Mount Sornfelli

Sornfelli (725 m / 2379 ft) is a mountain on Streymoy Island in the Faroe Islands. The mountain is most renowned for its beautiful views and its two big white radar domes that you can see from a long distance.

Mount Sornfelli lies a 20-minute drive from the capital, Tórshavn. You can drive almost all the way to the top of the mountain. You will get an amazing panoramic view from the mountain plateau.

Getting to Mount Sornfelli

In order to get to the vantage point on Mount Sornfelli from Tórshavn, take the the old mountain road Oyggjarvegurin out of the city. This road opened in 1966 and used to be the only road linking the capital to the northern part of the archipelago, until the tunnel road below was built in 1992.

13 km (8 miles) after leaving Tórshavn, you will see a narrow road going up the mountain to your left. This road will lead you to the vantage point on Sornfelli. The road is single-track and very steep. In the winter, it is not possible to drive there.

Shortly before the end of the road, you will get to a plateau where you can park your car. Only a few metres from here, you will have the most beautiful view of the mountainous surroundings as well as the neighbouring Vágar Island.

Views from the Plateau

There are some great views that you can get while standing on the plateau. On Streymoy Island, the most prominent feature is the flat-summited Mount Skælingsfjall, which rises 749 metres (2.457 ft) above sea level.

Across the strait on Vágar Island, you can spot the famous Trøllkonufingur Rock Pillar. While most people see this soaring pillar from near the village of Sandavágur on Vágar Island, seeing the rock formation from Mount Sornfelli gives a wonderful fresh perspective.

If the surroundings are all covered in clouds, you can sometimes just wait for a moment and things might clear up. There is no guarantee that you’ll get good visibility, but make sure to stay at the plateau for a while and it might very well happen.

Often, on summer evenings when the capital is covered in fog, you will be above the clouds when on Sornfelli.

When standing on Sornfelli with the clouds below you, there will be lots of mountain tops popping up through the fog. This view is truly breathtaking.

Radar station at Sornfelli

There used to be a radar station on Sornfelli, which was built in 1961 during the Cold War. The military interest in the area around the Faroe Islands dropped significantly in the mid ’00s, and the radar station closed in 2007. Two radar domes are still visible on top of the mountain.

However, with the military rearmament in the Arctic region, there are now plans to reopen the station. The re-establishment of the radar station is a sign of the growing interest in the North Atlantic region, which the Government of the Faroe Islands pays much attention to.

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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