Skúvoy Island

Skúvoy Island is located in the southern part of the remote Faroe Islands. The island is blessed with a rich birdlife and breathtaking cliff views.

Here, you will find puffins, guillemots, and the great skua. Skúvoy Island is named after the large number of skuas on the island.

Skúvoy Island has a total land area of 10 square kilometres (3.9 square miles). The highest point on the island is the summit of Knútur, which rises 392 metres (1286 feet) above sea level.

The only village on Skúvoy bears the same name as the island. The small settlement sits at the top of a short slipway from the harbour. A long and high mountain ridge shelters the settlement from western winds. From the village, there is a lovely view to the village of Skarvanes on Sandoy Island.

Getting to Skúvoy Island

You will reach Skúvoy Island by passenger ferry or boat. Daily departures all year round.

The small passenger ferry Sildberin has several daily departures from the village of Sandur on Sandoy Island. If you don’t have a car, you can take a bus from Tórshavn to Sandur. The ferry ride takes 35 minutes and it is usually a pleasant ride.

Skúvoy Island is a car-free island, so bringing a car onboard the ferry is not possible. The village is very small, so it is also not needed. With no traffic on the island and a rich birdlife, experiencing this remote outpost is a real treasure.

Hiking on Skúvoy Island

The entire west side of the island consists of steep cliffs with plenty of good hiking opportunities. The easiest hike is out to the Høvdin Cliff, where puffins nest between May and August. For a more adventurous hike with breathtaking cliff views, climb the summit of Knútur, the island’s highest mountain. The hikes can easily be combined as Høvdin is on the way to Knútur.

Hike to Høvdin

The hike to Høvdin begins in the village. Follow the only road north out of the village. Pass through the gate at the end of the road and then follow the red poles.

Gradually, the trail climbs before descending toward the Fagradalur Valley, where Høvdin (134 m / 439 ft) rises at the northern edge. When you reach the signpost for Høvdin, leave the trail and make your way towards the top of the cliff.

The route involves a steep descent followed by a short but somewhat technical scramble up the cliffside. Take care as the terrain can be slippery.

Consider this hike somewhere between easy and moderate. Only the last part of the climb up the cliff can be challenging. It is 3 km (1.86 miles) and takes around 1,5-2 hours one way.

Hike to Knútur

The hike to Knútur follows the same route as to Høvdin. Once you get to the signpost, go left and follow the white poles south along the cliff edge. The terrain is mostly grassy and easy to navigate, although the final approach to the summit is rather steep. The summit is right on the edge of a sea cliff, so take care not to get too close to the edge.

Once at the summit, if it’s a clear day, you can see the two small islands, Stóra Dímun and Lítla Dímun, as well as the much larger Suðuroy Island.

The hike to Knútur is moderate. There are no technical parts but the steepness can be a challenge for some. The hike is 5 km (3.1 mi) and takes around 2,5-3 hours one way.

Skúvoy Island on a Map

You can see Skúvoy Island on the map of the Faroe Islands located in the southern part of the archipelago, next to Sandoy Island.

Beata Leifsdóttir Skaalum

Beata Leifsdóttir Skaalum is born and raised in Tórshavn in the Faroe Islands. She now lives in Sandavágur on Vágar Island located near the only airport in the archipelago. Before becoming the manager at the enchanting Fiskastykkið restaurant in Sandavágur, she did her internship with Guide to Faroe Islands in Tórshavn. Beata holds a degree in Marketing Management from Glasir Tórshavn Collage.

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