposite the media house, there is a statue of Nólsoyar Páll, Poul Nolsøe, who worked for a while at Ryberg’s commercial house. He was a farmer, sailor and skipper, sailing out in the world during the Napoleonic wars. He is
A lovely summer day at the beach in Tórshavn
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Tax Free Shopping- in all our Shops
The Shopping Mall in Tórshavn
however, best known as a poet and in particular, for his bird ballad where he uses the allegory of an oystercatcher chasing birds of prey, representing the authorities and officials, in defence of all the small birds, representing the country’s poor population.
From his low pedestal, he can observe the activities surrounding the many colourful boats in the harbour and watch life as it passes by under the picturesque gabled buildings along the quayside. Perhaps he knows some of the pensioners, who sit on the wall benches when the sun comes out, or at least he recognises the type; those who never change even though everything around is changing.
On the other side of the bay are the shipyard and old warehouses. These served the town’s large fishing fleet that would lay anchored during the winter months before setting out to fish in Iceland and Greenland. One of them, West ward Ho, has recently
Left: The lighthouse at the fortress "Skansin" in Tórshavn. Right: Cosy café atmosphere by the harbour
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Bl
NORRØNA
Bládýpi
www.hostel.foTórshavn · Tel. 500600
snældann. finsensg. 25, tórshavn
Knitwear
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been refurbished, as has one of the old warehouses, which is now used for exhibitions and cultural arrangements. There are many plans for the undeveloped area between the two arms of the bay and when completed, Vestaravág will finally become the town’s cultural centre.
What is this special experience then? What is the town’s special identity? It is the history com bined with the attraction of a modern society. The visitor to Tórshavn will find a thriving business life, good restaurants and hotels, cafés, galleries, con ference facilities and live music, but also an intimacy seldom found elsewhere. It has something to do with size; the surrounding ocean is infinitely great, yet within lies a perfect microcosm.
Tórshavn is both old and mo dern, understandably the focus of the islands with its many and sometimes noisy attractions, yet with an enviable position that will enable you to reach even the most remote location in just a few hours. On arrival you can be sure to find nature’s incompre hensible greatness and the best thing of all; tranquillity. Through the changing light and sound of the wind and water, nature will transform you from a sophisti cated citizen of the world to one with an inner peace devoid of words.
• Apartments• Guesthouses• Youth Hostels• Rooms with private facilities• Guest kitchen• Wirelesss internet
2 h 15 minFugloy
1 h 20 minViðareiði
40 min Saksun
1 h Gjógv
1 h 30 minMykines 40 min
Airport
1 h Klaksvík
20 minNólsoy
15 minKirkjubø
45 minSandoy
1 h 50 minSuðuroy
In the heart of the Faroes
Bus Terminal
Dr. Jakobsensgøta 14-16 tel. 500 600
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J. C. Svabos gøta Sigmundargøta
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Horn
agøt
a
Símunargøta
Rasmusargøta
J. Dahls gøta
Álaker
Eirargarður
EYST
ARAV
ÁG
VEST
ARAV
ÁG
BOÐA
NES
UPPI
Á H
ÁLSI
NORÐ
URBÝ
UR
HOYV
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BOÐA
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EYST
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UR
VIÐ
ARL
UN
DIN
KONM
ANSM
ÝRA
Sand
agerðisvegur
Heygsmannav.
Pers
konu
gøta
Íslandsvegur
Suðu
roya
vegu
r
Bjarn
oyar
vegu
r
oman
Mat
talá
g
Jáku
ps N
olsø
es g
øta
Eiriksgøta
Torfi
nsgø
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Torfin
sgøta
Leivs
gøta
Slætta
líðSk
rivara
gøta
Petu
rstrø
ð
Dunga
gøta
Sjúrð
argø
ta
Dalatú
n
Livulág
Dalalíð
Valla
líð
Dalak
róku
r
Dalav
egur
Hanus
argø
ta
Dalavegur Lynggøta
Heiðavegur
Heiðaskákið
Kráarvegur
Varðabyrgi
Grønalíð
Brattal
íð
Fagral
íðMarknalí
ð
Krosslíð
Fuglo
yarv.
Ravn
soya
rgøt
a
Hvalso
yarg
øta
Torst
einsg
øta
Í Sva
nga Mark
nagil
sveg
ur
Marknag
ilsveg
ur
Dala
vegu
r
Oygg
jarv
egur
Oyggjarvegur Ko
ngsg
il
Tjóðh
ildarg
øta
Grøn
lands
vegu
r
V. U. Hammershaimbs g
øta
Fríðriks Petersens gøta
oman
Stór
agar
ð
Skákið
Tum
mas
argøta
ÚTI Á
FLØ
TUM
Lauri
tsargø
ta
Pedda við Stein
gøta
Grím
s Ka
mba
ns g
øta
Mylnug
øta
Bøgøta
Brin
gsna
gøta
Ko
ngab
rúgv
in
Bursa
tangi
Jekara
gøta
Lava
gøta
Sólteigur
Mýrigø
ta
A. C
. Eve
nsen
s gøta
Egho
lmst
røð
Tinghúsvegur
R. C. Ef
fersø
es gøta
Norð
ari R
ingv
egur
Norð
ari R
ingv
egu r
Eyst
ari R
ingv
egur
Hallarhe
ygur
Tjal
durs
vegu
r
Vípuvegur
Spógvavegur
Hoyvíksvegur
Hoyvíksvegur Tó
rgar
ðsgø
ta
Hamarsgøta
o man
Við
arlu
nd
PRES
TLÁG
HOYV
ÍKST
JØRN
TING
ANES
Á TÓ
RGAR
ÐI
TELE
COM
Niels W
inthe
rs gø
ta
Mortan
ssto
vubr
ekka
Gustugøta
Vakta
rhúsgø
ta
Tjarn
ardeil
d
MAR
KNAG
IL
Í KER
JUM
UPPI
Í SV
ANGA
UN
DIR
KRÁ
KUGJ
ÓGVIN
NI Í
BUG
Í BUG
UPP
I Á V
ARÐ
A
SORT
UDÍK
I
NIÐA
STU
HOYD
ALAR HO
YDAL
AR STAR
ABRE
KKAN
TERN
URYG
GUR
UN
DIR
SVA
RTA
FOSS
I
Vilhelmstr
øð
SHOPPING
CENTRE
SHOPPING
CENTRE
100
m
600
m
To the airport
Vestmanna
Kollafjørður
To the airport
To Vestm
anna
Kollafjø
rður
TH
e 6
re
gIo
ns:
Ho
Ve
ds
Tad
en
Tó
rs
Ha
Vn
- a
nd
sT
re
yM
oy
so
uT
He
rn
pa
rT
37
Óðins
hædd
undi
r Pisu
varð
a
N
Tróndargøta
Lucas Deb
esar g
øtaTungugøta
Villumsgøta
Tróndargøta
M. Heinasonar gøta
Steina
-tú
n
Jans
stovu
gøta
Júst
sgøt
a
Húsa
gøta
oman
Pisuv
arða
HeygsbreytBrekkugøta
Tvørgøta
Sílagøta
J. Broncks g
øta
Tinghúsvegur
C. Pløyens gøtaundir Glaðsheyggi
Frúutrø
ð
M.A.Wint
hersg
.
Abbatr
øð
Vørðslan
Áarveg
ur
Niels Fin
sens gøta
Niels Finsens gøta
Land
aveg
ur
R. C. Effersøes gøta
Gund
adal
sveg
ur
Gund
adal
sveg
ur
Sýrugøta
Sólju
gøta
undir Svartafossi
Sund
sveg
ur
Sundsvegur
Óluv
ugøt
a
Birnugøta
Gæsugøta
Mækjugøta
Skør
ugøt
a
Brobbersgøta
Blákollugøta
Berja
br
ekka
R. C. Effersøes gøta
R. C. Effersøes gøta
Staravegur
Heykavegur
Falkavegur
Smyrilsvegur
Títli
ngsv
egur
Star
aveg
ur
Hvítanesvegur
Skra
ddar
agøt
a
Bøkja
rabr
ekka
Dalavegur
Hoyvíksvegur
Varðagøta
Varðagøta
Mariugøta
Varð
abú
Dalag
øta
Varð
abre
kka
Kova
lág
Brat
tabr
ekka
Varð
alág
oman Viðarlund
Mammulág
Álvastí
gur
Vættr
astíg
ur
Dvør
gast
ígur
Varðagøta
Áargeil
Heinagøta
Hvann
krókur
undir Krákugjógv
Hoydalsvegur
Hoydalsvegur
Tinghúsvegur
Tinghúsvegur
J. C. Svabos gøta Sigmundargøta
Tórsgøta
Tórsgøta
Rektaragøta
Reyngøta
undir Bryggjubakka
Havn
argø
ta
Bókb
inda
ragø
ta
Krossg
øta
Yviri við Strond
Yviri við Strond
Yviri
við St
rond
Klok
kara
gøta
Hoyvíksvegur Hoyvíksvegur
Djóna í Geil gøta
Lütze
nstrø
ð
Klokkarag
øta
Í Lon
Lítlatrøð
Dalatrøð
Tildu
gøta
Sám
alsgø
ta
Yviri v
ið Str
ond
Djóna í
Geil gø
ta Eysturst
ræti
J. H. Schrøter
s gøta
Eystara Bryggja
Dr. Jakobsens gøta
Fúta
lág
Breið
ablik
Br
eiðab
lik
Í Lágni
Man
nask
arð
Tjarn
arlág
Stoffalág
Stoffalág
Stoffalág
Tórsbyrgi
Ægis
hædd
Essa
lág
Tórgarðsgøta
Skúlagøta
Hamars
gøta
við Gálgastein
Grip
sveg
ur
Trað
aveg
ur
Trað
abre
kka
Láar
vegu
r
Mýr
isníp
uveg
ur
Háls
atjø
rn
Skálatrøð
Vágsbotnur
VIÐA
RNES
SAND
AGER
ÐISV
ÍK
Í HOR
NABØ
Á FR
ÆLS
INUM
Á HE
YGNU
M M
IKLA
UN
DIR
VA
RÐA
VEST
URBÝ
URJ. C. Svabos gøta
Rund
ingu
r
Vestara Bryggja
Vesta
ra Bry
ggja
Eira
rgar
ður
Heygsvegur
eyst
an H
eyg
á Hey
gnum Mikla
Hvannasundsgøta
Bónd
abre
kka
Heygskrókur
Bóndaheygur
Stóragerði
Land
aveg
ur
Landav
egur
Jóan
nesa
r Pat
urss
onar
gøta
Noregsve
gur
Jøkulstræti
Orkn
oyav
egur
handan Á
Grøn
lands
vegu
r
Hvarvið
Mikkjalstrøð
Svalbardsvegur
Hetlan
dsv.
á Fløt
ti
á Tú
gvu
á Te
igi
Geita
gerð
i
Havr
ager
ði
Norðurr
ás
Mið
rás Su
ðurr
ás
á Fræ
lsinum
á Frælsinum
Hásk
úlav
egur
Horn
agøt
a
Símunargøta
Rasmusargøta
J. Dahls gøta
Álaker
Eirargarður
EYST
ARAV
ÁG
VEST
ARAV
ÁG
BOÐA
NES
UPPI
Á H
ÁLSI
NORÐ
URBÝ
UR
HOYV
ÍK
BOÐA
NESG
JÓGV
EYST
URBÝ
UR
VIÐ
ARL
UN
DIN
KONM
ANSM
ÝRA
Sand
agerðisvegur
Heygsmannav.
Pers
konu
gøta
Íslandsvegur
Suðu
roya
vegu
r
Bjarn
oyar
vegu
r
oman
Mat
talá
g
Jáku
ps N
olsø
es g
øta
Eiriksgøta
Torfi
nsgø
ta
Torfin
sgøta
Leivs
gøta
Slætta
líðSk
rivara
gøta
Petu
rstrø
ð
Dunga
gøta
Sjúrð
argø
ta
Dalatú
n
Livulág
Dalalíð
Valla
líð
Dalak
róku
r
Dalav
egur
Hanus
argø
ta
Dalavegur Lynggøta
Heiðavegur
Heiðaskákið
Kráarvegur
Varðabyrgi
Grønalíð
Brattal
íð
Fagral
íðMarknalí
ð
Krosslíð
Fuglo
yarv.
Ravn
soya
rgøt
a
Hvalso
yarg
øta
Torst
einsg
øta
Í Sva
nga Mark
nagil
sveg
ur
Marknag
ilsveg
ur
Dala
vegu
r
Oygg
jarv
egur
Oyggjarvegur
Kong
sgil
Tjóðh
ildarg
øta
Grøn
lands
vegu
r
V. U. Hammershaimbs g
øta
Fríðriks Petersens gøta
oman
Stór
agar
ð
Skákið
Tum
mas
argøta
ÚTI Á
FLØ
TUM
Lauri
tsargø
ta
Pedda við Stein
gøta
Grím
s Ka
mba
ns g
øta
Mylnug
øta
Bøgøta
Brin
gsna
gøta
Ko
ngab
rúgv
in
Bursa
tangi
Jekara
gøta
Lava
gøta
Sólteigur
Mýrigø
ta
A. C
. Eve
nsen
s gøta
Egho
lmst
røð
Tinghúsvegur
R. C. Ef
fersø
es gøta
Norð
ari R
ingv
egur
Norð
ari R
ingv
egu r
Eyst
ari R
ingv
egur
Hallarhe
ygur
Tjal
durs
vegu
r
Vípuvegur
Spógvavegur
Hoyvíksvegur
Hoyvíksvegur
Tórg
arðs
gøta
Hamarsgøta
o man
Við
arlu
nd
PRES
TLÁG
HOYV
ÍKST
JØRN
TING
ANES
Á TÓ
RGAR
ÐI
TELE
COM
Niels W
inthe
rs gø
ta
Mortan
ssto
vubr
ekka
Gustugøta
Vakta
rhúsgø
ta
Tjarn
ardeil
d
MAR
KNAG
IL
Í KER
JUM
UPPI
Í SV
ANGA
UN
DIR
KRÁ
KUGJ
ÓGVIN
NI Í
BUG
Í BUG
UPP
I Á V
ARÐ
A
SORT
UDÍK
I
NIÐA
STU
HOYD
ALAR HO
YDAL
AR STAR
ABRE
KKAN
TERN
URYG
GUR
UN
DIR
SVA
RTA
FOSS
I
Vilhelmstr
øðSHOPPING
CENTRE
SHOPPING
CENTRE
To the airport
To Vestm
anna
Kollafjø
rður
Til Kirkju
bøur
To Kirkju
bøur
Nor
dic
Hou
se
Nat
iona
l Rad
io B
uild
ing
Vie
wpo
int
and
mem
oria
l
Skan
sin
The
stat
ue T
arir
a
maP of TórshaVnExplanation of symbols, page 5
500
m
40
0 m
4.5
00
m
TH
e 6 r
eg
Ion
s: TH
e Ca
pITa
l Tó
rs
Ha
Vn
- an
d s
Tr
ey
Mo
y s
ou
TH
er
n pa
rT
38
Óla
vur
Fred
erik
sen
Óla
vur
Fred
erik
sen
Óla
vur
Fred
erik
sen
Kirkjubøurduring the middle ages, Kirkju bøur was the eccle siastical and cultural cen tre of the faroes. here was the bishop’s residence un til the re for mation, when the faro ese diocese was abol ished, but the im po sing ruin of saint mag nus cathedral still domi nates the site.
