Trails to an abandoned village

Slættanes was inhabited in 1835. During the 1950s, more than one hundred people lived in the village. A lack of roads and electricity drove settlers away; the last left in 1965. Some houses have been preserved and are used as holiday homes for former residents and their descendants. Slættanes is a perfect time pocket of pre-modern Faroese society.

Several paths lead to Slættanes, making it an excellent destination for longer hikes in the unpopulated and remote parts of northern Vágar.

Slættanes is an abandoned village north of Sandavágur.

Slættanes lies on the northern coast of the island. It was founded in 1835 by Hendrik Thomasen and belonged to the municipality of Sandavágur. During its best years (1945 to 1950) around 130 people lived in the village, but the average population was around 70. There were 12 houses in Slættanes. However, in 1965 the last inhabitants left the community because of its relatively isolated location. Today, the houses at Slættanes are only used as summer houses.

A road was never built to Slættanes, but there are many trails there. One goes to Sandavágur in the southeast, another to Sørvágur to the south.

Hiking to Slættanes
A popular hike is from the village of Sandavágur to Slættanes and back to the village of Gásadalur. This is hike nr 15 in the hiking guide from Visit Faroe Islands.

We always recommend you to do some general reading on hiking before you venture out on your adventure.