Wild Wonders In the North Atlantic

by KRISTEN POPE

The wide-open spaces and incredible landscapes of Iceland and the Faroe Islands are ideal for a nature escape. Combine these scenic destinations for the ultimate outdoor adventure.

Ever since I saw images of the Faroe Islands, I wanted to go see them in person. Remote Atlantic islands aren’t always the easiest to get to, so when I looked into flight options and saw Iceland was a gateway offering direct flights, I was all in. My husband and I always love trips where we can hike and immerse ourselves in nature, and both Iceland and the Faroe Islands promised endless scenery, challenging trails and untamed nature. We booked our tickets with visions of windswept islands, rugged mountains and glaciers, and adventure on our minds – and we weren’t disappointed.

Kerið Crater, Iceland

Reynisfjara, Iceland

Exploring the Faroe Islands

Bøsdalafossur Floating lake, Faroe Islands

The days flew by, and soon it was time to hop on a 90-minute flight to the Faroe Islands. The North Atlantic archipelago is a self-governing nation within Denmark, and has remained relatively undiscovered. While Iceland is known by travelers from around the world, we mostly shared the Faroe Islands with locals and sheep. As we drove from the airport to our rental accommodation, we watched the late evening light dance along the hillsides as ewes and lambs settled in for the night.

Our host greeted us with a spread of meats, cheeses, breads, sliced bell peppers, tomatoes, and all the fixings. He kindly said he thought we would be hungry. He left us to eat and rest before another day of exploration.

In the Faroe Islands, particularly scenic drives are designated as “Buttercup Routes,” so we set out to traverse as many of these narrow, winding roads as possible, taking our time along the way to stop and listen to the symphony of sheep “bahhhing” as they nibbled on grass and scampered on the hills.

We laced up our hiking boots and set out to immerse ourselves in the stunning topography. We found many of the trails to be more rugged than those we encountered in Iceland. Many of the Faroe Islands’ prized routes go straight up mountains and meander along precarious ridge lines, packed with slippery moss and the possibility of precipitous falls. Carefully, we set out to explore the Bøsdalafossur waterfall and the famous “floating lake,” which appears to hover above the ocean. We sneaked a peek at the illusion, staying far from the cliff ’s edge. Another day, we explored a village and spectacular viewpoints of Múlafossur waterfall on a cloudless day.

We had hoped to take a ferry to see the large population of puffins on Mykines, but our time was running out– so we decided to save that adventure for a future journey. You never know what the wild North Atlantic has in store.

Contact your travel advisor to start making your North Atlantic dreams come true.