FAROE ISLANDS (Denmark)

Location - Western Europe; Capital - Torshavn; Population - 50,000; Currency - Denmark Krone

The Faroe Islands are a Danish territory located in the North Atlantic between Scotland and Iceland. I visited them in August 2008 on my way to Iceland.

The Faroes krone has the same value as, and is interchangeable with the Danish krone

The harbour with the Tinganes peninsular and Havnarkirkja church behind - Torshavn

Torshavn harbour

The clock tower of Havnarkirkja church - Torshavn

A reflection of Havnarkirkja - Torshavn

A view of Torshavn harbour from close to the Christian monolith

The picturesque harbour at Torshavn

Tinganes is the historical part of Torshavn

Tinganes peninsula, Torshavn

You have been told - Tinganes, Torshavn

Tinganes and the harbour by full moon - Torshavn

Moored at Torshavn harbour

A traditional turf-covered house in historical Tinganes, Torshavn

The turf acts as an insulating layer - Torshavn

My friend Joanne walking the paths of Tinganes, Torshavn

Attractive houses in Tinganes, Torshavn

A membrane is laid on the roof and squares of turf placed on top - Torshavn

Wandering around Tinganes, Torshavn

Bright colours in Tinganes, Torshavn

The backstreets of Torshavn

A World War II gun sits in front of the lighthouse and Skansin fort, Torshavn

18th century cannons point towards the Atlantic, Torshavn

I don't know what this represents but it was in the industrial area of Torshavn harbour. The colours are the same as the Faroes' flag (see below)

The Faroe Islands' flag - Torshavn

At the southern entrance to Viðarlundin Park, Torshavn

Viðarlundin Park is a few minutes walk north of central Torshavn

A lovely view of the Atlantic and Nolsoy island from the Historical Museum - Torshavn

Walking back to central Torshavn from the Historical Museum

There must be a better place for a trampoline? - Torshavn

On one day of the year brave/mad swimmers make a dash for Nolsoy island from Torshavn. You can see one of them in his wetsuit - Torshavn

The majestic Vestmanna cliffs are well worth a trip, especially when it's a blue-sky day.
On this particular day Torshavn was engulfed in fog but it was sunny on the west of Streymoy island.

A stone arch cut into the Vestmanna cliffs

This is known as the baby elephant - Vestmanna cliffs

My rather poor attempt at photographing a puffin - Vestmanna cliffs

The captain guides the boat through rock arches - Vestmanna cliffs

A guide to Vestmanna here

Rock pinnacles that have separated from the mainland - Vestmanna cliffs

Birdlife on Vestmanna cliffs

On the way back from Vestmanna we stopped off at Kvivik, the site of Viking remains from the 9th century, shown here in the foreground

More about the Vikings here

The small building is a dryhouse, used to dry out lamb and whalemeat - Kvivik

Klaksvik, on Bordoy island, is the second largest town in the Faroes

Fish hung out to dry - Klaksvik's harbour

A great view driving past the village of Funningur on Eysturoy island

As Loyd Grossman would say, Who lives in a house like this? The village of Gjogv, on the northern coast of Eysturoy

Boats rest in a natural harbour - Gjogv

Joanne near the cliff's edge at Gjogv

The circles just offshore are trout/salmon farms - Vagar island, on the way to airport

Flying past Vagar island

Mykines is known for its puffins, gannets and bird cliffs

Atlantic Airways flight to the Faroe Islands

Website and content copyright © 2008-2011 Mark Wilkinson. All rights reserved.

LINKS

www.visittorshavn.fo - info on Torshavn and the rest of Streymoy island

www.faroeislands.com - tourist guide

www.visit-faroeislands.com

http://faroeislands.dk - a guide to all villages and towns in the Faroes

www.ssl.fo - bus and ferry timetable

I am not responsible for the content of external websites.