Highest Peak and Sea Cliffs in the Faroe Islands
This trip feels a bit surreal and the scenery just as surreal. There are a lot of myths and legends about the different rock formations and how they came to be. We sailed past two rock columns known as the Giant and the Hag. Interesting legend you can read more about here: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/
It was much cooler today, and we were all bundled up with lots of layers to stay warm. It’s safe to say there wasn’t an inch of skin showing on me today. But I stayed warm even in some pretty strong winds. The water is still relatively calm, and I managed to keep the seasickness at bay. Though I did ask to helm the boat a few times since I started to feel a familiar twinge of nausea, it went away pretty quick after that.
We’re anchored just outside a little village in a small protected cove, and the boat is gently rocking us to sleep tonight. We all look a little funny trying to walk upright and not bump into the walls or each other. By tomorrow we will have it down, and we’ll have the reverse problem once we get on land. It always takes a few days not to feel like you’re rocking. I enjoy it and sleep well with that feeling.
We also saw sheep dangling on the sides of the cliffs and kept trying to figure out how they got there and how they got down. I guess to get them down they wait till they’re fat and happy, then somehow lower them from a rope into the boat. Crazy stuff, but they are rocking it.
Mykines and Puffins
Mykines is an island in the Faroes where there are only a handful of people and mostly puffins, seagulls, and sheep. It’s a beautiful long island with amazing sheer cliffs and a stunning lighthouse.
The weather was sunny and warmish and exactly the opposite of the weather forecast which has predicted rain all week long. To get to the island of Mykines, we had to take a ferry boat. It was a full boat with around 50 or so people. This was the only time we saw tourists anywhere on the islands.
Once on Mykines, we decided to hike out to the lighthouse on the far end of the island. It didn’t look that far away, but it took us 2 and half hours to get there. When you stop to take photos of jaw-dropping views, picture-posing puffins, and wild sheep it does tend to take awhile. This island is a sort of migration place for several types of birds, and especially puffins. We had plenty of hills to climb to get to where they were, and I think my Fitbit clocked over 6 miles with over 200 flights of stairs.
We saw our first few puffins up on the first cliffs we came to, and everybody just stopped and started taking photos. They were so close and much smaller than I had imagined. They have beautiful beaks with bright colors which stand out against their black and white bodies. We had no idea what was in store for us up ahead.
At one point there were hundreds of them on the cliffs and hundreds more circling the air above us and even more on the ground near the path in their little burrows. We were told not to have our mouths open while looking up and for excellent reason. There was just so many of them, and they were so close. It was unlike anything I’d ever experienced before.
We finally made it to the lighthouse and had fantastic views on all sides. We took a few minutes to take a break and eat something while enjoying the view. It was such an incredible moment in time. It was peaceful, surreal, and perfect. The islands truly are unspoiled and not commercialized which is part of the charm.
The walk back was much easier and quicker. We went to the little village where there is a church, a modest hostel, a guest house, two cafes, a small hot tub, a place for a helicopter to land, and maybe a dozen other homes. There are no cars on the island, just a few heavy-duty four-wheelers. While poking our heads into the cute cafes, we noticed some delicious looking cake and hearty soup. Not to miss out on a tasty experience, we sampled both and were not disappointed. The delicious food, the breathtaking views, and the friendly company made for one of my favorite travel memories.
We soon met up with the others, and it was time to make our way back to the boat. It was an incredibly full day and so great to get to explore this fantastic place.
As a surprise to one of the crew members who turned 50, the first mate made a special cake while we were out exploring and stalking puffins. They wrote “Happy Birthday” in Faroese, and we sang Happy Birthday. It was a fun way to celebrate! We had chocolate cake and vanilla ice cream and then played a cutthroat game of spoons. We then just visited and enjoyed each other’s company. We only have a few nights left together, and we’re all trying to soak up and enjoy every last moment.
How to Take This Trip
To take your own sailing adventure to the Faroes Islands or another exotic location, I would recommend checking out the company I went with, Rubicon3. This is now the second trip I’ve been on with them and I absolutely love their adventures! I have not been compensated to recommend them, it’s just an honest opinion. If you’re looking for unique adventures, small groups, breathtaking locations, off-the-beaten path trips, are open to learning new things and meeting wonderful people, it’s definitely worth exploring.
Questions about the trip?
If you have any questions about the trip, the boat, the gear, the flights, or the Faroe Islands, please feel free to reach out. You can leave a comment and I’ll do my best to answer. Thanks!