Con struction is thought to have begun in the late thirteenth century, the style of the building being from the best period of Gothic archi tec ture, pointing to West Norwe gian church building from that time. Tradition has it that it was never finished, yet recent research has revealed that it was proba bly roofed at one time.
A great avalanche in 1772 severely damaged the cathe dral, crushing in the northeast corner of the building.
A crumbling wall and a mound of stones is all that remains of another, smaller church, most of this buil d ing having been washed away by the sea. The exis ting parish church is the only medieval church still in use; thought to be even older than the cathe dral and reputedly dedi cated to the Virgin Mary
and St. Olav. The church was surrounded by a chur chyard, but as much of the land between Kirkju bøur and the islet of Kirkju bøhólmur has been ero ded by the sea, it now stands right at the water’s edge.
The Roykstovan, stan ding on the stone base ment of a part of the bishop’s palace, has been the home of the farmers in Kirkjubøur for centuries and occu pied by the same Faroese family for 17 ge ne rations. Cove red with a turf roof, it is a large splitlog building made of timber which is said to have come drift ing all the way from Norway some 700 years ago. The farm house interior re flects the life style of a large Faroese farm. The main floor was the eating and sleeping area as well as the cen tral
Left: Kirkjubøur with the Medieval church and RoykstovanTop right: The impressive ruins of the St Magnus Cathedral before restoration
TH
e 6
re
gIo
ns:
TH
e C
ap
ITa
l T
ór
sH
aV
n -
an
d s
Tr
ey
Mo
y s
ou
TH
er
n p
ar
T
39
Óla
vur
Fred
erik
sen
Faroese MuseumIn beautiful Hoyvík, 1.8 miles from the center of Tórshavn, you'llfind the Faroese historical and natural history museum. In 1500 m2 we will tell you the history of the nature and culture ofthe islands, where people have lived and thrived for 1200 years.The Open Air Museum you'll find just 0.3 miles south of, surround-ed by green hills and a picturesque small harbour where localsswim all through the year.
Open 1/5-31/8: Monday - saturday: 10am-5.30pm. Sunday 2pm-5.30pm.During winter season, by app. only. Entrance fee kr. 30,-. With local guide kr. 50,-
Visit one of the world’s oldest log cabins
san
sir.
fo
Erik
Chr
iste
nsen
activity area with, amongst other things, the spin ning wheels.
To get to Kirkjubøur you can either take the bus or hike over the hills. If you start from the cross be tween Landavegur and Velbastað vegur in Havnar dalur, there is a bridge go ing over Sandá and from there it is easy to find the path and the first cairn. This path that passes Reyns múlalág is well marked with many cairns and can be seen in the terrain. The hike takes about two hours and you have the most beautiful views of the islands to the west: Sandoy, Hestur, Kol tur and Vágar.
The Faroese Museum of His tory has a large collection of exhibits depicting the cultural history of the islands. The most important exhibit is that of the Kirkjubøur chairs. These were a part of the beautifully carved interior of the parish church in the Middle Ages but are now thought to have been made for the cathedral in Kirkjubøur.
On the top of Kirkju bø reyn you find a veritable lunar landscape, but it is never theless impressive and there are idyllic lakes. The famous Faroese writer and painter, William Hei n esen, describes this land scape in some of his no vels, and the lake, Porkeris vatn, is the subject of many of his paintings. Some of William Heine sen’s paintings can be seen in the art gallery in Tórshavn.
TH
e 6 r
eg
Ion
s: TH
e Ca
pITa
l Tó
rs
Ha
Vn
- an
d s
Tr
ey
Mo
y s
ou
TH
er
n pa
rT
Faroese MuseumIn beautiful Hoyvík, 1.8 miles from the centre of Tórshavn, you'llfind the Faroese historical and natural history museum. In 1500 m2 we will tell you the history of the nature and culture ofthe islands, where people have lived and thrived for 1200 years.The Open Air Museum you'll find just 0.3 miles south of, surround-ed by green hills and a picturesque small harbour where localsswim all through the year.
nólsoynólsoy lies like a giant buffer protecting Tórshavn from the eastern storms.
It is therefore not surprising, that it belongs to the municipality of Tórshavn. Yet, why would it want to be a part of all the crowds and noise of the capital? Fortunately, it has the fjord between keeping a suitable distance and yet at the same time, it is close enough to the centre of Tórshavn taking only twenty minutes by ferry.
There are more and more who take advantage of this fact. Instead of taking a long boat trip to one of the more distant isles, you can make the short journey across the fjord to an island and village free from everyday hustle and bustle, cars and noise.
There is a tourist information centre down on the harbour − open 1 June - 31 August – provid-ing information about hiking tours, including one to the lighthouse at the southern most tip of the
island. The light house has been constructed of beautiful hewn stone, has one of the world’s largest lenses and is almost three metres high; weighs four tons and is featured on one of the twenty kroner coins.
Other tours go to places nearer the village, such as the one to Korndalur, where the princess spring and ruins can be seen. Legend has it that it was here the princess lived with her lover after being forced to flee due to the disapproval of her father, the Scottish king.
Another popular tour is to the world’s largest colony of storm petrels, the small bird that only flies at night. The guide for this tour is usually the ornithologist, Jens Kjeld Jensen. Another name always mentioned in connection with Nólsoy is Ove Joensen, a local who rowed single-handed
Top left: The tourist information in the foregroundTop right: The old shop "Pakkhúsið"
Bottom: Hoyvík in the foreground with Nólsoy in the background
- faroese fish, small sharks, octopuses, starfish, mussels and other species from the sea around the islands
The Faroese Aquarium
Opening hours in 2013Please check on: www.sjosavn.net
Sightseeing, Birdwatching and Concert in the Caves...
www.nordlysid.comphone +298 218520
san
sir.
fosa
nsi
r.fo
41
900 sea miles from the Faroe Islands to Langelinie in Copenha-gen. His boat, the Diana Victoria, is on display in the basement of the tourist information centre.
The historic house á Brunn, dating from the 1600’s has been converted into a museum. The cooker is one of the oldest on the Faroe Islands. It was installed in 1858 and hailed as such a fantastic technological advance, that it was christened the ‘cooking machine’.
That the people of Nólsoy have a sense of humour when it comes to words is best seen when making the return trip to Tórshavn. Behind the factory on the quayside lies a small shed fitted out as a music studio and going by the name of ‘Studio Ear Wax’!
TH
e 6 r
eg
Ion
s: TH
e Ca
pITa
l Tó
rs
Ha
Vn
- an
d s
Tr
ey
Mo
y s
ou
TH
er
n pa
rT
- for a different experienceonly 20 minutes from Tórshavn
42
Jógv
an H
anse
n
Hestur and Koltur hestur is a long, narrow and steep island with a small village in the centre facing streymoy. during the summer months, it is par ti cu larly green on the eastern side. on the western side, there are sheer cliffs, whilst the island’s ridge has a large and unusually flat plain with many small idyllic lakes.
Hestur means horse and from a certain angle, the island does in fact look like a resting horse. There are two paths up onto the ‘horse’s back’, a steep one straight up from the village and a more comfortable sloping path from the south. From the top it is possible to look down into the dramatic Álvagjógv, elf gorge, and across to the steep bird cliffs with thousands of nesting sea birds. Hidden far in under these bird cliffs are incredible grottoes. In the summer months boat tours go to the western side of Hestur from Tórshavn and weather permitting, concerts are per formed in the grottoes. Apart from being a unique way in which to experience the nature, the grotto concerts are an acoustically fantastic musical experience.
The tiny island of Koltur seems to follow Hestur like a colt following a horse, and it is possible that the island’s name has some connection with the English word ‘colt’. The
island is dominated by the steep mountain of Kolturshamar that rises to 477m above the sea. There is only one farm on Koltur and no regular connection to the island. Occasio nally during the summer months, visits are arranged to Koltur.
Historically, Koltur is a unique place. It is not possible to find such an unspoiled cultivated landscape, from coast to moun tain, anywhere else on the islands. The cultivated area within the stone fences is immense, a signi ficant part of which is ancient farmland for the growing of corn. After the restoration of several old buildings belonging to the abandoned settle-ment Heimi í Húsi, Koltur is most definitely worth a visit.
TH
e 6
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gIo
ns:
TH
e C
ap
ITa
l T
ór
sH
aV
n -
an
d s
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ey
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y s
ou
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n p
ar
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43
SHOPPINGCENTRE
Óla
vur
Fred
erik
sen
private bathroom, satellite tv, broadband internet & telephone, and of course our great breakfast buffet.
you can also take advantage of our low price guest car service and experience the faroes at your own pace.
Visit the unique National Gallery of the Faroe Islandslocated in the midst of Tórshavn’s peaceful park.Displaying the works of local artists, the Gallery fea-tures the enigmatic masterpieces of famous Faroesepainters, S. J. Mikines and Ingálvur av Reyni.
44
Óla
vur
Fred
erik
sen
TH
e 6
re
gIo
ns:
TH
e C
ap
ITa
l T
ór
sH
aV
n -
an
d s
Tr
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Mo
y s
ou
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er
n p
ar
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Most of the saints were forgotten after the Reformation, but the Faroe Islands continued to celebrate St.Olaf’s Day as a national festival when work would stop and people would flock to Tórshavn from all over the country.
Over the years the festival has grown and it now starts with a procession through the town on 28 July at 2pm. This is followed by a tightly packed programme of sports events, meetings, concerts and exhibitions etc; so much that it is impossible to do and see everything. An important part of the occasion is simply to walk up and down the main streets saying hello to friends, acquaintances and summer guests, people you may not have seen for years.
The ceremonious part of St.Olaf’s Day is the proces sion from the parliament building to the cathedral on 29 July by the members of parliament and the government, the clergy and leading civil servants. After the service in the cathedral the procession returns to the parliament building where they stand and listen to a choir singing outside. After this, the government members enter the parliament building where the prime minister delivers his opening speech and a new parliamentary year begins.
Outside the festivities continue and at midnight the festival is officially over as everyone gathers for the community singing in the middle of the town. It is a fantastic experience to take part in the singing and later on, the dancing. If the weather is good, the streets are filled with singing and dancing St.Olaf’s Day guests until the small hours when everyday life begins once again.
There are also other younger festivals and cultural events in Tórshavn. Summer starts with the ‘Night of Culture’ on the first Friday in June. The Summer Music Festival of classical and con temporary music, including choral and new Faroese compositions follows in late June. Some of these concerts are held outside of Tórshavn.
The one-day festival Voxbotn, was held for the first time in Tórshavn in 2012. Twelve hours of entertainment for children and adults, with many popular local and internatio-nal performers. The festival is held at the end of June.
For several years now the Ovastevna on Nólsoy has been celebrated at the beginning of August. This festival is in memory of Ove Joensen who rowed from Nólsoy to Copenhagen in a Faroese boat.
st. olaf’s day, summer festivals – and other arrangements Before the reformation the wake of st.olaf was an important religious festival in norway and its tributary countries, of which the faroe islands were one. The norwegian King, olaf the holy, fell on 29 July 1030 in the battle at stiklestad and every year on that day, his memory as norway’s patron saint, is commemorated.
Festive mood in the capital on St. Olaf's Day
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streymoy - northern partBeyond the bustling city centre of Tórshavn, beyond the tunnel to Kollafjørður, lies northern streymoy, the broad and mountainous part of the main island of the faroes.
The village of Kvívík is the site of the interesting re mains of a well preserved Viking farm stead. Leynar, a small village set amidst
some of the most splendid scenery in the Faroes, is home to a lake full of sea trout and salmon. Beyond these ancient villages lies the enter prising town of Vest manna, from where two boat operators cruise under Vestmanna bjørgini, the fam ous Vestmanna bird cliffs.
Although one can stand on top of the sheer Vest manna birdcliffs some 600 metres above sea level and gaze across towards the islands of Vágar and Myk ines, no vista is as magnifi-cent and awe-inspiring as the birdcliffs from below. Drifting along slowly under the towering cliffs as sea birds glide over head is an unfor gett able experience.
Sailing be tween the rugged sea stacks and ex plo ring the many grot toes along the coast, with their rich textures and rain bow co lours, chal lenges the ima-gination and the spirit fills with amaze ment at the wonderland that nature has created in the Faroes. It is possible to go fishing from Vestmanna, where it is relatively quick to sail out to the fishing spots. The possibility of catching something is good as you can fish in all weathers due to the shelter from the high mountains.
