Kunoy Island Travel Guide

​Kunoy Island is one of 18 islands in the wild Faroe Islands. The island is long and narrow. Due to its steep mountains with vast rock face, there are only two inhabited places on the island: Kunoy and Haraldssund.

There is a quality road connection all the way from Tórshavn to this island. When getting to the steep island from the capital, you drive through tunnels, a bridge, an undersea tunnel and finally crossing an causeway to reach Haraldssund on Kunoy Island.

From Haraldssund there is a tunnel that leads to the village Kunoy. The tunnel through the mountain has one lane only and is very narrow. There are lay-byes inside the tunnel to enable ongoing traffic to pass.

The name of the highest peak on the island is Kúvingafjall (830 m / 2723 ft). Kunoy translates directly to Woman island.

The isle in located in the northern part of the archipelago. When in the settlement Kunoy on the west side of the island, you will have a great view of Kalsoy Island. You will see the Kalsoyarfjørður fjord, which separates the island from Kalsoy Island.

Landscape on Kunoy Island

The picturesqueness of the island is staggering. You will see the regular alternation of steep mountain slopes and round valley formations. These valleys look like a half-bowl scoop out of the mountain mass with immense walls of rocky basalt rising tier upon tier forming its sides.

The walls descend, often in a beautiful even curve, to a small green floor irrigated by a network of streams whose upper reaches are foaming white. Visiting this island will let you understand how steep the mountains in the Faroe Islands can be.

There are networks of beautiful streams whose upper reaches are foaming white cataracts agains the cliffs. These waterfalls are most impressive in winter from November to March.

It is enjoyable watching the island from nearby islands. You will see the splendid grandeur of the deeply cut dales scored in the great hillsides which descend to the low rocks of the coast. A great place to see Kunoy Island from a distance is from the mountain ridge Klakkur on Borðoy Island.

Visit Kunoy for Towering Rock Wall

The settlement Kunoy is arguably the more impressive of the two hamlets on the island. What makes Kunoy special are the sheer cliffs that rises as a wall behind the valley where the settlement is located.

It is always worth parking your car and walk down to the small pier in Kunoy. Here you get great ocean views and turning towards the island will give you lovely views of the heights found on the island.

Kunoy Island Tunnel

There is one tunnel on the island. This mountain tunnel is very dark so just make sure to keep your headlights on.

The mountain tunnel on the island is 3 km / 1.9 mi from one end to the other. With only 3.5 m / 11.5 ft from one wall to the other inside the tunnel, there is only one track inside the tube. There are lay-bys in order to let oncoming traffic to pass by. Simply pull to the side when vehicles approach you.

Sveinur Tróndarson

Sveinur Tróndarson is a prominent figure in the Faroe Islands, known for his multifaceted contributions to local society, particularly in journalism, media, and culture. Born and raised in the settlement Skála on Eysturoy Island in the Faroe Islands, Tróndarson has been actively involved in shaping the public dialogue around everything from sports, politics to preserving local traditions. Sveinur holds a master’s degree in political science from the Univerity of the Faroe Islands. As a journalist, he has worked with key media outlets in the Faroe Islands, including the public broadcasting cooperation Kringvarp Føroya and as both chief editor and CEO at the newspaper Dimmalætting. His insights are valued and he is often used as an expert in news media. His commentary reflects a deep understanding of history, language, and the Faroe Island' place in the world. In addition to his journalistic endeavors, Tróndarson has taken the official tourism course in the Faroe Islands. Today, he also works as a tour guide.

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