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A Journey to the Faroe Islands: The Island of Bordoy

Christopher Kane

Klaksvík, Bordoy, Faroe Islands (ISO 200, 4.5 mm, f/2.8, 1/30 s)

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(Some links in this post are affiliate links. If you click through and take action, I'll be compensated.) If you are also interested in any PRINTS from any of my posts, be sure to check out my store where you can buy prints as posters, in metal frames or on canvas.

**This post is the 5th of a 11-post series discussing what to see in this part of the Faroe Islands (You can check out the other parts in the list below, separated by each specific island (just click on the island name to see the blog post. Everything is also summarized in another post here.**

The Faroe Islands, or the Faroes, are an archipelago located in the North Atlantic Ocean and are a part of Denmark. The subpolar oceanic climate, moderated by the Gulf Stream, make the temperature of the Faroes nearly constant throughout the year. Origins of the Faroe Islands date back as early as 500 AD, thought to be settled by people from Great Britain or Ireland. [Funfact: The population of sheep (70,000) outnumber the human population (54,000)]

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View from Klakkur, Bordoy, Faroe Islands (ISO 400, 24 mm, f/5, 1/1000 s)

In this blog post, I will cover the island of Bordoy. A Google Map of these places I will talk about can be seen at the end of this article.

Bordoy island is located in the Northeast of the country, and translates to ‘Headland Island’. It contains 8 total settlements and the 2nd largest city in the Faroe Islands in Klaksvík. This portion of the Faroe Islands is often referred to as the Northern Islands. Here are some of the cool places to check out on Bordoy:

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Klaksvík is the 2nd largest town in the Faroe Islands with a population of 5,000. If you are coming all the way from Vagar, then Klaksvik is a great halfway point between the airport and Vidoy, one of the further islands away. Here, you have all the modern conveniences you may come to miss amidst all the hiking you will probably be doing.

The city is situated around its harbor, which ferries passengers to Sydradalur on Kalsoy island. As I was driving an electric vehicle during my stay, I was running low on juice upon returning from Kalsoy. Luckily, there was a charging station available close by immediately after I drove off the ferry (the parking lot next to the ferry). From here I grabbed some fish and chips while the car charged. This is a VERY common dish in the Faroe Islands and I myself ate it at least three times.

If you like some of my photos that you have come across, just know that I have many prints showcasing a variety of landscapes, including Faroe, available for purchase below! (Sold as Posters, Canvas, or in Metal-Frames).

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Kunoy and Bordoy, Faroe Islands (ISO 200, 4.5 mm, f/2.8, 1/40 s)

You can also decide to take a stroll around the town from here as everything is quite centrally located. Located in Klaksvik is also Føroya Bjór, a Faroese brewing company that also produces soft drinks. It was founded in 1888 by Símun F. Hansen, after he learned how to brew beer in Denmark. Upon his return in the Faroe Islands in 1888, he established his own brewery in Klaksvík, the second to be established in the country.

Kunoy, Faroe Islands (ISO 200, 4.5 mm, f/2.8, 1/40 s)

Another landmark in Klaksvik is Christian’s Church (Christianskirkjan). This fairly modern church was designed by Danish architect Peter Koch and consecrated in 1963, using native building materials to the Faroe Islands such as lumber and basalt.

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Kalsoy, Faroe Islands (ISO 200, 4.5 mm, f/2.8, 1/40 s)

With even more prestige, the Árnafjardar Church is THE Church of the Faroe Islands. It is the national evangelical church of the country and located further into Bordoy, before you hit some of the other outer islands.

Kunoy and Bordoy, Faroe Islands (ISO 400, 24 mm, f/4.5, 1/2000 s)

Nearby this church is Svartidalurfoss, yet another waterfall in Faroe. If you aren’t over seeing waterfall after waterfall, this one is nice to see while in Bordoy. This waterfall has two levels with some minor cascading drops towards the button. It isn’t one of the more popular waterfalls which means there is a good chance you may have it to yourself for your trip. I’m ALL about that.

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Klakkur, Klaksvík, Faroe Islands (ISO 200, 4.5 mm, f/2.8, 1/40 s)

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A must do while in Klaksvik, has to be Klakkur. This mountain viewpoint has some of the best views in the entire country. You can see the rest of Bordoy as well as Kalsoy and Kunoy islands in the distance. You can start your hike from the city center of Klaksvik, however if you have a car, you can drive all the way up near the summit, leaving you with a 25 minute hike to the peak itself.

You can simply follow the roads that get you closer to the summit and you will eventually find your way there. The hike was a bit exposed with lots of muddy tracks from previous travelers and intermittent weather. Once near the top, it gets a little rocky but there are many spots that are flat to rest at. The stack of large rocks at the summit is the perfect seat for you to sit back on while admiring the view of three islands in the distance. This was easily my favorite thing I did that day.

PROTIP: As they say in Faroe, if it’s raining, wait 5 minutes. I experienced extreme sunshine and lots of rain while hiking up here.

Now of course, this is not a comprehensive list of what to see in Bordoy, however it should be a good representation of what you can expect when you visit. I will discuss more on what to see on each of the Faroese islands in future posts!

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