On the whole, Vestmanna is a town with good facilities and services. The Vestmanna Tourist
See map on page 4
The quaint village of Kvívík, showing Viking Age excavations in the foreground
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Centre pro vides useful infor ma-tion about excursions and places of interest, one of which is the recently renovated church. Vestmanna Tourist Centre is also home to the stylish new Saga Museum, created by several Faroese artists to portray history from the time of the Irish monks, who were the first people to inhabit the islands, up to the present day.
Compared to Stremoys steep northwest coast, the eastern side of the island is a perfect idyll. The narrow sound between Streymoy and Eysturoy looks like a river valley and here are the peaceful and well pro tec ted villages of Kolla fjørð ur, Hós vík and Hval vík. Kolla fjørður, one of the big villa ges in the Faroes with its houses stret ched like a band all along the shore, takes its name from the fjord, sur roun ded by high moun tains.
One of them is the majestic Skæ l ings fjall, in the old days considered to be the high est mountain in the Faroes.
Hvalvík with its black church, the oldest of the ancient Faroese wooden churches, opens the way to the road through the long and wide valley of Saksun. This picturesque and more or less flat road is a para dise for cyclists. The nar row one-lane road runs along a delightful shallow river full of miniature ra pids and thriv-
ing bird life. Watch out for the Tjaldur (oyster-catcher), the Faroese natio nal bird, if you decide to stop for a picnic alongside the river because they are very protective of their nesting sites. They are fairly large birds with black and white plumage and a distinctive red coloured bill.
Saksun is tucked away at the end of the road. As you get closer, the vistas sur prise you around each twist in the road,
summer festivalsThe villages outside of Tórshavn also hold summer festivals; Sundalagsstevna mid June and Fjarðastevna mid July. The various villages take it in turns to hold the celebrations each year following a traditional programme of sporting events, exhibitions, concerts, religious meetings, midnight speeches and community singing. An important part of these festivals are the boat races in beautiful Faroese boats. These races are followed with great excitement right up until the final race at the St.Olaf’s Day festival in Tórshavn, where the Faroese champions are crowned. At the end of May there is a boat festival in Vestmanna where boats from the whole country gather in the fjord, after which there is entertainment for everyone in the village.
Happy winners of the rowing events!
maP of VesTmannaSee explanation of symbols on page 5
and there it is, one of the most distinctive villages in the Faroes. The old farm, Dúvu garðar, is now a national heritage mu seum, and together with the out buildings that belong to the museum, it provides an intimate look into the rural life of the Faroes in the past. The museum and the ex quisite stone church just below served as one of the important locations for the film version of Barbara and the Icelandic film, Dansurinn, based on a short story by the Faroese writer William Heinesen.
The round bay below the farm was at one time a natural harbour. Today the bay is full of sand and is only accessible by small boats at high tide. At low tide you can walk on the sand out to the seashore. If you are an angler, you might try your hand at fishing in the bay because the area is well known for its salmon and sea trout, which come into the bay on their difficult and almost impossible journey to Sak sunar vatn, the lake outside Saksun.
One of the biggest attrac tions in Northern Streymoy is Fossá between Hvalvík and Haldarsvík - the highest water fall in the Faroes. The river cascades some 140 metres over se veral rocky ledges into the sea. This mountain river is fed by several smaller streams and connects to a lake on top of the moun tain.
On beyond Fossá is the village of Haldarsvík. It clusters around a small inlet and in the steep sur rounding slopes the fields are
Saga MuseumExperience the saga of the Faroe Islands
presented in an exciting and lifelike manner
www.puffin.fo • tel +298 471 500The museum is situated in the Vestmanna Tourist Centre
Welcome to Vestmanna
Enjoy your stay at Vestmanna's new camping site. Good opportunity for exciting nature adventures nearby.
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built in terraces behind the village. In Haldarsvík you can see the only octa gonal church in the Faroes. The altar piece is of in terest as well, painted by the artist Tor bjørn Olsen, depicting the Eucharist with the faces of wellknown, contemp orary Faro ese.
Tjørnuvík, the northern most village in Streymoy, sits in a natural Greek theatre created by the sharply rising mountains above it. The village faces almost north to the open sea and affords one of the best views of the twin sea stacks, Risin (75m) and Kellingin (73m), rem nants, it is told, of an unusual at tempt to tow the Faroes to Iceland by an Icelandic giant and his troll wife. Struck by the beauty of the islands, they laid a rope around Eiðis kollur, the north end of Eysturoy, but quar-relled for so long that they were caught by the rising sun and transformed into cliffs.
Viking graves have been found in the eastern part of the valley and pollen analy sis shows that the area was inhabited since the early Vikings first came to the Faroes. The fishing is excel lent as well,
but the village is exposed, and wind and tide often make landing con ditions very dif fi cult.
Off Streymoy’s northern tip is Stakkur, a free-standing rock. Also on the north coast is the promontory called Mýlingur. Its eastern side is a sheer drop down to the little bay called Sjeyndir. Legend has it that all those who fail to marry end up in this isola ted region of the Faroes. Jørgen-Frantz Jacob sen, the author of the novel Barbara, describes this un usual place which lies in total isola tion surrounded by a towering land scape:
“Down from the moun tain edge comes the river. Its clear water forms an un broken drop of some 1800 feet down the valley’s grass -grown slope, singing a great song which weaves itself into the solitude. It is the pulse of the place, gi ving life to Sjeyndir. From the sea one sees its gliding ribbon of water. One wants to drink from its fresh water and rest in the sweet grass by its bank. And one reflects that perhaps the unmarried are not always so joyless.”
Tjørnuvík. Out to sea, the stacks of Risin and Kellingin
Vestmanna bird cliffs View from "Sátan" mountain above the lake of "Leynavatn"
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BOAT TRIPSEvery Tuesday and Thursday mornings Norðlýsið, a restored sloop, sails out on a sightseeing trip. On Monday afternoons and Thursday evenings, Norðlýsið sails to the island of Nólsoy. There are concert trips on Tuesday afternoons to the huge grottos on Hestur which have been formed by the eroding sea. Occasionally Norðlýsið will sail a full-day trip to Stóra Dímun or other smaller islands. It is also possible to go sailing from Tórshavn with Silja Star. Fishing trips: Whether fishing for cod, halibut or shark, a fishing trip in the Faroe Islands is something quite special.
BuS TOuRSTora Tourist has a weekly programme from May to August that includes the Northern Isles: Klaksvík and Viðareiði, Eysturoy: Eiði, Gjógv and Oyndarfjørður, Streymoy: Vestmanna, Kvívík, Kirkjubøur and Tórshavn, in addition to the villages on Sandoy. The guided bus tours may include museum visits and/or a meal. Brochures available at tourist information centres.
RIDING TREKSBerg Hestar arrange a variety of treks with experienced guides in and around Tórshavn, including Havnardalur and Glyvursnes. Contact the tourist information or Berg Hestar direct.
BIRD WATChING TOuRSMany species of birds can be found on Nólsoy including the world’s largest colony of Storm Petrels. They are only seen at night, but tours are available by arrange -ment with the local ornithologist. Contact the tourist information for bookings.
hIKING AND WALKING TOuRSTinganes: Every Tuesday and Thurs day afternoon there are guided walks around the old town and Tinganes, where the Vikings lived their daily lives. Skælingsfjall: Around midsummer, the tourist information in Tórshavn arranges a midnight trip to the top of Skælingsfjall mountain (768 m). The tour is quite strenuous and not for those who are afraid
of heights.
FAROESE EvENINGThere is a Faroese evening every Tuesday from the beginning of June to mid July, arranged by the Havnar Sjónleikarfelag (Tórshavn’s Theatrical Society), providing a variety of entertainment, Faroese chain dance and a tasting of Faroese specialities. Hotel Hafnia has a special fish buffet on Tuesday and Thursday evenings. Information from the Tourist Office.
TOuRS FROM vESTMANNAThe boat trip to the cliffs north of Vestmanna will give you a fantastic experience of the birdcliffs and sailing between the free-standing rocks and into deep grottos. There are several departures in the summer, weather permitting. Operators: Palli Lamhauge and Skúvadal.7adventures: Mountain trips with ATV bikes, rapelling, sea angling, hiking, boat and hunting trips - are just some of the experiences that 7Adventures can arrange. For more information see our website on www.7adventures.foPackage tour: „Fisking og Frítíð“ offer a complete holiday package where you will stay in a caravan next to one of the lakes near Vestmanna. You will have the opportunity to fish in the lakes, ride or walk in the mountains around Vestmanna.
TOuRS ON NóLSOYBorðan: The tourist office on Nólsoy arranges hiking tours to the Nólsoy light house. The tour is either by boat to Borðan and then walking to the village, or walking both ways. The tours are with a guide and end with coffee and cake in the village. A picnic is available on the longer tour.Korndalur and the Princess: Taking a guided tour through the village you can see where a Scottish princess used to live and where people used to hide from pirates. Going in the other direction you can see Stongin, which was the first lighthouse to be built in the Faroe Islands.These tours are not scheduled in advance, so ring the tourist information for details and they will arrange coffee and waffles while you wait for the boat to Tórshavn.
For more information about tours, please contact:
Kunningarstovan i TórshavnTel. +298 302425, fax +298 316831 [email protected]
or
Kunningarstovan i NólsoyTel. +298 327060, [email protected], www.visitnolsoy.fo- open 1 June - 31 August
The only bridge over the north atlantic it is sometimes called, and it spans the nar row channel of sundini to connect eysturoy with the larger island of streymoy.
Because the channel is so narrow, spectacular eddies form at the base of the bridge when the current is running strong with the tide. This spectacular intro duction to the island quick ly pales however, as the traveller explores all the unique features and vistas of Eysturoy.
Eysturoy, for ex ample, boasts the tallest mountain in the Faroes. The towering Slættara tindur soars 882 metres, yet the summit is easily reached along the eastern ridge. The view is absolutely breathtaking as it takes in all the Faroes from the northern reaches of Viðoy to the fringes of Suðuroy in the south.
The road passing under this mountain connects two of the quaintest vil la ges in the Faroes. The village of Eiði sits astride a narrow flat isthmus and the view from above the village down across the fjord, with Slættara tindur in the distance, is magnificent.
There is an excellent heri tage museum, Látrið, in Eiði which is a re-no vated farm house that features many curiosities from the old days in the Faroes.
See map on page 4
Breathtaking view across the villages of Syðragøta, Gøtugjógv and Norðragøta, seen from Støðlafjall
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www.eysturkommuna.fo
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Welcome toEysturkommuna
Experience the breathtakingscenery and historic region of
Gøta, Leirvík and Undir Gøtueiði
– the municipality on Eysturoy island
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Gjógv lies at the other end of the mountain road. Many tra vellers succumb to its idyllic scenery with its sea-filled gorge and spend all their holiday time here exploring the countryside. The guesthouse, Gjáar garður, is well equipped and worth visiting. Hiking over the hills to Amba dalur northwest of Gjógv will yield a wonderful vista out over the sea stack called Búgvin. At 188 metres it is the tallest sea stack in the Faroes.
The descent to the old Viking village of Funnin-gur and the tour along the deep fjord of Funnings-fjørð ur to Elduvík with its cluste ring houses protec ting each oth er are an im pressive experi-ence of the variety of Faroese sce n ery and habi tation.
The area around Oyndar fjør ður is wonderful hiking country, but its secret at trac tion actually lies be neath the sea. Rinkusteinar, or the rocking stones, are two huge boulders just beyond the shore near the village. As the sea ebbs and flows around them, the Rinku steinar rock gently back
and forth. Why these huge stones rock in the sea remains a mystery, but le gend has it that an old sorceress in Oyndarfjørður cast a spell on two threa ten ing pirate ships, turning them into boulders which were to stand restless by the water’s edge, rocking for ever. In the middle of the village you will find the lovely church, one of the finest churches from the 19th century with an ex cellent altar piece by the Danish painter Eckersberg.
Fuglafjørður is the fifth largest town. The harbour is a busy place where a steady traffic of local and foreign boats gives life and colour. Here you will find a broad range of businesses, both retail and industrial. The cultural life boasts a culture house with room for theatre productions, concerts, dances and conferences. Traces of a Viking Age farm predating the year 1000 have also been found here. The surrounding area is perfect for outdoor activities such as hiking up the mountain along the old cairn path to the village of
Above: Villages along the coasts of SkálafjørðurBelow: Fantastic adventures await underwater
Hellur, which belongs to Fuglafjørður. There is warm spring on the southside of Fuglafjørð called Varmakelda, which gives its name to the annual Fuglafjørð summer festival. It is said, from ancient times, that the spring water has a healing effect against various illnesses.
Beyond the warm spring and through the mountain tunnel, lies the village of Leirvík. The view from Leir vík of Kalsoy and the other islands in the north is spec tacular. Recent archeo lo gical ex cavations have re vealed the remn ants of a 1000-year-old Viking farm at Toftanes in Leirvík.
The three villages of Syðru gøta, Gøtugjógv, and Norðragøta comprise the area of Gøta lo cated
Enjoying a picnic at Gjógv on the east side of Eysturoy
Welcome to Eiði
Nature, history, adventure...
Welcome to Sunda Municipalwww.sunda.fo
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at the head of the broad fjord, Gøtuvík. This historic area was the home of the fa mous Viking chieftain, Trónd ur í Gøtu, who was considered to be a very clever and crafty man. He defended the old Viking ways against the desire of the Nor-wegian king and Faroese chief Sig mund ur Brestis son to convert the Faroese to Christianity. Ruin s of his farm are found in Gøta and the museum Blásastova provides insight into the culture and way of life in the Faroes in past cen turies.
The villages surrounding the long and wellpro-tected fjord of Skálafjørður are slowly growing together to become one of the most important urban areas in the Faroes. At the eastern end of the fjord you will find the village of Nes with its old wooden church and its historical vica rage.
