A Journey to the Faroe Islands: The Island of Sandoy
Faroe Islands (ISO 100, 24 mm, f/4, 1/320 s)
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**This post is the 9th 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)]
Featured
Tórshavn (Blog Post: A Journey to the Faroese Capital of Tórshavn)
Vágar (Blog Post: A Journey to the Faroe Islands: The Island of Vágar)
Streymoy (Blog Post: A Journey to the Faroe Islands: The Island of Streymoy)
Eysturoy (Blog Post: A Journey to the Faroe Islands: The Island of Eysturoy)
Bordoy (Blog Post: A Journey to the Faroe Islands: The Island of Bordoy)
Kalsoy (Blog Post: A Journey to the Faroe Islands: The Island of Kalsoy)
Vidoy (Blog Post: A Journey to the Faroe Islands: The Island of Vidoy)
Mykines (Blog Post: A Journey to the Faroe Islands: The Island of Mykines)
Sandoy (Blog Post: A Journey to the Faroe Islands: The Island of Sandoy)
Kunoy (Blog Post: A Journey to the Faroe Islands: The Island of Kunoy)
The Waterfalls of the Faroe Islands (Blog Post: The Waterfalls of the Faroe Islands)
In this blog post, I will cover the island of Sandoy. A Google Map of these places I will talk about can be seen at the end of this article. Check out my drone video of the Faroe Islands below!
Sandoy, translating to ‘Sand Island’, is considered one of the five southern islands in the Faroe islands. The village of Sandur is the largest population center on the island, standing at 532 inhabitants. It is the only island with sand dunes, a product of its sandy soil, of which Sandoy gets its name from.
There are only a handful of settlements on the island, by the names of Sandur, Skarvanes, Skopun, Skálavík, Húsavík, and Dalur. If you’re looking for some fun in the sun, the largest beach on the island is indeed at the settlement of Sandur.
Getting to Sandoy used to require taking a ferry from Gamlarætt, about 20 minutes drive from the capital city of Tórshavn. Bus 101 can also get you to Gamlarætt from Tórshavn city center. As of 2023 however, completed construction of the Sandoyartunnilin allows access to Sandoy without the need for a ferry.
In the village of Dalur, with a population of just 35, sits the Dalur Church (Dalur Kirke). Members of this town are also known for their aptitude in Faroese chain dancing. The Faroese chain dance-association Stígum Fast is based in Dalur and Dalur also has a communal house, Eiriksgarður, that is well suited for events, Faroese chain dance, accommodation e.g. for camp school and more.
Faroe Islands (ISO 100, 4.5 mm, f/2.8, 1/40 s)
The village of Húsavík is double the size of Dalur, by population and one of the oldest villages in the Faroe Islands. What is most notable about this village is the amount of well maintained stone fences and homes, most likely built in the later 1800s. It reminds me of rolling hills in the UK countryside, containing stone walls as far as the eye can see!
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 and Wooden-Frames).
Faroe Islands (ISO 200, 24 mm, f/9, 1/100 s)
The Húsavík Church is also built from stone (surprise, surprise). It was the church that served nearly the entire island before others were built, namely in Dalur. Built in 1863, much like the rest of the village is made almost entirely from timber with an altarpiece painted by Svend Havstein Mikkelsen.
Not much of a church person? Check out Húsavík beach. I don’t know of much surfing that happens in Faroe but this beach is one of those places where more experienced surfers like to go. It reminds me of Lofoten, Norway…super cold water, but Unstad Beach was where people went for the good surf. Not sure if I could handle the cold water myself!
Faroe Islands (ISO 400, 84 mm, f/4.5, 1/2000 s)
A cozy cafe to check out while in Sandoy has to be at Caféin a Molini Skálavík Sandoy. It’s a great atmosphere with nice small dishes and a great view of the nearby harbor. They say the chicken soup is the best dish on the menu!
You can choose to stay in Sandoy overnight and two places that most check out are Camping Sandur and Dalur Camping with space for caravans and tents alike as well as all the necessary amenities you would need.
Another Faroese island you can reach from Sandoy is the island of Skúvoy, which is great for bird watches and nature lovers alike. The ferry only operates by request however but the times are manageable! Check here for the available ferry times.
This by no means is a comprehensive list of what to see and do in Sandoy but it will give you a good idea of what you can expect. Feel free to check out my other posts about islands that make up the Faroe Islands nation.
