Øravík - Vágur

Even though the village route is called Øravík to Vágur, it is possible to split the journey into two by driving up towards Hovsdal and starting the tour on the village path heading to Porkeri. This path leads you up to the area below Mannaskarð, where it meets with the path running between Øravík and Vágur. From there you can choose whether to walk to Øravík by going through Mannaskarð, or to Vágar by going through Vágsskarð. It is also possible to walk up Mannaskarð, enjoy the beautiful view, and then walk to Vágur through Vágsskarð. GPX files are available for all three trips, including the full-length trip and the two half trips.

The path starts in Øravík. Gorges and ridges with sharp edges mark the landscape as the path follows Tinggili Uppi Millum Stovur, which was once the assembly point of Suðuroy; the old assembly table is visible here. According to Faroese folklore, farmhand Snæbjørn, from Hvalba, was sentenced, upon this very spot, to four years of penal servitude in Bremerholm (Copenhagen) as punishment for buying a scarf from an illegal merchant vessel. Unsurprisingly, Snæbjørn was not content with his punishment and attacked the figures of authority. He failed to kill the judge, but struck the sheriff with a fatal blow. Snæbjørn escaped from the assembly point and lived on the outskirts of the mountains of Suðuroy for several years. 

The road up Mannaskarð is difficult and, towards the end, it is very stony. You will need to tread carefully to avoid loosening any rocks and stones underfoot. 

On top of Mannaskarð is a fantastic view of the valleys of Vatnsnes and Bessavatn. In the 1960s, SEV built a hydroelectric dam and dug a tunnel from Vatnsnes down to Botn. There you have Vágsskarð, which the road passes, and Hvannafelli. On the other side, it is possible to see Borgarknappur with peaks that remind you of a castle from the middle-ages.

The path follows Vatnaryggur beside the lake, where you can see a variety of birds. It is said that there is an unusually high amount of "huldufólk" living there. To the left of the path on Vatnaryggur lies Ærgidalur, where archaeologists of the Faroese Museum found long-abandoned ruins. During Viking times, this valley was used for grazing, and in those days, it was customary for people to live in fields during the summertime to care for their flock. 

Past Vágsskarð, there is a gradual descent to Hvannadal, then the slopes become steep. The stone cairns guide the way to Hvanndalsá, leading you across a stream and towards a plantation or grove of trees. Then follow the signposts along the side of the grove until the path turns into the heart of it. A stroll through the trees is lovely, especially after the Closed for Maintenance campaign, in which Faroese locals spent the spring of 2021 working on improving the area. There is a table with benches, making it possible for you to sit down and rest whilst enjoying the view and a picnic, if you have brought one. (But please remeber to take your litter home with you!)