Heatwave in the Faroe Islands
Moody weather certainly comes to mind when thinking about the Faroe Islands and this is exactly what we expected when we travelled there in July. However we were surprised with the exact opposite. Yes, the weather did change fast and we were met with a few drizzly periods, but we also happened to be there during a heatwave. Before the trip I researched average weather and temperatures to get an idea of what to expect and moreover what to pack. I certainly was not prepared for the blazing sun and temperatures hitting near 30C. I ended up with one of the worst sunburns of my entire life as I had to strip down to basic base layers just to keep cool. I’ll never make the mistake of not packing enough lighter layers again, even if the place I travel to is known to be nothing but chilly and damp.
A major highlight of our trip was going to the island Mykines where we met with a local guide who took us a bit off the beaten track. Our guide grew up on Mykines and his father was once the lighthouse keeper. He took us down the paths he wandered as a child and shared stories about the history, lifestyle, and his own experiences there. Only 8 people live on the island year round and the most famous of inhabitants without a doubt is the puffin colony. Our guide took us through a back route to see the puffins from a distance so as not to disturb them too much. It was amazing seeing so many puffins swirling around in the skies and clustered together on the cliffs. I have a soft spot for puffins and having lived in Scotland for a few years now I’ve always wanted to see them in person but hadn’t had any luck due to decreasing populations. I have to admit I got a bit teary eyed being so close and seeing just how tiny they are.
We were also there during their pride festival and national holiday which we didn’t know about when booking so that was another great surprise. I was quite unwell between the horrible sunburn and recovering from a nasty flu I had just prior to the trip so I wasn’t as up to the party atmosphere as I would have liked but I did love seeing everyone dressed up in traditional clothing and just people watching. I spent most of this trip without my camera as I was too busy soaking in the sights, traditions, and marvelling at nature but I did take a handful of photos to remember our few days we spent wandering the islands. I really do hope to come back to the Faroe Islands one day, it is one of the most magical places I have ever visited.
