Trælanípa Cliff

Trælanípa is a perpendicular cliff on Vágar Island in the unexplored Faroe Islands. The cliff treats travellers to one of the most renowned nature attractions in the Faroe Islands.

From Trælanípa Cliff, in English the Slave Cliff, you can see the freshwater Lake Leitisvatn. Standing at this viewpoint will make the lake look as if it floats above the salty North Atlantic ocean.

The scenery at Trælanípa is among travellers’ favourite spots to visit in the Faroe Islands. In order to get the the famous vantage point, you will walk on an unpaved path for just less than one hour.

Walking to the famous viewpoint is easy. There is no elevation along the route except for the very last part when you walk uphill to the vantagepoint.

Getting to the Trailhead

You will find the trailhead to Trælanípa Cliff very close to Vagar Airport. It takes 5 minutes to drive from the airport to where the path starts. The trailhead is located next to the village Miðvágur. Once you see the centrally located church in Miðvágur, you are very close. There is a parking lot beside a small shed from where you set off. There are signs in Miðvágur pointing you in the direction of the shed.

As you will be in the great outdoors for around three hours, you might want to bring some snacks with you. There are grocery stores and a gas station in the village Miðvágur located 1 kilometres (0.6 miles) from the trailhead.

The Walk to Trælanípa Cliff

Most people will find the trek from the trailhead to the cliff more like a walk than a real hike. It can easily be done by both small children and people used to walking.

You will walk along Lake Leitisvatn on your way to Trælanípa Cliff. This is the same lake that you will see perched above the ocean from the sheer cliff.

The entire route to the Trælanípa Cliff is well maintained. There are some stairs that you will ascend just before you reach the highest point from where you will have the unreal ‘floating lake’ view. Once you have completed the walk and are back at the trailhead, we have walked 6 kilometres (3.7 miles).

Other great views near Trælanípa Cliff

Just before you get to the point of the walk when you start moving upward the hill, you will have a great view of the cliff itself. There is a wooden bench here where you can relax and simply soak in the untouched surroundings.

Another great attraction next to the cliff is Bøsdalafossur Waterfall which drops from the lake into the ocean. The lake floats 38 meters (125 feet) above the ocean here. Most of the lake is 60 meters (197 feet) deep so a lot of the water in the lake is actually under sea level.

Ironically, the lake is often called the Lake Above the Ocean due to the optical illusion created by the cliff’s wall. It looks as if the lake hovers far from sea level.

Another popular attraction just a short walk from Trælanípa Cliff is the towering Geituskorardrangur Rock Wall. You will walk for 10 minutes from the Trælanípa Cliff in order to get to Geituskorardrangur and the sheer rock wall shooting out of the ocean.

Services near Trælanípa Cliff

As the Lake Above the Ocean is one of the main attractions in the Faroe Islands, there are several services nearby. The Trælanípa Cliff viewpoint itself is pure nature. All the services listed below are located in the nearest village Miðvágur and at the trailhead.

• Grocery store: Yes
• Café: Yes
• Public toilet: Yes
• Parking lot: Yes

Høgni Reistrup

Høgni Reistrup is the CEO and Co-founder of Guide to Faroe Islands. Born and raised in the Faroe Islands, Høgni has deep roots in the archipelago. He co-founded the marketplace Guide to Faroe Islands in 2018 as a way for travellers to plan and explore the best of the island group.

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