We highly recommend that you read the guide to safe hiking guide before going hiking in the Faroe Islands.
The ‘safe travel’ leaflet provides essential information about how to travel in the Faroe Islands. On the back page, you can fill out the information about where you plan to hike and when you expect to return. Leave the leaflet under your car's windshield or at your accommodation. That way, someone can notify relevant authorities should you not have returned by the time you have stated. The leaflet can be downloaded or picked up at regional information centres, car hires, on the Smyril Line ferry, and at Vágar Airport, among other places.
Please also read or download the hiking guide online here.
PATHS AND ROUTES
Most of the paths described in the hiking guide are old village paths. Before the roads came, you would travel between the villages using these paths, e.g. to trade, to visit family, to a Thing (local assembly) or to church. Village paths were also used when the coffins of the dead were carried to the nearest church. The paths are marked with ancient cairns, a heap of stones set up as a landmark showing the way so you don’t get lost. Some routes are not along the old village paths.
These are along ancient footpaths that have been tread through the ages, such as on the mountains Slættaratindur, Bøsdalafossur and Klakkur. The routes are listed in geographical order from north to south. The cairns are in good condition and are well-maintained in most places. The cairns can be complex in some areas, while the path is visible. On some routes, the direction of the path is marked with poles sticking out of the ground. There are, however, a few places without cairns, clear paths or poles. For these places, we have described other features, such as masts, buildings, inclination of the land and gorges, that will guide you in the right direction.
DURATION AND DIFFICULTY
