Vestmanna & Stremoy, Faroe Islands
Pushed along by a following sea we made our way from Shetland to the isolated archipelago of the Faroe Islands overnight. The morning passed, enveloped by a thick sea fog. The forecast was for sunny intervals - where were they? For company we had a few passing seabirds and a barn swallow, lost on migration between southern Africa and northern Europe.
Arriving in Torshaven, capital of the Faroe Islands, we completed our clearance into this autonomous region of Denmark. As we did so, the skies cleared and we found our sunny intervals, under which we moved toward our first expedition stop at Vestmanna. Here we boarded local boats to explore the coastline or ventured into the interior of the island.
A spectacular sight awaited those exploring the coast. Under blue skies we viewed vertiginous cliffs rising from the sea to heights of about 600 metres. The grassy slopes were grazed by apparently fearless and footsure sheep, and in parts the sheer cliffs were occupied by seabirds - fulmars, kittiwakes and auks. The boats made their way through channels in the deeply incised basalt cliffs; through grottoes, under arches and below the towering sea cliffs. It was a great introduction to these islands and a taste of the riches to come in the next two days here.
Pushed along by a following sea we made our way from Shetland to the isolated archipelago of the Faroe Islands overnight. The morning passed, enveloped by a thick sea fog. The forecast was for sunny intervals - where were they? For company we had a few passing seabirds and a barn swallow, lost on migration between southern Africa and northern Europe.
Arriving in Torshaven, capital of the Faroe Islands, we completed our clearance into this autonomous region of Denmark. As we did so, the skies cleared and we found our sunny intervals, under which we moved toward our first expedition stop at Vestmanna. Here we boarded local boats to explore the coastline or ventured into the interior of the island.
A spectacular sight awaited those exploring the coast. Under blue skies we viewed vertiginous cliffs rising from the sea to heights of about 600 metres. The grassy slopes were grazed by apparently fearless and footsure sheep, and in parts the sheer cliffs were occupied by seabirds - fulmars, kittiwakes and auks. The boats made their way through channels in the deeply incised basalt cliffs; through grottoes, under arches and below the towering sea cliffs. It was a great introduction to these islands and a taste of the riches to come in the next two days here.
