Koltur Island

Koltur Island is an uninhabited pearl of an isle in the nature-packed Faroe Islands. Koltur is the second smallest island in the Faroe Islands.

Its highest point is the monumental cone-shaped peak of Kolturshamar also called Uppi á Oyggj (477 m / 1565 ft). Rising steeply and intensely green out of the sea during summer, it dominates any view of the island.

Koltur has been visited by only few people. The island is on its way to be made into a national park run by the National Museum of the Faroe Islands.

There is no ferry connection to Koltur Island. Furthermore, there are no organised tours or excursions to the island. Travellers can experience the island from a distant with unforgettable views of the isle. The last permanent settlers left the island in 1990. Since then, the place has been used for sheep farming solely and now as a national park.

Getting to Views of Koltur Island

You will have a great view towards Koltur Island from the mountain pass Norðradalsskarð on Streymoy Island. The island has a beautiful and striking shape when experienced from Norðradalsskarð. Alternatively you can also spot Koltur from the settlements Velbastaður and Kirkjubøur.

When getting to Norðradalsskarð mountain pass with stunning views of the unpopulated island, you will drive along the road Oyggjarvegur. This is the mountain road leading to Tórshavn, the archipelago’s capital city. Driving in the Faroe Islands is a great way to explore the islands and most travellers stop for the island views form Norðradalsskarð mountain pass.

For those looking for something extra, hiking from a place called Skeiðsskarð to the small farm settlement Norðradalur will give your stunning views of the island. This is one of the best hikes in the Faroe Islands.

The hike starts from the Oyggjarvegur mountain road not that far from the seaside settlement Kollafjørður. From here you will hike the hilly mountains with views to the west and with the iconic Koltur Island rising out of the North Atlantic Ocean.

Koltur Island as a National Park

The National Museum of the Faroe Islands run a Koltur Island program that seeks to preserve and mediate the cultural and natural heritage on the unpopulated island. This is done by preserving the historical man-made structures and equally as important, to make part of the island into a nature preserve, dedicated to exploring the original flora of the Faroe Islands before the landscape was cultivated, as well as the preservation of wildlife.

There are plant ecologist that work with biodiversity and botany on the island. Moreover, there is an ongoing building project on the Island. A research station will be built to accommodate local and international research, a historic ruin will also be transformed into a small museum to mediate the history of the Island as well as a few other practical additions. 

Torfinnur Jákupsson

Torfinnur Jákupsson is a renowned filmmaker and screenwriter from the Faroe Islands. Born and raised in the Faroe Islands, Jákupsson has contributed to bring the culture and landscapes of this North Atlantic archipelago to a broader audience. His most notable work is Trom, a Faroese crime drama series that premiered in 2022. Trom was the first major TV series filmed entirely in the Faroe Islands. Based on local crime novels, the series follows a journalist as he investigates a murder and uncovers environmental and political tensions within the community. Jákupsson's compelling storytelling, combined with the stark beauty of the Faroese landscape, earned Trom international acclaim. The series has been broadcasted on BBC in the UK and SBS in Australia among others. Jákupsson explore themes of isolation, identity, and the interaction between traditional and modern Faroese life, resonating with both local and global audiences. He holds a master's degree from University of Westminster in Audio Production.

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