“Løkshøll”, the new cultural house in Runavík, is the centre for local and international conferences, concerts, theatre, cultural evenings and many
other events. You should visit Eysturoyar Heimavirki at Sal tan gará and the museum, Forni, at Glyvur and the local tourist infor mation office at Runavík will help you with all practical infor-mation about accommo da tion and tours.
In the hills above Toftir is the football stadium, con structed especially for international foot ball com petitions. Beyond the sta di um further up in the hills is the beautiful lake, Tofta vatn, sur-rounded by a unique heath er area. A walk around the lake takes two hours or so and makes for a very pleasant outing. The view from on top affords a good view towards Tórs havn and the surrounding countryside.
The village of Strendur is located on the tip of land at the entrance to the fjord. In this very fertile farming area there is a spinning mill, Snældan, which fea tures knitwear made of Faroese wool. Strendur has a com munity house. Here spe cial Faroese eve nings are arranged for
summer events and festivalsEysturoy also has its fair share of summer festivals, such as Eystanstevna, Fjarðastevna and Varmakelda, held in the middle of June and the beginning of July. As with all the other festivals around the country, the festivities make their mark on the towns with flags, music, speeches and finely dressed people. There are concerts and sporting events including boat races, which are a part of the annual competition to find the Faroese rowing champions. In the middle of July the village of Gøta is home to a music event called the G! Festival, where the entire village and beach become a part of the arrangement.
tou rists during the summer. Up the west ern coast from Strendur is the little village of Selatrað with good tou rist facilities. The scouts’ camping ground is open to the tou rists for over night stays and for outdoor acti vities. Tra di t ional Faro ese row boats are available.
The church es in Eysturoy are worth visiting. Five of the beauti ful an ci ent wood en churches are preserved and the modern chur ches of Fugla fjørður, Gøta and Toftir are of high ar chi tec tural inter est.
Taking a well deserved break outside the old shop in Gjógv
The town where... –youmeetbountifulnature andwelcomingpeople–cultureandbusinessgoes handinhand–thepastandpresentmeet
Welcome to Fuglafjørður
THE TOURIST INFORMATION CENTRE IN FUGLAFJØRÐURTel +298 238015, [email protected]
THE MUNICIPALITY OF FUGLAFJØRÐURFuglafjarðar [email protected] www.fuglafjordur.fo
The town where... –youmeetbountifulnature andwelcomingpeople–cultureandbusinessgoes handinhand–thepastandpresentmeet
Museum in GøtaWe welcome you to see a complete, old, Faroese village community with old farm and fishermen houses and an ancient church.
Open: 1.June-1.Sept.
Mon., Tue., Sat. and Sun.from 14-16 or by appointment.
Closed 28. and 29. July Phone +298 222717/228768 Fax +298 442189
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Tel +298 417000, www.runavik.fo Tel +298 417060, www.visiteysturoy.fo
maP of fUGlafJØrÐUrSee explanation of symbols on page 5
Buses for any purpose!
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hIKINGThe two tourist offices in Eysturoy have several guided hikes on their programme. For instance:Slættaratindur: On this tour we climb the highest mountain in the Faroe Islands, Slættaratindur (882 m). From the top we have a fantastic view of all the Faroes.The refuge uppi á húsi: In Fuglafjørður there is a refuge in the mountain west of the village. In the old days, a small house was built here for people to hide in when pirates ravaged the village. Many exciting stories are told on this trip.The old road over the mountain from Leirvík to Norðragøta: The hike starts at the Viking settlement of Leirvík and continues over the mountain to Norðragøta. The trip ends in the old part of town in Norðragøta, where coffee will be served at GlyvraHanusar Hús.Lamba – Rituvík: This mountain hike starts off in the idealistic village of Lamba, continuing up the mountain, and then follows the cairns to the village of Rituvík. The guide will provide entertainment with the authentic story of the ship Norske Løve. Dried fish will be served in a sheephouse on the mountain.Around Toftavatn: Join a guided tour around the Toftavatn lake. It starts at
the rectory dating from 1863, continues with a visit to the wooden church built in 1843 and the Fríðrikskirkjan from 1994. We also visit the Toftir stadium and walk over the heather covered hills around the idyllic Toftavatn lake.Skarð: The tour along the cairn path up to the mountain pass Skarð, between Fuglafjørður and Hellurnar, and further on up to the vantage point above is a magnificent experience.
If you prefer to go on your own, the booklet The Faroes on foot is available. This booklet will tell you how to manage, which way to go and what is worth seeing as you pass by. The booklet is for sale at the tourist offices.
SIGhTSEEINGExciting bus tour where we visit the fish auction in Toftir and Navia to see Faroese knitwear. Afterwards we visit the old rectory to look at fish and wool tools. The tour ends with a light meal. It is also possible to use your own transport for this tour.
FAROESE EvENINGFaroese evening with traditional food and culture. Please contact the tourist infor ma tion in Eysturoy.
SCuBA-DIvING: A magnificent experience. Nearly everyone remembers their first encounter with the underwater world the rest of their lives.
ROWINGBoat racing in typical Faroese rowing boats can be arranged for groups in Skálafjørður.
For more information about tours, please contact:
Kunningarstovan in RunavíkTel. +298 417060fax +298 [email protected]
or
Kunningarstovan in FuglafjørðurTel. +298 238015fax +298 [email protected]
excursions in eysturoyFantastic colours on the seabed
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norðoyggjar - the northern islandsimagine a peaceful summer day onboard a picturesque old steel ferry sailing between green mountains on a glittering sea. a place where the world stands still, where the saloon guests are on eye level with the puffins diving for herring and the deck passengers are watching the seals sunbathing on the warm rocks of the coastline. would you like to try that?
You can, as the old mail boat servicing the Northern Isles is still there, faithfully going to and fro in all weathers and seasons. Much to the surprise of the local people and perhaps especially to the crew, the service is even famous. For them this is all routine, whilst at certain times of the year they have to fight through rough weather, other people can get into a nice com for t able bus to reach their desti na tion in no time. But the ser vice is described in the well known traveller’s book ‘Lonely Planet’, as unique in the world and certainly one of the most surprising of ex pe riences for any visitor.
Just as their old wooden pre decessors that sailed before them, the steel ferries are painted black and white and sail every day with post, freight, schoolchildren and visitors between the small islands and the main northern island of Borðoy. Even so, modern times have come to these remote islands in the form of a car ferry with room for seventeen cars and a new ferry berth has been built on Kalsoy. The ferry sails
See map on page 4
The beautiful village of Viðareiði on Viðoy is the most northerly village in the Faroes
several times a day from Klaksvík to Syðradalur on Kalsoy, one of the most re mark able islands in the Faroes with its long narrow shape. The west side is dramatic and steep in com parison to the east side where the small idyllic villages are situated.
The bus trip from Húsar to Trølla nes takes you through four dark and nar row tunn els, but rest assu red, Ragna, the bus driver, has made this trip a thou sand times and she will take you safely through to Mikla dalur and further on. Mikla dalur is a well known motif in Faro ese pain t ings, as se veral of the best Faroese pain ters are from that village.
Kalsoy has many legends. The best known of them is the le gend about the seal woman who was captured and forced to marry a farm er’s son from Mikla dalur and had children with him. But she longed to go back to the sea and one day when her hus band had gone fishing, she found the key to the chest where her seal skin was hidden, put it on and returned to her natural ele ment.
Ritan, the old ferry, is named after the bird with the Latin name Rissa Trydactyla. Ritan still plies its old route, faithful as ever by sailing from Hvannasund, the village on the narrow sound between Borðoy and
maP of KlaKsVÍKSee explanation of symbols on page 5
Left: View from Kjeldufjall mountain on SvínoyRight: Klaksvík, situated on Borðoy, is the Northern Isles main town and next largest in the Faroe Islands
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Viðoy and out to the easternmost islands of Svinoy and Fugloy; a trip that can be described as one of the most magnificent in the Faroe Islands. Lean back and enjoy the sight of all the birds, busily engaged in bringing food to their young ones. Watch the puf fin that can carry up to 20 small fish in its beak at a time. How it manages to take another fish without dropp ing the others is still a mystery!
It is easy to understand how Fugloy, the bird island, got its name. A little more difficult is the name of Svín oy, for there are no swine or pigs in the Faroes. But once there were some, and legend has it that Svín oy was origi nally a floating island and did not become fixed until a wo man from Viðareiði fas tened a bunch of keys to the tail of a sow and made it swim to the island. Thus the island was fixed, locked by the iron keys.
In these islands you may still meet people who live in com plete
harmony with na ture. Do not mistake their natural reti cence for shy ness. You have come to them only to stay for a little while, but they have always been here, and their time is not the usual working day from nine to five.
But modern times are not far away, and in Klaksvík the visitor who would prefer a smooth ride to the boat trip can take the bus that runs north to Viðareiði. The vica rage is one of the most beau ti ful houses in the Faro es and the most renowned clergyman’s wife from this vicarage was Beinta, who became the main character in the famous novel Barbara by Jørgen-Frantz Jacob sen. From the village you can take a hike to the northern most point of the Faroes - Enni berg, which is Europe’s highest pro mon tory.
From Klaksvík you can also go by bus to the island of Kunoy, the highest of all the islands (average height). The village on the west side is known for its beautiful site
with its view west and north towards Kalsoy. The sunset on a good summer’s even ing is breathtaking.
Overwhelming scenery and impressive peace; but it is the busy and energetic town of Klaksvík that is the centre of the Northern Is lands, and this is where all visits to these islands begin and end.
In 1838 the Royal Trade Mono poly opened a branch here and Klaksvík became an in de pen-dent munici pality in 1908. As Klaksvík is situa ted around a very well-protected bay and was approved as a winter berth for seagoing vessels, many skippers and their crews mo v ed to Klaksvík, and from that time Klaksvík started to develop and became the main fishing port in the islands. Klaksvík is the capital of the Northern Islands and has all the facilities you ex pect to find in a town. It is very important for Faro ese industry and economy. The Christians church is one of the most interesting to be found on the Faroes. It was designed by the Danish architect Peter Koch and is the first large church in Scandina-via to be built in the ancient Nordic style. The font is considered to be approximately 3000-4000 years old and is, without doubt, the oldest in use in Scandinavia.
If on your trip to the Far o es you have missed visiting the Northern Islands, you have not had the full benefit of your visit. Several times daily a direct bus and car ferry links Klaks vík with the other northern is lands, and this journey
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NorÐoYa KuNNiNGarsToVaIn the centre of Klaksvík, www.visitnordoy.fo [email protected], Tel. +298 456939
FACTS The toll for driving through the sub sea tunnel between Leirvík (Eysturoy) and Klaksvík (Borðoy), can be paid at any petrol station. See advertisement on page 59.
through the magnificent Faro ese scenery is in itself an experience. Take your time and stay for a while in Klaksvík. At Norðoyar Kun nin gar -stova, the tourist in formation cen tre, you will get all the inform-ation you need about accommo-dation, travel ling, trips, and local events.
In April 2006, the 5,6 km long underwater tunnel between Klaksvík and Leirvík was opened to the public. It takes approximately one hour to travel from Tórshavn and Vágar airport to the northern islands.
Elisabeth`s restaurant offers a range of dishes including several Faroese specialities. The restaurant has wheelchair access. Come close to the fantastic nature, animal life and the people. Find and experience the peace and quiet that rests over Viðareiði. Accommodation in Viðareiði: Please contact us
Matstovan hjá Elisabeth 750Viðareiði,[email protected]:MatstovanhjáElisabethForreservation,pleasecall:Tel. 451 275 / 451 093 / 222 450
Open: 15. May - 15. Aug.- also open on request
NorTherN islaNds TourisT iNForMaTioN ceNTre
The gateway to the Northern Isles
• Accommodation• Summer houses• Daily fishing trips• Sightseeing trips to Enniberg, the world’s highest promontory• Hiking tours• Sightseeing in Klaksvík and much more
Norðoya Kunningarstova arranges several excursions daily, if the attendance is sufficient. Among the excursions are:
BuS TOuRSviðareiði. We start by visiting the village of Árn a fjørður and continue to Viðareiði, where we visit the church and have a cup of coffee. On our way back we visit the fish fillet plant in Klaksvík. We end the tour with a visit to the museum Norð oya Fornminnissavn.
hISTORIC SIGhTSEEING TOuR OF KLAKSvíKA tour of the town where we visit the Christianskirkjan, the museum Norðoya Forminnisavn and the plantation "Uti í Grøv".
BOAT TRIPS IN NORðOYGGjARThree of the six northern islands, Fugloy, Svinoy and Kalsoy have no road connection to the oth er islands and are dependent on the old post route. Following the old post route has become a popular tourist attraction, both on account of the wonderful scenery and the attraction of the now historic post boats.
DIvINGThe sea around the Faroe Islands is said to be one of the cleanest in the world. There are countless suitable and unusual sites to explore with a beautiful and varied sea bed that only a few have touched. So why not try something new and experience the Faroes/Northern Isles beautiful and dramatic nature under the sea.
FAROESE EvENINGThe tourist information in Klaksvík can on request, arrange a Faroese cultural evening with entertainment, dancing and a light meal of Faroese specialities. Advance booking necessary.
WALKING TOuRSThe tourist information in Klaksvík arranges several guided walking tours. Arranged in cooperation with the guide, they are an experience for both mind and soul. There are easy tours and more difficult ones for the experienced hiker.
SEA ANGLINGWhat could be more natural than to go on a fishing trip from Klaksvík? - the Faroe Islands largest and most important fishing port. There are good opportunities to come out to the best fishing spots from Klaksvík, both to the north and to the south, in all weathers. It will be an unforgettable experience for the lone tourist, groups or the whole family to feel the fish bite.
BOAT TRIP TO ONE OF ThE WORLD’S hIGhEST hEADLANDSA headland is measured from the surface of the sea upwards. One of the highest headlands in the world (750 metres) is the northernmost part of Viðoy. Nevertheless, on account of the change able weather conditions, few people manage to sail out there. You might be one of the lucky ones.
