Northern Islands - region
The Northern Islands (Faroese: Norðoyar or Norðoyggjar) are part of the Faroe Islands.
Understand
Islands
- Fugloy
- Svínoy
- Viðoy
- Borðoy
- Kunoy
- Kalsoy
Settlements
- Klaksvík 📍 – a large town in Borðoy
- Hvannasund 📍 – ferry port. Together with Norðdepil across the sound it has some 400 inhabitants.
- Viðareiði 📍 – a village in Vidoy, the northernmost settlement in the Faroe Islands
Get in
The road to the Norther Islands goes through the long Northern Islands tunnel (Norðoyatunnilin) from Eysturoy to Klaksvík on Borðoy. For cars, there is a toll for the tunnel (100 kr for a return trip).
Buses connect the islands with Tórshavn.
The road from Torshavn to Viðareiði makes for the longest journey possible on the Faroe Islands without using a ferry. It involves several tunnels, including The Northern Isles Tunnel and two long single carriageways with overtaking lanes.
Svínoy and Fugloy can be reached by a regular helicopter service from Klaksvík or by ferry from Hvannasund on the island Viðoy. Hvannasund can be reached by car or bus from Klaksvík via two mountain tunnels.
Get around
By bus
Buses connect Klaksvik with Viðareiði.
By ferry
In order to get to Kalsoy you need to take the car ferry M/F Sam from Klaksvík to Syðradalur. No advance reservation. During summer it is advisable to queue in the lane at least 1 hr prior to departure as the morning routes are very popular and the ferry can only accommodate around 12 cars. If you don't make it onto the ferry by car, you may leave it in Klaksvík and enter the boat as passenger, since there is a public bus connected to all ferry arrivals and departures on Kalsoy.
The small islands of Fugloy and Svínoy are connected to Hvannasund on Viðoy by a passenger ferry. The round trip (40 kr) lasts about 2 hours and is quite popular as it offers splendid views of the islands and their cliffs. You should make an advance reservation by calling +298 343000 (not possible on the day of travel).
Strandfaraskip Landsins, the Faroese public transport service, publishes an annual timetable (Ferðaætlan) containing details of all ferry and bus schedules.
See
- Moorings on both sides of Viðareiði – what a contrast! On one side, where the church is, the Atlantic is placid; on the other it's like – the Atlantic!
- Viðareiði Church – although this is similar to most other churches on the islands, it's worth seeing for its silver, which includes a salver presented by the British Government for help to sailors rescued from a wreck in the mid-19th century
- Cape Enniberg, one of the highest sea cliffs in Europe, 754 m, by Viðareiði.
- Kallur lighthouse, popular hiking destination on the northern tip of Kalsoy.
Do
Eat and drink
Several places in Klaksvík.
Viðareiði
Unusually for the Faroes' villages, there are actually two places to eat or drink (coffee is very reasonably priced at both, alcohol at neither!)
- Matstovan hjá Elisabeth, +298 45 12 75, jeny@kallnet.fo. Home-like restaurant. Also kiosk.
Sleep
Cottages. Hotel Klaksvík (see Klaksvík#Sleep).