It’s not often where you hear that the highest mountain of a country is scalable by even those without much climbing training, though hiking experience is recommended! Though its routes are steep, the mountain, 880m high, can be climbed in four hours if you start from Gjógv, facing the mountain’s steep face. From Eiðisskarð, situated in the pass between the villages of Eiði and Funningur, the mountain can be climbed in under an hour. Through your hike up the mountain, you may be accompanied by the local sheep and horses, companions and silent observers. As the first part of the route has no clear trail, it is recommended that you park at the car park at Eiðisskarð or leave something bright behind such that you can find your way back to where you started.

It is a customary in the Faroe Islands to climb the mountain on the day of the summer solstice, rising above and viewing all 18 islands from the peak. The day, being the longest with almost 20 hours of sunlight, calls for tradition to sit on the peak and watch the sun rise back up again. While waiting for the sun to rise again, join in with the singing and traditional dancing and be sure to bring a packed lunch to share with everyone else.

From the top, you can practically see all of the Faroe Islands! From the various famous churches to the rings of mountains surrounding lakes and isolated villages in their valleys, some even claim that you can see the Icelandic volcano Vatnajøkull, though, at 550km away, that’s quite impossible! You don’t need to exaggerate on the view though, the scenery really is breathtaking!