faroe islands: mykines

London-Faroe 2017-775

DJI_0079

we spent most of our second day in the faroes on the island of mykines, which is only accessible via ferry boat or helicopter. there’s a tiny little village (population of about a dozen in the winter and a few dozen in the summer) snuggled in among mykines’ cliffs and a lighthouse at the westernmost tip of the island. we rode the ferry from vagar island and hiked along the stunning, stunning ridges to the lighthouse. we lucked out with visability (there can be lots of fog in the faroe islands) and were gobsmacked by beauty the entire day. the kids were total champs and it was all a pretty epic adventure.
IMG_3863
London-Faroe 2017-662
IMG_3603
the ferry ride was pretty amazing. moses slept in the carrier while we stood on the deck and took in the views. we passed lots of typical faroese villages like this one ^^ (always a waterfall running through among the colourful houses and green, green grass)…
London-Faroe 2017-646 (1)
^^ and passed by some pretty striking small islands along the way. ^^
London-Faroe 2017-681 IMG_3613
IMG_3897
IMG_3632
^^ approaching mykines island. ^^
IMG_3696
^^ the tiny village of mykines. with a turfed-roof church in the middle, of course! ^^
London-Faroe 2017-788
we began our hike not really knowing what to expect and it was pretty wild and pretty awesome.
IMG_3718
IMG_9158
IMG_3706 IMG_3735
London-Faroe 2017-714 (1)

IMG_3749
IMG_3753 IMG_3803
London-Faroe 2017-721
there are millions (!) of puffins in the faroe islands (particularly mykines) in the summer. we caught just the end of the high season, and saw lots of these cute little birds (and tons of the little holes that they live in). ^^
London-Faroe 2017-698
and, there were a lot of sheep. there are significantly more sheep in the faroe islands than there are humans! we were amazed by how some sheep were perched in incredulously perilous spots along the cliffs!
London-Faroe 2017-697
^^ you really have got to love this spunky girl! ^^
London-Faroe 2017-691
IMG_3756
London-Faroe 2017-725 London-Faroe 2017-732
we got quite a few looks of bewilderment when fellow hikers saw us with three small kids. moses, zara, and dean all did so great on this long hike.
IMG_9165
IMG_3772
IMG_3779
IMG_3774
^^ at our destination. there’s no pictures or words that could show or describe the awesome beauty and grandeur of this spot. i was just blown away – the sweeping vistas genuinely had me breathless and a little teary-eyed! ^^
IMG_3828 IMG_9371
^^ puffins, and crazy paths. ^^
IMG_9372
DJI_0098
^^ on our way back to the village to catch the ferry back to vagar. ^^
London-Faroe 2017-690 IMG_3813
London-Faroe 2017-699
London-Faroe 2017-741
^^ meet princess celestia, zara’s my little pony. it was this magical creature, always kept in a pocket or (more often) in a clenched hand, that got zara through the hard bits of the hike. we couldn’t have done this without her! ^^
London-Faroe 2017-757
^^ deanie taking a little nap on the return hike :) ^^
London-Faroe 2017-760
London-Faroe 2017-769
London-Faroe 2017-794
London-Faroe 2017-799
IMG_9374
^^ final descent back to the village. ^^
London-Faroe 2017-820 London-Faroe 2017-817
^^ zara and dean were overjoyed to get to stop hiking and instead sit down and throw rocks or run around the uber-quaint streets of the village. ^^
IMG_3849 IMG_3901
^^ and after we got back on the ferry, one exhausted little four year old conked right out :) ^^
IMG_3878
London-Faroe 2017-647
London-Faroe 2017-671

what a day on mykines! loads of otherworldly beauty, a bit of challenge and tons of fun.
faroe islands pictures to be continued…

Comments

  1. So beautiful! I am always amazed at how mountain goats and sheep manage to get in the precarious places they do - and without fingers and toes!!! Zara is such a cutie and a trooper. Good think she had Celestia. Haha! Thanks for sharing this adventure.

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment