The Faroe Islands (Jul 2018)
The roof of the church at Saksun.
The mist really added atmosphere to the place.
The local farmer isn't too happy with all the tourists; he shoots down any drones flying over his land!
Two windswept horses at Saksun. I’m not totally sure what the little shed was for, but I saw them frequently across the islands.
The colourful little village at Funningur.
It’s another road, sweeping off into the distance...
Up above the clouds on the road to Gjógv.
Not sure what that road sign is supposed to indicate.
Gjógv, one of the most beautiful villages in the Faroes.
I bet they pay someone to leave the boat there for photographs.
Definitely there for the photos.
It feels like you’re at the end of the world. The village is at the top of the island of Eysturoy.
We had lunch in Gjógv - the meatball was particularly delicious (“I save that for last”, said Karl, the tour guide. “It’s like the dessert“). Though he then added that the KitKat was the actual dessert.
The village is in a gorgeous location.
A tent with a view.
Childhood here looks quite idyllic - in this little pond in the village children play in homemade boats.
Another empty road running into the distance....
A very remote football pitch. When I was in the Faroes the Scottish team Hibernian was here to play a Faroese team. I spotted a few of the fans wandering around Tórshavn in kilts. It sounded like an entertaining game - Hibs won 6 - 4! A Norwegian tourist I met had encountered a bunch of the fans on a bus and couldn’t quite work out what language they were speaking.
On the ferry to the enigmatic island of Mykines, at the western extreme of the Faroes.
The harbour at Mykines. The island is infamous for people getting stuck here when the sea conditions suddenly change, and the ferry can't dock. Getting off the ferry was also a bit of an experience - you’re kind of manhandled across a gap as the ferry sways about alarmingly.
Bright colours in one of the Mykines houses.
One of the streets in the village.
Chickens roaming freely.
Washing hanging out to dry. Not the ideal conditions - it started pouring shortly after this.
A local shop for local people - and tourists - on Mykines. Note the Tunnock's caramel wafer box at the bottom; I've seen them in various shops in the Faroes, clearly a very successful Scottish export ( I always bring a pack with me when travelling, as they're very filling. In this case there was no need)
These two had the right idea: the weather was about to become quite treacherous.
On a memorial to Mykines men lost at sea; in 1934 nine men from the village drowned when the trawler Neptun sank in a collision with another boat.
Sea and sky starting to merge.
Spotted! Mykines is famous for its puffins, and there were hundreds of them here when I visited.
Coming in to land. Puffin burrows were all over this area, some practically under the muddy path marking the trail. Stepping away from the path was dangerous, as you could easily twist your ankle in one of the holes.
A puffin watching over its burrow.
They really are quite beautiful birds. Though I must admit I ate one in a restaurant in Reykjavik a few years ago.
They look like they shouldn’t be able to fly, but they can. There were dozens of them swooping back and forward.
Geronimo! This is actually a puffin coming in to land. Someone who saw the picture said it looked like the puffin was bouncing on a trampoline, and I can't get that image out of my head now!
This sheep was trying to stare me down.
Hiking to the lighthouse on Mykines. When I started out it was overcast but clear. Half way to the lighthouse thick fog and heavy rain had set in, and I could hardly see anything. It was a bit scary! The lighthouse wasn’t visible until I was right beside it. Coming back was frightening - with the rain and fog all I could see were the yellow stakes marking the path, and I knew there were sheer cliffs all around. The path was also incredibly muddy; I fell several times, counting my blessings every time I was able to get up, uninjured. I got back to the village cold, wet but very relieved.
My final day and the best weather of the week! This is the pretty village on the island of Nolsoy, just 20 minutes by ferry from Torshavn. The white arch is made from whale bones.
The church in the village.
A pretty display in the window of one of the houses in Nolsoy.
Two keels.
It was pouring down on the mainland across the water.
I got quite worried that the weather across the way was coming my direction - I was halfway up a mountain, with no cover - but thankfully it never did.
Beautiful view of Nolsoy and the mainland beyond.
A rainbow as we sailed back to the mainland.
The Faroes are absolutely beautiful. I'll definitely be back - and praying for better weather!
And one final tip: if you're flying back from here, and have just bought something nice in Duty Free - a traditional Faroese jumper, perhaps - don't go though the door right beside the till. That takes you into Arrivals and you have to go through security again. Not that I would ever do anything so stupid :)
