Faroe Islands: Northern Islands

After pick-up in Tórshavn, we head north and down into the roughly 11-kilometer-long Eysturoy Tunnel, which is unique as the only undersea tunnel in the world with a roundabout, surrounded by a beautiful piece of local artwork. Forty-five minutes later, we make a brief stop in Leirvík to talk about Vikings, avalanches, and abandoned villages before we continue our journey through second undersea tunnel to the Northern Isles.

When it storms in Klaksvík, the mountains rumble, and when it’s time for fishing, the trawlers sway in and out of the harbor. Upon entering Klaksvík, the prominence of the fishing industry is instantly underscored by the striking sight of a giant metal fishing hook statue. The town has spread around the bay and increasingly up the steep mountainsides. Besides fishing, the town is also known for hosting a large number of events and festivals throughout the year, and there’s also an award-winning brewery in Klaksvík.

To reach the village of Kunoy on the island of the same name, we first have to cross a winding causeway and then through a three-kilometer-long, narrow, single-lane tunnel. On the other side, weather permitting, we get a view of the island of Kallsoy, with its tall mountains and deep green valleys lying side by side with Kunoy. Here in Kunoy village, the stream babbles between the colorful houses, while birds chirp from the willow trees. Behind the village, the mountains stand tall, and to get to church on Sundays the locals used to make the journey over these steep hills.

Viðareiði, the Faroe Islands’ northernmost village on the island of Viðoy, became accessible through a tunnel after the old, landslide-prone road was deemed too dangerous. Nestled in a broad, gentle valley, this agricultural village offers breathtaking views of the neighboring islands and towering mountains as as a testament to the Faroese blend of nature and culture. To the north of the village rises Villingadalsfjall, standing at 844 meters, and beyond it Enniberg, featuring 754-meter-high sheer cliffs, the tallest vertical sea cliffs in the world. Viðareiði is also the birthplace of Christian Matras, a prominent figure in Faroese literature. Furthermore, the village boasts a rich maritime history, highlighted by the church silver gifted by the British government as thanks for a heroic rescue by the villagers when the British brig “Marwood” was wrecked east of Viðareiði during a winter storm in 1847.

On our way back to Tórshavn we will drive through the famous subsea tunnel. The only subsea tunnel including a roundabout.