For more information and booking of tours, please contact:
summer events and festivalsWith the warmer weather of summer and the light nights, come the summer festivals and town celebrations. It all begins with Norðoyarstevna in Klaksvík at the end of May. The town is festively decorated with bunting and the guests flock to town; the festivities begin with processions, music and speeches and continue with a programme of meetings, exhi bitions and sports com pe titions. Perhaps the most important competition is the rowing event, where the whole country follows with great excitement as the results come in from the first competition of the year. It was in 2004 that Klaksvík took the initiative of holding a music festival in the summer, inviting well known international artists to perform alongside Faroese musicians and singers. It was a huge success drawing many visitors to the town and has become an annual event in the beginning of august. "Seaman's Day" is held on the third weekend in August in Klaksvík. The focus is upon the Faroe Islands main industry for an entire weekend with competitions, lectures and exhibitions relating to the fishing industry. It ends with a dance on the saturday evening.
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Vágar and MykinesVágar and mykines are the two western islands of the faroes. Vág ar hosts the mo dern inter national airport, which is situated on a level plain outside sørvágur.
Up on arrival, the air line pas senger is off ered a specta cu lar intro duc tion to the bea u ty of the Faroes, es pe ci ally when landing from the west and the plane slips past the rugged splendour of Myki nes, then along side the tow ering basalt sea stacks at the entrance to Sørvágs fjørður, then over the picturesque village of Sørvágur and onto the runway.
There are few airports in the world which offer such im pressive vistas to the arriv ing visitor. These pano ramas, how ever, provide only a hint of what visitors will soon discover on their exploration of these wes t ern isles.
The tunnel under the Vest manna Sound (4,900 metres) is of major impor tance for tour ism as well as for everyday life in Vágar. At present it is possible to live in Vágar and benefit from all the possibil ities and options on the islands that are now con nected: Vágar, Strem oy, Eyst uroy and Norðoyggjar. Even if you do not live on Vágar, the options of the islands are that much closer and you are not dependent upon the clock. It
See map on page 4
Bridge between Mykines and Mykineshólmur
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is possible to drive to the picturesque village of Gásadalur now that the tunnel is open. The film ‘1700 metres from the future’ about the lack of a road connection made Gásadalur and the post route over the mountain world famous, but now the future looks bright for the survival of the village.
Mykines is the perfect hav en for solitary retreat. The home of thousands of migra tory sea birds during the summer months, Mykines is con sidered to be the mys teri ous “paradise of birds” that the adven turous sea faring Irish monk, St. Bren dan, describ ed in the middle of the sixth cen tury.
One of the residents in the summer is the puffin, a delightful creature and one of the islands main attractions. Its brightly coloured bill and its willing-ness to re main po sed with fish in its beak, makes the puffin the ideal photo oppor tunity for any budding ornitholo gist.
Yet it is the splendid hi king that makes Mykines the desti na tion of choice for many visitors. Because of the quick changes in the weather, the visitor is advi sed to
visit Mykines whenever favour able wea ther is predicted.
Most people opt for spend ing several days on Mykines for there is too much to see in just one day. Apart from the excursion to the stone forest in the val ley Korka dalur, the towe ring summit of 560 metre Knúk ur awaits the hiker. It is on ly some three kilo met res away from the village, but the climb can be dif fi cult. Less stre nuous is the delight ful trek out to Myki neshólmur, a small islet on the western side of Myki nes. Gui ded tours can be arranged from the guest house. A foot bridge con nects Mykines hólmur with the island of Myki nes over a 35-metre deep gorge. The sea stacks sur rounding the lighthouse at the far end of the cape are a sight of stri king beauty.
The most singular expe ri ence on Mykineshólmur, however, is the colony of gannets. These majes tic birds have chosen this west ern outpost of the Faroes for their home, the only one in the islands, and from a long distance you can see the birds sitting on top of the stacks with their young ones.
Left: Sørvágur village, the Faroe Islands landing strip and Sørvágsvatn lake in the backgroundAbove right: Puffin with his catch. Below right: Hundreds of gannets at Mykines
es Vágar, or the bays, has its name from the three bays
of Sanda vágur, Miðvágur, and Sørvágur with their villages of the same names. Sanda vágur, voted the most well-kept village in the Faroes in 1997, 2003 and 2008, has an an cient history. A stone has been found co vered with thir teenth cen tury runes indicating that the Viking, Torkil Onundar son, was the first to settle in Sanda vágur. The rune stone is on display in the pictu resque village church. Á Steig in Sanda vágur was the resi dence of the Lagman, the chief judge and leader of the Faroese parliament. Here V. U. Hammers-haimb, the foun d er of the written Faroese language, was born in 1816.
On the hillside over loo k ing Mið vágur is the muse um of Kálvalíð, one of the oldest buil dings in the Faroes and once the home of Beinte Christine Broberg, wife of the priest of Vágur. She was the inspiration for Jørgen-Frantz Jacobsen’s novel, Barbara, which was recently made into a film.
Kálvalíð is built into the hill side with only one win dow facing the bay below. From afar the house blends into the landscape because the roof is covered
in turf and the front of the house and the side to the north are built with large stones taken from the fields around the old farmstead. It has only two rooms and a cowshed, an example of the old Faro ese build ing tradi tion.
During the second world war, the Faroe Islands were peacefully occupied by the British. There is a War Museum in Miðvágur, where many original items, photographs and documents from the occupation period can be seen.
Many people seek out the mysterious Fjallavatn, or moun tain lake, in the road less north ern half of the island. The beautiful scenery surrounding the lake pro vides a pleasant interlude on the long hike to the aban doned village of Slætta nes, which many consider to be the ultimate hideaway.
Another hike that is high ly re commended is the easy walk along Sørvágs vatn, the largest lake in the Faroes, to the en chanting cas cade called Bøss dals fossur that falls from the lake into the ocean. An easier way to come to this special place is to take a comfortable return trip across the lake with the boat called
Above left: On Mykines, the most westerly island. Below left: Breathtaking view! Leitisvatn lake, approximately 30m above sea level. Above right: Dinner time
BOAT TOuRSDaily Tours: It is possible to take a boat trip to the bird cliffs south of Sørvágur, Vágar‘s west and north coasts and the coast of Mykines. Contact the Tourist Information in Vágar. Vágar Tou rist Information arranges a 6-hour tour to the pearl of the Far o es, Myki nes. The passenger boat takes you from the quay in Sørvágur to the is land where the scenery and bird life are unique. Please contact Vágar Tourist Information.The trip with the boat Lakeside on the Sørvágsvatn/Leitisvatn lake, is the only one of its kind in the Faroes. Here you will sit in comfort as in a conservatory with a fantastic view and glide across the large expanse of water. We sail from a jetty in the village of Vatnsoyrar, which was called ‘Lakeside’ by the English
soldiers who were stationed here during the Second World War, over to the lake’s south side where we disembark and walk to the Bøsdalafossur.
FAROESE FOODTraditional Faroese food from the ’hjallur’ (outhouse), can be sampled at Eddie’s on Mykines.
RIDING TOuRSDavidsens Hestar arrange rides according to your wishes, both short and long tours in the fantastic landscape with horses to suit all levels of experience. Duration and difficulty can be arranged to accommodate all.
WALKING/hIKINGThere are good opportunities for hiking on Vágar, both easy walks and hikes in
hilly terrain for the more experienced. Tours are arranged in cooperation with a guide and promise an experience for mind and soul.
FAROESE EvENINGOn request: Faroese evening with traditional food and culture. Contact the Tourist Information in Vágar.
For more information about all the tours, please contact the tourist information:
summer events and festivalsThe Vestanstevna is part of the FM challenge in rowing. The villages on the island take turns in hosting the festival and the programme closely follows that of the other festivals around the country, with the nights still light for the midnight speeches and community singing. The festival is held at the weekend, there are plenty of exhibitions, concerts and sports competitions to see and in the evening there is dancing to while the night away.
In 2012, Sørvágur held a Country and Blues Festival with well-known international and local names. It was a great success drawing many visitors to Sørvágur. The festival is held in the beginning of June.
FACTS The toll for driving through the sub sea tunnel between Streymoy and Vágar can be paid at any petrol station. See the advertisement on page 67.
drive to the village of Gása dalur, you can still hike the old post route over the mountain.
The hike that may be strenu ous, especially the climb up from Gásadalur. It starts a few hundred metres from the tunnel and rises up the mountain fairly quickly, but the view from the crest is spec tacular and worth all the effort. Bøur and Gásadalur offer to the visitor the spectacular view to wards the islets and stacks off the coast, Tind hól mur with its five castle-like peaks, the flat Gáshól-mur and Drangar nir, the two stacks, one of which has the form of an open arch.
- visit the gift shop at the airport with the large selection of various gifts
Come stay with us... and explore our beautiful and breathtaking nature at your own pace.
Reservation: tel 312985, tel 212985, fax 321985
Accommodation, a total of 40 beds. Excellent rates, reservation suggested. Restaurant and snack bar. Picnic lunches packed to order
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sandoy, skúvoy and stóra dímunsandoy is a mild and green island. scoured smooth by the various ice ages, the highest mountain, Tindur, is 479 metres. sand oy is good for cyclists and hikers because of its rela tive ly flat terrain.
The cliffs along the western shore, offer a unique hiking experi ence in perfect peace and solitude.
From Skopun, the main ferry terminal, one can follow a hiking path west ward to Høvdarhagi and then travel on south to the bay of Søltuvík. The landscape surrounding Søl tu vík with its open countryside is some thing quite unusual for the Faroes. Idyllic as it may look on a summer’s day it is, however, noted for tragic shipwrecks in the treach erous waters by the coast. A small one-lane road leads into Sandur along the steep cliffs west of the lake Gróthúsvatn.
Another option is to hike from Skopun following the cairns southeast to the peaceful valley, Slavans dalur. Along the hike one can enjoy the vista over looking the twin lakes, Norðara and Heimara Hálsa vatn. The trail continues from the cabin through the valley alongside Sandsvatn, one of the larg est lakes, stret ched out under the towering crags above
See map on page 4
Sandur village on Sandoy. The islands in the background are from left to right: Lítla Dímun, Stóra Dímun and Skúvoy
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the hamlet of Traðir. Sandur is an appropriate name
for the lush and green village si tu ated near a broad sandy beach and the only sand dunes in the Faroes. The whole island takes its name from this village. The Tou rist Office lies in the middle of the village. Here one can obtain in for ma tion about the island and ar range for guided tours. In a cluster of beautiful old houses in the heart of the village is the folk museum at a place called Koytu. All the villages have com munity houses that are open to groups with ad van ce re ser va tions. Furthermore, over night ac com-modation is offered in the form of holiday cottages and B&B.
Sofus Olsen, who was born and grew up in Sandur, has built an art gallery to house his collection of Faroese art which includes works by Mykines and Ingálvur av Reyni. It is open to the public and well worth a visit. It is also possible to visit the library which was donated to the village by Daniella Olsen.
The parish church is a fine example of the old Fa roese wooden churches with black walls, turf on the roof, and a white belfry. Archaeological ex ca va tions have documented that the present church is the sixth in succession built on the same site.
The ferry to Skúvoy sails from Sandur. The Viking chief tain, Sig mun dur Brestis son, who brought Christi an ity to the Faroe Islands around 1000 AD, is buried on Skúv oy. He lived on the island
Experience the fantastic nature and the unique bird life of Sandoy or Skúvoy islands.
• Accommodation• Excursions • Events• Rapelling (300m)• Boat trips and much more
We provide information about Sandoy, Skúvoy og Stóra Dímun arranging your:
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and, according to the Faroese Sagas, he leapt into the sea from the cliffs of Skúvoy to escape the onslaught of Viking warriors command ed by his arch rival, the chief tain Tróndur í Gøta. Skúvoy is well known for its bird cliffs on the western side of the island. The cliffs rise vertically from the sea and the traditional gather ing of birds and eggs by hun ters suspended from long ropes is practised even to this day.
During the summer, the Hvít hamar sails from Sandur around Skúvoy or along the west coast of Sandoy where one can ex pe ri ence a seabird para dise among the awe-inspiring sheer cliffs.
The road to the east ern villages of Sandoy skirts the high cliffs overlooking the bay and village of Sandur, then leads into the interior valley. Huge boulders are scattered in this splendid valley, left behind when the glaciers from the Ice Age retreated after levelling the moun tains of Sandoy.
At the beginning of the valley there is a side road
to the village of Skarva nes. This narrow road brings one near the two lakes, Stóra vatn and Lítlavatn, and from the village one has a magnificent view of Skúvoy and the two Dímun islands.
After taking the detour to Skarvanes, one can return to the main road and follow it until it divides. One fork leads to Skálavík, the other to Húsavík. The vill ages are situated on either side of the di vi ding cape of Skálhøvdi. Skála vík sits in a broad and fertile valley and from here one can go north to Núpsdalur and the dra matic land scape at Dysjar nar. If one likes soli tude, it is possible to stay in Norðasti Hagi in a house belonging to the farm, Dals garður, in Skála vík. The farmer can pro vide food from his own farm. In Húsavík, one can still see the medieval ruins of the farm that be lon ged to the rich and mighty Dame of Húsavík. She was the Nor wegian Guðrun Sjúrð ar-dóttir, who also owned pro perties in Shetland. Take a moment to enjoy the mer maids and other figures on the jetties created by the artist Tróndur Patursson.
Mountain road between Søltuvík and Sandur on the island of Sandoy
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An experience at the Leisure and Conference Centre, Immanuel.Where you are surrounded by nature and wrapped in peace.
From Húsavík, the road leads to Dalur, the island’s southernmost village. The narrow road hugs the side of the mountain atop sheer cliffs plunging straight down to the crash ing sea below. Curving around a towering head land, the
road drops steeply down the side of the moun tain into the village, shel te red in the depths of a bowl-shaped valley.
