Description

When you hike this old path to Norðadalur, you are on the front row of one of the most wonderful and breathtaking sceneries in the country.

The hike starts in Mjørkadalur, where the cairns lead us to the west side of the island of Streymoy. Already from the flat area on Skeiðsskarð the view is spectacular. Fifty millions of years ago, the area was part of a huge basalt plateau, which erosion has diminished and carved out the unique rock formations around you.

We hike among the high mountains with an immense view on the Island of Vágar and later Koltur and Hestur. You will enjoy the view of Vágar with the special Trøllkonufingur (Troll Woman & Finger) – a 313meters high cliff formation standing by the shore of Vágar.

On one side we will pass by Skælingur, which is among the highest mountains in the Faroe Islands. On the other side you will see the impressive Sornfelli with its military radar installations on top, which caused political frictions in the Faroe Islands for decades. Despite political opposition in the Faroes NATO installed radar equipment on Sornfelli to monitor air and sea traffic in the North Atlantic.

This is an interesting geological route because one can observe the “Streymoyarsyllin” – a great volcanic intrusion (a sill) that splits and crosses horizontally the whole landscape.

On the other side of Skorðadalsegg, you enter into another world, with grass and relatively few rocks and stones. There is a special peace that is only broken by the sounds of birds and sheep – and maybe a single boat in the fjord. The view from Vatndalsegg is worth it. Here, you see the beautiful rock formations on Likkureyn and Núgvan. Further out to sea are the islands of Koltur, Hestur and further still Sandoy and Suðuroy and in the valley the lakes.

The landscape varies a great deal. You walk between high mountains, through several valleys, you have an amazing view to fjords meanwhile you contemplate interesting geological phenomena and listen to stories that are linked to places that we pass on our way which explain phenomena in nature and tell about events that have taken place in those places. In the Faroe Islands we have a long and rich tradition of storytelling, and many stories and legends are associated to the landscape, which explain phenomena in nature and tell about events that have taken place. These stories and legends give us an insight into the lives in villages of bygone times and give the experience of nature an extra dimension.

Your guide has grown up with these stories and it is in her heart to convey them further to you on this guided tour.