Welcome to the Faroe Islands

Our joy for journeying in the vicinity of Iceland has led us to some new treasures in the form of the Faroe Islands. Perhaps vaguely familiar if you ever listen to the shipping forecast, in which case don’t cast them off as an impossible travel destination. Think again! The Faroes have captivated us for their rugged beauty, remoteness, quirkiness and their determined attitude towards sustainability and slow tourism.

This small archipelago retains all of the features of a sparsely populated and culturally proud island community, yet it has an impressive infrastructure that enables travel between islands by tunnels, boats and even helicopter. The sheep have an attitude all of their own, the birdlife in summer is outstanding and the ponies from here were traditionally used in England as pit ponies in the coal mines. Unlike its neighbour, Iceland, there are stone church ruins to be found here, yet in other ways there are striking similarities. Our own early conclusion is that perhaps unsurprisingly, being on the Faroes feels like a cross between Iceland and Scotland. The islands are, after all, roughly mid way between the two.

Our main discovery so far has been the beauty of the landscape, which is volcanic, weather beaten and dressed in an enormous range of natural greens, browns and greys. Small settlements are dotted along the coast line, often with a small harbour. Wooden cottages with grass rooves and white window frames are a common feature. Even in Torshavn, the world’s smallest capital city, you can find cottages like this in the picturesque old town.

Too good not to share, we’re offering our first holiday to the Faroes for walking and sightseeing. Intrigued? Take a look or contact us with your questions if you’d rather see the Faroe Islands another way, perhaps for some fabulous local and award winning food?