Day trip to Nolsoy island from Torshavn in the Faroer
August 2nd, 2009
Day excursion to Nolsoy with overnight at the Kaffistovan on the same island. The town of Nolsoy has an interesting history and trails are available for hikes around the island.
How to get on Nolsoy? A small ferry is operated by Ritan several times per day from Torshavn, the trip lenght is about 20 minutes. At the moment no car service is offered, but in future there will be also this possibility. In the pictures, the ferry docked at Nolsoy and a panorama on Nolsoy dock.
The church and the old cemetery, now no longer used.
Nolsoy has about 270 people, increasing. Many of them work in Torshavn and take the ferry every day to reach the job place. The town is chosen as home by many, because it is a small charming place, others have there just the second home to spend the weekend or for holidays.
Archaelogical findings estimated to be about 1000 years old and belonging to the Vikings. They are basements for homes.
The Kaffistovan B&B where it's possible to overnight in Nolsoy.
Nolsoy panorama, with the mountain on the back surrounded by thick fog.
Views onto Nolsoy dock.
A soccer field in Nolsoy.
Ancient wooden buildings. As there are no forests on the Faroer, buildings were made by drifting wood coming from the ocean.
Ancient buildings, one time used to dry the fish.
Nolsoy island is affected by erosion and in the narrowest place, the island is about to be cut in two parts. Violent waves coming from open sea, crash onto island's weak volcanic rocks, which are then broken into small pieces and carried away. This phenomen is acting with impressive speed and is threating several homes. Projects to build protective barriers are currently under study.
Some Arctic tern (Sterna paradisaea).
The weather gets better, so I climb this hill along a marked trail, to get beautiful views from top.
From here, the part of Nolsoy island that is about to be cut-off by ocean erosion, is well visible.
Panorama on Nolsoy and other Faroe islands.
The peaceful grass fields on top of the hill above Nolsoy island. The marked trail brings to a couple of lighthouses on the other side of the island. The entire walk takes several hours.
I reach the opposite side of the island, but without actually getting to the lighthouses, because the available time has finished and have to be back.
A bird that I was unable to identify.
I hike all the way back to Nolsoy. I check the GPS, the total distance hiked today is 18kms. In the picture, whale jaws used as a "door" from the dock to the town.