Leading up from Dalur is a twist-ing trail into the mountains that promises fine vistas to the southern islands. Most appealing are the two “diamonds”, Stóra
Dímun and Lítla Dímun; precipi-tous islands that are almost in acces sible. Weath er per mitting, the Sandoy Tourist Office offers tours to Stóra Dímun with Hvíthamar. This is an unforget-table adventure.
hIKING TOuRSThe tourist office on Sandoy is able to arrange various guided hikes, including a trip to Høvdarhagi on the west coast of Sandoy where one can experience a magni fi cent vista toward the bird cliffs. From Skopun to Sandur.Hikes to the east side of Sandoy also offer spectacular and unique vistas, including the craggy Dysjarnar and the majestic cliffs of Borgin. Skúvoy is also an especially in tri gu ing hiking destination.
RAPPELLINGIf you enjoy extreme sports and a challenge, then you can rappel from a height of 300m on the western side of Sandoy at Lonin. The tour, which takes approximately 5-6 hours, leads you through beautiful scenery and gives you a chance to enjoy some Faroese food. The tour can also be arranged without rappelling, if you prefer to enjoy the nature with both feet on the ground!
BOAT TOuRSFrom May to August the breath ta k ingly beautiful soaring cliffs of Sandoy and Skúvoy be co me a ve ritable seabird pa ra dise for guil le mot, puffin, cor morant, ful mar, and razorbill. Weather con di ti ons permitting, the Hvít ham ar sails along the coast of Sandoy or around Skúv oy. On the trip there is a good chance that you will encounter curious or slum bering seals. Contact Jóan Petur Clementsen, local boat builder, for details. The tourist office also arr anges a number of tours to the solitary and enigmatic island of Stóra Dímun.
FAROESE EvENINGTraditional kvøldseta or evening gatherings are offered regularly featuring traditional food and de mon strations that share aspects of the old Faroese culture such as wool spin ning, carding, etc. Guests will also have the oppor tu nity to participate in the Faroese chain dance to gether with
villagers from the isolated and unique village of Dalur.
DESTINATION vIKING SAGALANDSA map entitled Søguslóðir/Destination Viking Saga Lands, is full of sagas, history and facts.On Sandoy, Skúvoy and Stóra Dímun you have the opportunity to follow in the footsteps of the old sagas, many of which date back to the Viking and chieftain times on the Faroe Islands.You can experience where the past meets the present as the stories unfold in the magnificent nature of these three islands.
suðuroy and lítla dímunsuðuroy is the southernmost island in the faroes and it is this distance from the rest of the country, which partly explains its uniqueness, not only geographically but also in terms of language and culture. it is said, that the people of suðuroy are more temperamental, open and easier to approach than the people throughout the rest of the country.
Its landscape is magnificent and idyllic, green, light and welcoming with spellbinding steep bird cliffs to the west. A perfect balance, male and female in one, the island can conjure up an almost surreal beauty
both by day and by night. Instead of rushing around all the villages by car or bus in one day, stay two days and you will more than double the experience.
As with most of the other islands in the Faroes, the back of Suðuroy faces west towards the mighty Atlantic Ocean whilst its fjords and coves open towards the morning sun. The entire west coast is made up of sheer bird cliffs, broken only by four fjords at Hvalba, Lopra and Vágur. You can easily reach every where by car giving you the opportunity to enjoy the magnifi-cent and unique scenery that can be idyllic or frighteningly violent, depending on the weather.
If you travel north first, you will come to Hvalba. Here the villages lie
smiling towards the visitor, the two northernmost facing the fairytale uninhabited island of Lítla Dímun, a viewpoint and landmark. In days gone by, Sumba in the south and Hvalba in the north were important villages. Hvalba became more prominent, it was here that the only minister on the island lived and the connection to Tórshavn via Sandoy was the shortest.
Located in Hvalba are the rem nants of a large mining ope ra tion. Ten minutes north of Hvalba through a tunnel, is the village of Sand vík mentioned in the Faroese Sagas. Here you can explore and enjoy the deserted sandy beach. Follow the road into the valley by car and then continue on foot when the road becomes too
See map on page 4
View from Eggjarnar, at Vágur on Suðuroy
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rough and you will come to Rituskor, where the view of the sheer bird cliffs is simply fantastic.
In 1836, twenty years before the Danish trade monopoly ended, a store was established on the northern side of the natural har bour, Trongisvágsfjørður. It
be came known as Tvøroyri and quickly grew to be the most im portant trading place in the Faroe Islands. The old shop, ware house and sail loft have been lovingly restored and are in use as a café, restaurant and museum. Tvør oyri has grown over the years so that it now joins the old villages of Trongis vágur and Froðba, where there are some unusual basalt column formations worth seeing. Froðba is where the famous Brandan stepped ashore. Less than an hour’s pleasant hike north of Tvøroyri will bring you to the idyllic and peaceful area known as Hvann hagi with its beautiful lake and extraordinary view. In the middle of the island is the small farming village of Øravík. Nearby is the island’s ancient meeting place known as “Uppi millum Stovur”, it is a pleasant ten-minute walk from Hotel Øravík and will give you a unique and enjoyable experience.
The small village of Fámjin lies on the western side of the island
look ing directly out to the harsh sea, although partly protected by a stone reef. This peaceful village is the perfect spot to enjoy some fan tastic sunsets. The church houses the first ever Faroese flag. If you like to walk, go up from the village to the lake known as “Kirkju vatn” (Church lake), one of the largest on the island.
A five-minute drive south of Øra vík will bring you to the village of Hov. According to the Faroese Sagas and local stories, it was here that the Viking Havgrímur lived. He was a great chieftain and ruled over much of the country. The village got its name from his pagan altar, “Hov”, where sacrifices were made to the Nordic gods. His grave is “undir Homrum” in Hov and is the only chieftain burial site to be found on the Faroe Islands. When you see the place, you will no doubt understand why the main farm came to be situated just here.
There is a beautiful ancient wooden church dating from 1847 in
maP of TVØroYriSee explanation of symbols on page 5
Left: Bridge at Glyvrabergsgjógv, that leads to Rituskor over the ravine, where there is a fantastic view of the steep bird cliffsRight: Crashing surf at Vágseiði, west of Vágur village
Rooms with TV and fabu lous view. Shared kitchen. Take a trip in the boat of the guesthouse. Facilities for guests with their own boat.
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the neighbouring village of Porkeri, well worth a visit.
Vágur, the main town in the southern part of the island, has also seen a dramatic expansion. Like Tvøroyri, it drew many people in the first half of the 1900’s. Signs of these great times can still be seen in both towns; private houses with gardens and commercial buildings have been preserved, along with stately churches such as the Nor wegian inspired wooden church in Tvøroyri and the concrete church in Vágur. In Vágur, there are many sights both old and new worth seeing, including the recently re stored warehouse and the Ruth Smith Art gallery. Ruth Smith was one of Scandinavia’s most dis tin guished colourists from the pre vious century and lived in Vágur for many years.
Sumba is in the south of the island and is the village where the Faroese chain dance has had a particular stronghold. From here, it is worth driving to Akraberg and the light house on the southern-most tip of the Faroe Islands. On route to Sumba, you will see the mountain called Beinisvørð, formed as a long grass slope that ends in a dramatic drop on the opposite side. On top of Beinisvørð, there is a fantastic view where you can soak up the pano rama of Sumba to the south, Suðuroy’s steep western side to the north and the luscious grass slopes to the east; in a blink, the true essence of the Faroe Islands with mountains and fjords, villages and valleys, birds and sheep, man and nature.
BuS TOuRSSumba: On this special bus tour to Sumba, the southernmost village on Suðuroy, we stop in Vágur to sav our an extraordinary bit of sea coast known as Vágseiði, as well as the woollen mill, Ulla virkið, which designs and manu-factures knit wear using only Faroese wool. Furt her south, we visit the site near Lopra of the geological test well. We experi ence the dramatic vista of Beinisvørð, the 469 metres high pro mo ntory, and linger in Akraberg at the lighthouse.
hIKINGhvannhagi: With a breathtaking view of Lítli and Stóri Dímun, Hvannhagi is located north of Tvør oyri. Besides being one of the most beautiful and distinctive places in the Faroe Islands, Hvannhagi is a very interesting place as regards geology.Walking in Fámjin: An easy walk in Fámjin. We visit the church first, where the original Faroese flag hangs, as we listen to exciting stories about the church and village. We then walk up to Kirkjuvatn and continue on to the beautiful viewpoint “Nev” where we have the chance to enjoy the fantastic view of the steep west coast. The whole tour takes approx. 1½ hours.
Kasparshól, near Sumba: Tour to the Kaspar cave and Meat cave where the brothers Kaspar and Sjúrður lived, having escaped from the fort in Tórshavn in the 18th century. They were jailed having been accused of stealing sheep and were to be sent to Bremerholm in Copenhagen. They used a cave higher up on the mountain for drying the mutton, hence the names given to the caves, Kaspar cave and the Meat cave. We will visit both. The area, Blæðing, is very special, strewn with large white stones.
RAPELLINGRapelling at Norðbergseiði. In Hvalba you have the chance to try the old tradition of “síging” where you will be lowered down the Norðbergseiði cliff west of Hvalba, just as the Faroese have done for centuries as they catch the birds.
BIRD TRIPSAkraberg has a wonderfully rich bird life and tours can be arranged with a bird enthusiast from Sumba. You will need to bring your own binoculars. Contact the Tourist Information in Vágur for more details and booking.
vISIT TO ThE LOCAL ART GALLERYGallery Oyggin arranges art shows by well known Faroese and Nor dic artists. It
is open Tuesday - Sunday from 14.00-18.00. The owner of the gallery also arranges art tours.
EXOTIC DAY TRIP TO LíTLA DíMuNThe trip starts by boat from Hvalba or by helicopter from Tvøroyri. A fantastic experience of the island’s nature, witnessing birds and sheep. It is possible to stay overnight under primitive conditions.
For more information about all the tours, please contact the tourist information:
Kunningarstovan in TvøroyriTel. +298 372480, fax +298 [email protected],www.visitsuduroy.fo
or
Kunningarstovan in vágurTel. +298 374342, fax +298 [email protected],www.visitsuduroy.fo
excursions in suðuroy
summer events and festivalsFor many years Suðuroy has been the only island in the Faroes that celebrates Mid summer’s Day. The two main towns alternate in hosting the festival which attracts many guests from all over the country. The rowing races are an im portant part of the festi val and the programme of events is as extensive and varied as at the other festi vals around the country.
yellow pagesThe following pages will give you any information you may need as a tourist in the faroes. You can check opening hours, find places of interest, look up accommodation facilities and many other things. The index below will show you how the yellow pages are arranged.
Accommodation for groupsThe Scouts House in Vágur, Geilin 103, FO-900 Vágur, Tel. 574865/[email protected]
Accommodation for groups / private (mattresses)Women's Society House - MatmøðrafelagiðToftavegur 67, FO-900 VágurTel. 373960/573054 or contact tourist information:: Tel. [email protected]. Max. 30 people
Accommodation for groupsJomsborg. Dance Society House.Vágsvegur, FO-900 Vágur, Tel. 373353 or contact tourist information: Tel. 733090 [email protected], www.visitsuduroy.fo. Max. 30 people
NorðoyggjarTents and campingÚti í grøvNorðoya Kunningarstova, Tingstøðin P.O.Box 269, FO-700 KlaksvíkTel. 456939/216939, Fax [email protected], www.visitnordoy.foOpen 1. May - 1. September
SandoyTents and campingDalur CampsiteFO-235 Dalur, Tel. 361164/218901/217901Fax 361902, [email protected]@olivant.fo. Open all year
Tents and campingCamping site in HúsavíkFO-230 Húsavík, Tel. 361478/266417Open all year
StreymoyTents and campingTórshavn CampsiteYviri við Strond, FO-100 TórshavnTel. 302425, Fax 316831 [email protected], www.visittorshavn.foOpen: Summer (June - August). Also open 1 hour in the evening in connection with the arrival of Norrona.
Trafikinformation SSL, bussea and ferriesFarstøðin (Terminal)Eystara Bryggja, FO-100 TórshavnTel. 343030, Fax 343003, www.ssl.foOpen (1)-(7) 08.00-20.00Telephone service 343030 all day
14 EXCURSIONS
EysturoyHiking, Tourist Information in Eysturoy:RunavíkHeiðavegur , FO-620 RunavíkTel. 417060, Fax [email protected](1)-(5) 09.00-16.00
Various excursions on NólsoyContact: Nólsoyar KunningarstovaFO-270 Nólsoy, Tel. [email protected], www.visitnolsoy.fo1. June - 30. September. Or by arrangement
Tours to the Faroe Islands smallest and only uninhabited island, by arrangementLítla Dímun m/Rói SchrøterNesvegur 54, FO-850 HvalbaTel. 227309/[email protected], www.ldimun.com
Sailing tours with the ship, Johanna TG 326FO-900 Vágur, Tel. 217310/374486,[email protected], www.johanna.fo
Sailing toursSpeedboat Scorpionm/Sigurd Gudmundsson, FO-925 Nes VágurTel. 213359, [email protected]
Cruise and car ferrySmyril LineJonas Broncks gøta 37, P.O.Box 370 FO-110 Tórshavn, Tel. 345900Fax 345950, [email protected]
17 INTERNET CAFÉ/SERVICE
EysturoyTourist Information in Eysturoy:RunavíkHeiðavegur , FO-620 Runavík, Tel. 417060Fax 417001, [email protected], (1)-(5) 09.00-16.00and when cruise ships are in port
Historical, ForniFO-625 Glyvrar, Tel. 226088/448720June - September:(1),(3),(6) 16.00-18.00 or on request
Historical, BlásastovaGøtu Fornminnissavn, P.O.Box 25FO-512 Norðagøta, Tel. 222717/228768www.blasastova.fomid May - mid September(1)-(2) & (6)-(7) 14.00-16.00or on request
Historical, Gamli PrestagarðurinBygdarsavnið í Nes KommunuFO-655 Nes, Tel. 447696/219214/2270961. June - 31. August(1) 16.00-18.00, (2) 16.00-18.00(7) 15.00-17.00 or on request
Art Gallery, Gallarí RibarhúsFO-530 Fuglafjørður, Tel. 237015/444440(1)-(5) 15.00-17.30, (6) 11.00-13.00or on request
Historical and ArtMálninga- og BátasavniðFO-520 Leirvík, Tel. [email protected], www.sjoborg.fo. Reservation required
SandoyHistorical, Sands BygdasavnFO-210 Sandur, Tel. 361836/2220781. June - 31. August: (1)-(7) 14.00-16.00Otherwise by appointment with Tourist-Information in Sandoy, tel. 361836
Art, ListasavniðFO-210 Sandur, Tel. 211924Summer: (2)-(7) 14.00-16.00Winter: (7) 14.00-16.00. Large groups can arrange to visit the gallery outside of normal opening hours.
