Vatnsoyrar Travel Guide

Vatnsoyrar is a small settlement next to Lake Leitisvatn in the wild Faroe Islands. The houses in the settlement are only a 1 minutes drive from Vágar Airport.

You will see Vatnsoyrar when you are standing at Trælanípa Cliff on the opposite end of Lake Leitisvatn. Vatnsoyrar is the only landlocked settlement in the Faroe Islands.

Vatnsoyrar serves as the portal to some of the Faroe Islands’ most gentle hiking terrain. While many travellers pass through this settlement when driving the in the Faroe Islands, allow yourself to explore the hidden gems behind the mellow hills. This is the starting point for one of Faroe Islands’ most rewarding day hikes.

The settlement itself is modest – a collection of two-story homes rising gracefully in the landscape. What lies beyond Vatnsoyrar is a trail leading to the pristine Lake Fjallavatn and the thundering Reipsáfossur Waterfall.

From Vatnsoyrar to Lake Fjallavatn

Setting out from Vatnsoyrar where all flight with Atlantic Airways and other carriers depart and arrive nearby, hikers first traverse gentle slopes covered in hardy mountain grass and some heather. The path winds northward, gradually gaining elevation as it cuts through a landscape sculpted by ancient glaciers. After about an hour’s walk, Lake Fjallavatn reveals itself. Beautiful mountains surround the freshwater lake. You will enjoy the peace and quiet found here.

The lake itself and the hike to it is rewarding in its own right. Nevertheless, make sure to continue along the lake and to the coast. This is where Reipsáfossur Waterfall comes into view. The waterfall is a cascade that plummets into a narrow gorge.

Hiking to the waterfall takes 5 hours and if you only hike to the end of the lake and back, it will take you 4 hours or so. Please note that weather conditions in the Faroe Islands can change rapidly. Hence, proper preparation including checking the weather forecast is essential.

While Vatnsoyrar itself is mostly just a cluster of houses, what makes it special is the backcountry gateway found further afield. Here, travellers meet the wilderness and untamed beauty found all around the Faroe Islands.