The Far Away Faroes

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What an awesome get away! This tiny island country is small in size and far flung in location, but large and generous in hospitality and majesty! My dear travel pal, Fred, and I enjoyed 7 days of hiking and exploring the Faroes via foot, rental car, ferry and even helicopter! A well developed infrastructure, including sub-sea tunnels, combined with incredibly friendly locals who often spoke English, made this an easy place to tour. 18 islands comprise this 70 mile x 50 mile set of islands, 7 of which we were fortunate enough to explore. It's been 2 weeks since I returned, and the lingering impressions that find their way into my thoughts and dreams are those of epic scenery, ubiquitous sheep and newborn lambs, and the happy people who reached out to welcome us. Our airbnb hosts impressed me with things like warm pancakes on our way out to explore, cheerful pick up and drop off from/to the ferry port and helicopter pad, advice on the best Faroe smoked salmon, and lingering conversation and enthusiastic sharing of the way of life in the Faroes. Then there was the invitation to "come on in" to the gated hillside yard of a friendly neighbor to meet the sheep and learn about community life, the Senegal/Faroe bicyclist who stopped just to welcome us, the Faroe men bravely reaching beyond language barriers to explain to us about their annual summer trek with their prize rams to the best summer grazing ground on their island, and our easy going rental car agent who left his home office to drive us to get gas and move to our next location. Fred made me laugh when she animatedly stated "Everything is hairy here!" And then we created and continually expanded upon the list of hairy things we encountered....the bearded men, the shaggy sheep and cows, the Faroese ponies, the sheep dogs, the moss covered rocks, even the grass roofed homes and churches! This is a place where everything is hairy!!! This place couldn't be more opposite from Fred's home in Nigeria or even my suburban home in Michigan, USA. Would I go back? In a heartbeat! I feel the pull even still to schedule another trip to get a dose of fresh air, challenging hiking, and comfort of being in the statistically safest, lowest crime location in the world. Oh, and I haven't even yet mentioned perhaps the cutest birds in the world.... PUFFINS!!!

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Photos

Comin in for a landing
They spread their wings and little orange feet and whir onto the cliffs edge

Saksun
A remote home as viewed from the remote village of Saksun. Imagine the solitude and inconveniences of living here!

Gasadalur
Our first hike led us to this scenic view. In early May, the green grasses are just beginning to emerge over the browns of winter.

Faroese ponies
One of the many hairy things

Lake Sorvagsvatn
Strange to see the two adjacent bodies of water, one naturally higher than the other

Exploring the buttercup roads
Nicely paved and infrequently traveled, this road leads to an abandoned village that was so remote and difficult to live in that it's inhabitants all left

Passing by
As viewed out the window of the helicopter, one of the many islands between Streymoy and Suduroy

Hiking Suduroy
Hiking down this cliff led us to a beautiful lake and spot to enjoy a bit of lunch

Puffins on Mykines
We sat on the cliffs edge and lingered, engrossed in watching them, as well as other sea birds, zoom around.

Puffin burrow
The puffins live in little burrows, similar to prairie dogs. They make little "grrrr" sounds as they move in, out, and about the nesting grounds.

Mykines island
This beautiful island, reached by ferry across the bumpy sea, had incredible hiking, views, and multitudes of sea birds

Life is good!
We've been called "The Runaway Girls" - and this was our 8th runaway. Africa, China, Portugal, France, and Korea have been some of our past explorations. Thanks to our husbands and families for being supportive of our love of travel and friendship!

Sheep near Saksun
See?! They do have long hair!

Gjogv
We rented a car and searched out "buttercup" roads, so named for their beauty, to travel on and explore remote villages. This 3 house village was at the northern tip of Eysteroy.

Moving the rams
All the men take a breather before the grueling trip down the cliff to the seaside grazing grounds.

Skerpikjot
Pronounced somewhat like "shespitchuan", this air dried lamb leg is the food that Faroese people just LOVE!!! Me, not so much.....

Prize ram
These ram owners were so proud and excited to be making the annual trek to the best summer grazing grounds with their best ram. Not easy to reach.....see other photos....

Down down down the cliff they go
It looked a bit like herding cats. Each owner trying to keep their ram on the narrow path without letting them slip over the edge to their demise

Thick coat
The coat on these rams was thick and soft and felt good to sink my hands into

Comments

[Ake Och Emma]

7 days - is that enough
Interesting to hear about such a little visited place. You stayed there 7 days if I understodd you right. Is that enough or would you have liked to stay longer? And thay bird really is super-cute! /Ake

[Shanghai Sheri]

7 days in the Faroes
I definitely would have enjoyed a longer stay, but felt that I saw quite a bit and experienced the Faroes in 7 days. There were other hikes and islands I would like to have explored, as well as a boat ride to see the bird cliffs if we had more time. We were lucky that the weather was good so that we could get out every day, but not everyone is so lucky.