StreymoyAquarium, Føroya SjósavnRættargøta 1, FO-160 ArgirTel. 505120/505121/[email protected], www.sjosavn.net(6)-(7) 14.00-17.00, Or on request
Historical, gomlu DúvugarðarFO-436 Saksun, Tel. 340500www.savn.fo, [email protected] June-mid August: (1)-(3) and (5)-(7) 14.00-17.00. (4) Closed.Or on request
Historical, Føroya FornminnissavnKúrdalsvegur 2, FO-188 Hoyvík, Tel. 340500, Fax 312259www.savn.fo, [email protected] in Brekkutún 6, tel. 318076and the Open-air museum in HoyvíkSummer (15. May - 15. September):(1)-(5) 10.00-17.00, (6)-(7) 14.00-17.00Winter (15. September - 15. May):(4), (7) 14.00-17.00In winter, the Open-air museum is only open by special arrangement
Historical, Bygdasavnið in VestmannaFO-350 Vestmanna, Tel. 470110/230114Open by arrangement
Historical, Tvøroyrar Bygda- og SjósavnFO-800 Tvøroyri, Tel. 611080/254941May-august: (7) 15.00-18.00Otherwise by appointment with Tourist Information in Tvøroyri
Historical, Porkeris BygdasavnFO-950 Porkeri, Tel. 373864/372480www.porkeris-bygdarsavn.comJune-August (7) 14.00-17.00 or on request
Historical, Húsið uttan ÁnnaFO-860 SandvíkTel. 611080, [email protected](Tourist Information in Tvøroyri)Reservation required
Historical and gallery, Fish department and Savnið á Mýri, Museum, Gallery and Culture HouseStapavegur 1, FO-960 HovTel. 370200/224751/373862 www.myri-museum.com [email protected]
Historical, “Krambúðin – Kgl. Pub og Café”Tel. 281856/371856/371040www.tfthomsen.com, [email protected]
Main Post Office, PostaÓðinshædd 2, P.O.Box 3075FO-110 Tórshavn, Tel. 346000, Fax [email protected] www.posta.fo(1)-(5) 09.00-17.00, Post office with postmark
EysturoyPosta, FO-600 SaltangaráTel. 447557, (1)-(5) 10.00-16.00Post office with postmark
1. Alcoholic Beverages p. 982. Animals p. 983. Banking Hours p. 984. Business Hours p. 985. Camping p. 986. Churches p. 987. Clothing p. 988. Communication p. 989. Consulates p. 9910. Currency, Credit Cards
and Foreign Exchange p. 9911. Cycling p. 9912. Deep-sea fishing p. 9913. Driving in the Faroes p. 9914. Duty-Free Shopping p. 10015. Electricity p. 10016. Emergency Assistance p. 10017. Entry Regulations p. 10018. Faroese Dance p. 10019. Health Insurance p. 10120. Hiking p. 10121. Local Radio p. 10122. Local Time p. 10123. Lost and Found Articles p. 10124. Luggage Storage p. 10125. Newspapers p. 10126. Postal Services p. 10127. Public Holidays p. 10128. Services for the
Physically Disabled p. 10129. Shopping/Souvenirs p. 10230. Sport fishing p. 10231. Tax-Free Shopping p. 10232. Tipping p. 10233. Travel in the Faroe Islands p. 10234. Travel to the Faroe Islands p. 10235. Weather Forecasts p. 102
1. alcoholic BeveragesThe legal drinking age in the Faroes is eighteen. Light beer may be purchased in shops and unlicensed restaurants and cafés. Stronger beer, wine and spirits may only be purchased in Government Mono poly stores in major towns. (See page 83) and in licensed restau rants, café‘s, nightclubs, etc.
2. animalsThe transportation of any ani mal into the Faroes is strict ly forbidden.For more information call 556400, www.hfs.fo
3. Banking HoursBanks in major towns and some villages are open from 9:30 to 16:00 weekdays. All banks are closed on Satur days and Sun days. Se cu re Automatic Teller Machines (ATMs) are avai lable from 6:00 until 02:00 every day.
4. Business HoursMost shops are open from 09:00/10.00 to 17:30/18:00. On Friday, many retailers remain open until 19:00. On Saturdays, stores open at 09:00 and close ei ther at 12:00, 14:00, 16:00 or 17:00. On Sun days, all stores are closed. Kiosks, petrol stations and most bakeries close late in the evening, usually 23:00 - also Sundays.
5. CampingThere are no public wilder ness or common areas in the Faroes. As a consequence, camping is only permitted at designated camp sites (See page 85). Moreover, it is not permitted to stay overnight in your camp ing cars along the road, at rest stops, lay-bys or view areas. Be aware that many camping sites are de signated only for tents. Cam p ers
ought to be considerate of the environ ment, keep the camp ing areas tidy and clean up tho roughly upon departure. Be cause of the unpredict-able weather even in summer, it is advisable to have sturdy, water proof and windproof camping equipment. Fuel for camping stov es is available at petrol stations.
6. Churches Many villages have their own churches and in several places you can see examples of the old Faroese wooden church with black walls, turf on the roof and a white belfry. Visiting the modern churches, decora ted with Faroese art, is an interesting ex perience as well. Church ser vices are held every Sunday at 11:00 or 12:00. Some of the churc hes are open at fixed hours or on request in the summer. Contact the local tourist office for information.
7. ClothingUnique to the Faroe Islands is the chance to experience several seasons weather in the space of a short time, therefore it is always wise to be prepared for the unexpected. A waterproof rain jacket is highly recom mended and a warm sweater, as well as a warm hat, especially when voyaging out to sea. An extra sweater might prove handy for mountaintops. Rubber boots or waterproof hiking boots are a must along the trails in the mountains. Dress ing in layers is always the best option. Sun glasses and bin oculars might prove useful. Sunglasses and a good sun screen to shield against the bright sun when it bursts through the clouds and bin oculars to enjoy the splendid vistas and rich bird life.
8. CommunicationThe Faroese telephone company,
practical InformationThe following pages will give you information about
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Føroya Tele – Faroese Telecom has coin and credit card telephones located in many public places. When calling from abroad, the Faroese national code is + 298. Calling from the Faroes you must dial 00, then the national code and the telephone number. For further information, please contact the telephone number information on 118. Mobile phonesThe GSM system is the most commonly used mobile phone system in the Faroes and can be used throughout the islands. Føroya Tele (Faroese Telecom) and Vodafone have many cooperation agreements with other countries, so-called roaming agreements, so that foreign visitors can make use of their own mobile phones while they are in the Faroes, and Faroese mobile phones can be used in large parts of the world. Føroya Tele and Vodafone also provide prepaid telephone cards. This is a service for which the customer pays a sum in advance into a GSM account, which can then be used up as required. With this service you avoid unexpected bills. Prepaid telephone cards can be purchased in the Teleshops, kiosks, petrol stations, post offices, hotels and tourist offices. It is possible to send MMS and use GPRS data in the Faroes. Wheather this is possible with your telephone, it will depend on your operator having a GPRS roaming agreement with the Faroese telephone companies.InternetInternet cafés can be found in the
Tourist Information Offices in Tórshavn, Sandoy and Runavík.
9. ConsulatesThe following countries main tain consulates in Tórs havn: Brazil, Britain, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ice land, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Russia Sweden. (See page 85).
10. Currency, Credit Cards and Foreign exchange
As a self-governing region of the Kingdom of Denmark, the Faroese government prints its own currency, the króna, although Danish coins are used. The ex change value is equivalent to the Danish krone, and there is no service charge on exchange, as Danish notes are equally acceptable as the Faroese króna throughout the country. Banks and post of fices provide foreign ex change ser vices. Auto matic teller machines (ATMs) are avai lable for MasterCard/ Euro card, Visa and Dankort at various locat ions, e.g. at the banks located along the pe destrian mall in the centre of Tórshavn. At Hotel Hafnia in Tórshavn (see page 82) you can withdraw money on your American Express. Most banks provide cash advances on credit cards. Some villag-es have an ATM but no bank.
11. CyclingThere are no public wilderness or common areas in the Faroes, and cycling other places than on the road is prohibited. All land is pri vately owned and public ac cess, there fore,
limited. Con servation of the fragile soil is very important, especially on the mountain trails where erosion is closely moni tored. The roads are often steep and good brakes are an ab solute necessity. Cycling in some of the longer tunnels where ventilation is poor is not re com mended. Some tunnels are narrow with few passing places so that cycling is hazardous. The inter-village buses, how ever, can often accommodate cycles for easy transit in haz ard ous areas. Consult with the vari ous tourist offices on local con ditions and on scenic roads. For bicycle rental, see page 84.
12. deep-sea fishingThere are several operators that offer deep-sea fishing. Get a detailed brochure from the local tourist information.If you want to bring your own fish ing vessel for fish ing in the Faroes, please en quire about licence regula tions with the local author i ties.
13. driving in the FaroesDriving is on the right and most road signs follow inter national standards. The use of seat belts is required. The speed limit is 50 km in the towns and villages and 80 km on the main roads. For cars with trailers, the speed limit is 50 kph and for caravans the speed limit is 70 kph. The consequences for speeding are severe. Parking in the towns of Klaksvík, Tórshavn, Runavík and the Airport is re stricted. Parking discs must be displayed in the lower right hand corner of the front windscreen showing the time you
The Faroese national flower, Mýrisólja (Marsh Marigold) The Faroese national bird, Tjaldur (Oystercatcher)
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parked your car. These display discs are available at no charge from banks and the tourist offices. There is a fine of DKK 200 for parking violations. Head lights must be on when driving and seat belts fastened. As you drive along, please be aware that the sheep may be star tled and leap out in front of you. If you happen to collide with a sheep, imme di a tely contact the police in Tórs havn at tel 351448 for assistance.
14. duty-Free goodsTravellers to the Faroe Islands are permitted to purchase the following items duty-free:Travellers aged over 18:1 litre of spirits (maximum of 60% alcohol) and1 litre of fortified wine or other beverage (maximum of 22% alcohol by volume) or 2 litres of table wine and2 litres of beer (maximum of 5,8% alcohol) and100 cigarettes or100 cigarillos or50 cigars or250 grams of tobacco.You may also import:perfume up to 50 graftershave 25 cl
chocolate/sweets 3 kgfizzy drinks 10 litres
15. electricityThe current is AC 220 volts, 50 cycles. The electric outlets take round plugs, common to most European coun t ries. To be on the safe side, however, invest in a converter with a variety of adapter plugs so you will have just what you need for your hair dryer or shaver.
16. emergency assistanceDial 112 for any type of emer gency assistance anywhere in the country. First aid is provided at the hospitals in Tórshavn, Klaksvík and Tvøroyri. (See page 87) General Practitioners are also available for non-emergen-cy consultations over the tele phone, usually between 08:00 and 09:00 in the mor ning. Emergency medi cal treatment can be obtained in Tórshavn between 16:00 and 08:00 by telephoning to the emergency medical service tel. 1870. Pharm-acies in Tórs havn, Runavík, Klaks vík and Tvør oyri provide after hours ass is tance as well. Emer gency dental service (tel. 314544) is also available in Tórshavn. The emergency dent al clinic is open Satur days and Sun days and bank holidays from 10:00 to 11:00.
17. entry regulationsNordic Region:Passports and/or entry visas are not required for citizens of Nordic countries. Identity docu ments are re qui red, however. EU-Countries, SHENGEN-Countries and other Countries:Passports are required. For most countries entry visas are not necessary unless your stay will be longer than three months. Consult the Danish Embassy or consulate for specific require ments.
18. Faroese danceThe old Faroese chain dance is our most important heri tage. (See page 16) But the chain dance is not only an cient culture, it is also a li ving tradition, and danced at nearly all festive occa sions, private or public. Societies are foun ded around the islands to pre serve the old dancing vari ations and the ballads. The members meet once a week in winter time, but it is an old tra dition not to dance during Lent, so the Faroese do not dance the chain dance be tween Shrovetide and Easter Monday. The Faro ese dance is a natural part of the many summer festivals and a must at the Faroese Cultural Evenings arr anged for tourists. It is possible to contact the
Regatta with historical Faroese wooden boats
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union of the dan c ing societies ”Sláið Ring” www.sr.fo.
19. Health InsuranceCitizens of Nordic countries and Great Britain are co vered under their respective public health plans while in the Faroes. Residents of oth er countries will need to ac quire their own traveller’s health insurance.
20. HikingHiking in the mountains is one of the many delights awaiting the visitor. Here are a few sug ges tions to make your trek pleasant and safe. Always travel with a waterproof windbreaker and dress in layers so you can adjust as you go. A knap sack for your extra clothes along with some food, especially chocolate bars or similar quick en ergy food, and a thermos of your favourite hot drink is a must. Obtain a detailed map before you head out and tell someone your destination, plann ed route and your ex pected time of re turn. Be sure to let them know when you finally return so they won’t come looking for you. Follow the footpaths and av oid walking on the grass in the cultivated infields. Avoid climb ing where the soil is very fra gile and loose and re mem ber that the stony terrain along the cliffs and at the higher elevations can be quite dangerous because of slip page. Be observant of bird nests hidden away in the grass and avoid distur bing nesting birds. Usually they will let you know by their distress calls if you are wandering too close to their nests. You just might find them swooping down on you as well. If the hill fog suddenly surrounds you, sit down and wait until it clears. Hiking on unfamiliar terrain in such circum stan-ces can be quite dan ge rous. Observing these few hints will help assure you have a safe and pleasant ex peri ence.
21. local radioKringvarp Føroya FM 89,9The national Faroese radio station broadcasts every day from early morning to late in the evening. The
local weather is broadcast in English at 08:45-09:00, Monday through Fri day in the summer.There are also two local radio stations: Rás 2 FM 102,0 / 107,0 which transmits a varied programme, and the other is Lindin, FM 101,0, whose trans missions are mainly of a religious character.
22. local Time Local time is Greenwich Mean Time (GMT). Daylight sa ving time (GMT+1) is observed in the Far o es from April until October. 23. lost and Found articlesContact the local police for assistance. (See page 92). Local tourist offices can also direct you to the pro per auth orities if you lose some thing during your tra vels. If your luggage is mis directed and does not arrive with you on the plane, contact the airline agents on duty or the Airport Tourist Office Desk, tel. 353300 for assistance. Normally luggage is located quickly and arrangements can be made for delivery.
24. luggage storageLimited locker space is available at the bus terminal in Tórshavn. There are approximately 20 coin-operated lockers. Contact the local tourist information for other options.
25. newspapersMost Scandinavian newspapers are available in the plea sant reading area near the information kiosk at the Nordic House. Other foreign language newspapers are available in larger hotels, mini-markets and some kiosks. Libraries also carry an assort ment of internatio nal news papers and maga zines.
26. postal servicesThe main post office in Tórshavn is open Monday to Friday 09 -17. Village post offices have shorter opening hours. Please note that all post offices are closed on Satur days and Sundays (See page 92).
“Posta her” is a service providing stamps, postcards, envelopes, etc. This service is available in all super markets called Merko and Samkeyp - Mailboxes are available in the same supermarkets.
27. public HolidaysTuesday 1 January New Year’s DayThursday 28 March Maundy ThursdayFriday 29 March Good FridaySunday 31 March Easter SundayMonday 1 April Easter MondayThursday 25 April National Flag DayFriday 26 April Prayer DayThursday 9 May Ascension DaySunday 19 May Whit SundayMonday 20 May Whit MondayWednesday 5 June Constitution Day (1/2)Sunday 28 July St. Olav’s Eve (1/2) (Ólavsøkuaftan)Monday 29 July St. Olav’s Day (national day) (Ólavsøkudagur)Tuesday 24 December Christmas EveWednesday 25 December Christmas DayThursday 26 December Boxing DayTuesday 31 December New Year’s Eve
28. services for the physically disabled
Wheelchair access at most visitor destinations is limi ted. For a worry-free holiday, take the time to plan ahead. There is a comprehensive booklet available detailing wheel chair access. This booklet and more information can be obtained by contacting the Faroese Association
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for the Disabled, MBF, Íslandsvegur 10c, FO-100 Tórshavn, tel. +298 317373 /280203. [email protected], www.mbf.fo
29. shopping/souvenirsAmong Faroese souvenirs of particular interest are the num erous woollen goods, stuffed birds, ceramics, wood articles, jewellery, music, stamps and posters (see page 92).
30. sport fishingFishing permits are required for certain lochs. Regulations for fishing in the lochs are printed on the permit. The fishing season in brooks and streams is 1 May to 31 Aug ust. Coastal fishing is gene rally permitted. Please en quire about local excep tions. You can pur chase permits in most of the tour ist infor mation offices (See page 94). All equipment, including rods, reels, rubber waders, or lures, must be disinfec ted prior to arrival in the Faroes. You can get more infor mation about this, in the fishing brochure available in tourist informations.
31. Tax-Free shoppingAs a guest in the Faroes, the holiday and business travel ler is exempt from the 25% value added tax (VAT) on purchases over DKK 300. Look for the blue and white “Tax Free for Tourists” sign in the shop window. Over a hundred shops at various locat ions in the Faroes are members of the “Faroese Tax-Free Sys tem“ and will gladly help you to obtain your tax refund. Ask the sales clerk at the time of purchase for a “Tax Refund Cheque.” Complete the ne cessary infor mation requested on the form and have the sales clerk validate the Che que. Upon arrival at the airport or harbour, contact the customs officials before you check-in your luggage. The cus toms agents may ask to see your purchases before validating your Tax Refund Cheque. Proceed to the Tax Re fund Agent, either at the airport or on board your ferry or cruise ship, for a full refund of the
VAT. If you forget to cash your Cheque before you leave the Faroes, the stamped Che que can be sent to “The Faro ese Tax-Free System” (See page 93), who will send you the money or transfer it to your bank account. Tax Free at the airportThere are two Tax Free shops at Vagar airport, one after the security check in the departure hall and one next to the baggage reclaim in the arrival hall. Both shops are open in connection with Atlantic Airways arrivals and departures.
32. TippingAlthough it has not been the custom to tip in the Faroe Islands, it is however becoming more widespread especially in restau rants, bars, cafés and taxis. You are not obliged to tip.
33. Travel in the Faroe IslandsBuses and FerriesA well-developed, national sys tem of roadways and ferries con nects most towns and villages in the Faroes and is operated by Strand faraskip Landsins. (See page 86). The inter-town bus system (Bygd aleiðir) ope rates daily to most areas. The buses are blue in colour. A compre-hensive schedule (Ferða ætlan) listing the va rious timetables for the inter-town buses and ferries can be obtained from the tourist office, at www.ssl.fo as well as the central bus station near the harbour in Tórshavn. As well as children, pensioners and students are eligible for discounts on fares provided they show a pensioner or student identity card. The capital Tórs havn offers an efficient local bus service (Buss leiðin) with four rou t es that reach most areas of the town. The red-coloured buses ope rate every half-hour during the day and hour ly in the evening and Saturday mornings. Argir, Hvítanes, Kaldbak and Kolla fjørður is also in cluded in the local bus service. Route maps and schedules can be obtained on the buses, at Kiosk Steinatún in the centre of town, or at Kunn ingar-
stovan, (See page 94). It is free to travel on the red town buses.Helicopter ServiceAtlantic Airways offers a helicopter service to selected towns and villages throughout the Faroes. Contact Atlan tic Airways directly at phone no. 341060. Booking is required, (See page 86).
34. Travel to the Faroe IslandsBy shipThe Faroese shipping company Smyril Line, operates an all year cruise and car ferry service with regular sailings to the Faroe Islands from Iceland and Denmark. Contact the head office (See page 87) for more information about time tables, brochures and inter natio nal sales agents or visit www.smyril-line.fo.By airAtlantic Airways, the national airline, (see page 87) flies several times daily to the Faroe Islands. Contact the airline direct or your local travel agent for information about flights. For more information, see www.flyfaroe.com and the advertisement on page 3. There is a direct bus service between the airport and Tórshavn in connection with arrival and departure times.
35. Weather ForecastsThe weather forecast for va rious locations in the Faroes is broad cast on Faroese radio in Danish and English every mor ning at about 08:45.
The publisher disclaims liability for possible errors
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Location Construction Height Length Light LaneStreymoyLeynar 1977 4,5 m 760 m yes 2Kollafjørður 1992 4,6 m 2816 m yes 2EysturoyNorðskála 1976 4,5 m 2520 m yes 2Leirvíkar 1985 4,6 m 2238 m yes 2BorðoyÁrnafjørður 1965 3,2 m 1680 m no 1Hvannasund 1967 2120 m no 1KalsoyVillingardalur 1979 1193 m no 1Ritudalur 1980 683 m no 1Mikladalur 1980 1082 m no 1Teymur í Djúpadal 1985 220 m no 1Trøllanes 1985 2248 m no 1Kunoy 1988 4,6 m 3031 m no 1vágarGásadalur 2006 4,5 m 1410 m no 1SuðuroyHvalba 1963 3,2 m 1450 m no 1Sandvík 1969 3,2 m 1500 m no 1Sumba 1997 4,6 m 3240 m no 2Hov 2007 4,6 m 2435 m yes 2Streymoy-vágar Sub-sea tunnel 2002 4,6 m 4940 m yes 2Eysturoy - Borðoy Sub-sea tunnel 2006 4,6 m 6300 m yes 2
The Robin
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h: Hotel / Conference
Yh: Youth Hostel,rooms, 2-8 beds
B&B: Bed & breakfast
(+298)
T: TelephoneF: Fax
Bládýpi - hostel.fo T: 500600 n 35 / 19 EIJ NQ 50 8 Publ.park. Dr. Jacobsens gøta 14-16, FO-100 Tórshavn F: 319451 www.hostel.fo Yh n 24 / 3 E 50 8 Publ.park.
hotel Bakkin T: 373961 n 16 / 10 I NQ 12345 4 FO-900 Vágur F: 373962
hotel Tvøroyri T: 371171 n 28 / 14 EI MNQ 25 8 FO-800 Tvøroyri F: 372171
hotel Øravík T: 371302 n 22 / 16 I LMNQ 10-225 X 12345 70 FO-827 Øravík, www.oravik.com F: 372057
Vágar and MykinesNo responsibility taken for possible errors and alterations. Updates july 2012
Sandoy and Skúvoy Suðuroy
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Calendar oF eVenTs 2013 The calendar of events can be subject to changes
The nordic HouseThe Nordic House is a multi-cultural venue offering a wide range of exciting events all year round, including concerts, exhibitions, theatre performances and much more. See the programme of events for the Nordic House at: www.nlh.fo
Faroese national gallery of artThe Faroese National Gallery of Art in Tórshavn offers many exciting exhibitions of artists from all over the world, in addition to the permanent exhibition of older and more modern Faroese art. Here you can see several works of one of the most famous Faroese artists, Sámal Joensen-Mykines (1906-1979). See the programme of exhibitions at the National Gallery of Art at: www.art.fo
Music festivals and outdoor concertsDuring the summer months you will have more opportunities than you could possibly have imagined to enjoy the musical life of the Faroes. The local music scene has virtually exploded over recent years and you will be able to experience this fantastic variety of local music in all genres, plus top foreign groups and musicians at the various festivals and concerts. Early June: Country and Blues Festival in Sørvágur - www.country.fo June and July: Summartónar – www.composers.fo 18-20 July: G! Festival. Music festival in Gøta – www.gfestival.com End June: One-day festival Voxbotn in Tórshavn - www.facebook.com/voxbotn 27 July: Futt í Býin. Outdoor concert in Tórshavn 8-10 August: Summarfestivalurin. Music festival in Klaksvík – www.summarfestivalur.fo Mid May- Mid August: Grotto concerts with various musicians, sailing with the schooner Norðlýsið – www.nordlysid.com Mid June – Mid August: Free live concerts - with a cup of coffee - exciting Faroese names - in the music store "Tutl" in the main street street of Tórshavn, all weekdays at 4. pm - www.tutl.com
run for fun and MarathonsThere are various runs arranged throughout the year, both for the experienced runner and also for those who run for fun and to exercise. 25 April: Flag Day Run in Tórshavn, 7km and 2km – www.athletics.fo June: Klaksvík (during the “Norðoyastevna” festival): 5 km – www.renn.fo June: Hvalvík (during the “Sundalagsstevna” festival): 11 km – www.renn.fo June: Skála (during the “Fjarðastevna” festival): 5 km – www.renn.fo June: Tvøroyri (during the “Jóansøka” festival): 5 km – www.renn.fo July: Fuglafjørður (during the “Varmakelda” festival): 10 km – www.renn.fo July: Sørvágur (during the “Vestanstevna” festival): 7.5 km – www.renn.fo July: Tórshavn: Race (during "Ólavsøka"): 5 km – www.renn.fo August: Kvinnurenningin: Women’s race in Tórshavn: 5 km/2.5 km – www.kvinna.fo 5 September: Tórshavn Marathon: Full and half marathon or 5 km – www.torshavnmarathon.com
other special events 13-18 February: Torradagar in Klaksvík. A whole week of exciting exhibitions, lectures, excursions etc. – www.klaksvik.fo 1 June: Culture Night in Tórshavn – www.visittorshavn.fo 25. May: Boat Festival in Vestmanna 4.-7. July Faroe Islands Regatta - sailing with traditional wooden boats 4 July: Fuglafjørður, 5 July: Tórshavn, 6 July: Skopun, 6 July: Miðvágur, 7 July: Miðvágur Mid July: Market day in Runavík. Salmon for sale – www.visiteysturoy.fo July: Quayside dance on the western harbour in Tórshavn – www.kunning.fo 16-18 August: Sjómannadagur (Seaman´s Day) in Klaksvík. Plenty of exciting activities for all ages – www.klaksvik.fo June-Mid July: Faroese Culture Evening every Tuesday in the Tórshavn Theatre.
Please contact your Smyril Line agent regarding the winter sailing schedule.Sailing schedule is subject to change.
MORE INFORMATION AT: WWW.SMYRILLINE.COM
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A highlight of the Faroese summer is the range of local festivals that give rise to a frenzy of activity in all regions. Main attractions of all festivals are the fun fair, sporting events and dancing. Boat races in traditional Faroese boats take place at the festivals competing in the FM challenge, and these are considered by many to be the absolute highpoint of the festivals. These festivals participate in the FM challenge for boat races:
01 June 2013 Norðoyarstevna in Klaksvík15 June 2013 Sundalagsstevna in Hvalvík22 June 2013 Fjarðastevna in Skála 29 June 2013 Jóansøka in Tvøroyri06 July 2013 Eystanstevna in Fuglafjørður13 July 2013 Vestanstevna in Sørvágur 28 July 2013 Ólavsøka in Tórshavn
Ask for the updated timetable at Atlantic Airways, travel agencies, information centres, etc. Visit: www.flyfaroe.com