TJØRNUVIK

Tjørnuvik village, surrounded by mountains on three sides and the sea on the fourth. This image is from our second visit, when a lot of the snow had melted away

In my stories and posts from the Faroe Islands we have come as far north as you can on the main island, Streymoy. We have passed Haldórsvik and Fossa waterfall (both described in earlier posts). Then the road narrows and is tucked into the steep mountainside until it reaches a bay in the far north of Streymoy.

And at the bottom of the bay is the village of Tjørnuvik. 70 permanent inhabitants and at least as many streams gushing down the mountainsides surrounding Tjørnuvik on three sides.

The first day’s approach to Tjørnuvik with snow still covering the mountains and the settlement

Jennifer and I visited twice, the first time with a lot of snow on the ground, and the second time most of it had melted away in the valleys. Most of my photos are from our first visit, but a couple are from the second as well. During the winter months the sun will never shine on the village, as the surrounding mountains block the sun out totally.

Loads of small streams came down the mountain sides and merged into a larger brook before emptying into the bay behind me. All the poles you see in the image are part of drying racks used to hang the hay during the summer months, so it can dry by the wind and the sun (when it appears!).

It is one of the oldest settlements on the islands and Viking graves have been found in the valley. Most of the houses are very traditional and many have the typical turf roofs. In front of the village is the beach of black sand, and with the waves rolling in and raising up as they approach the beach, it has become a popular surfing place in summer. In my next post I will show images from the beach and some famous sea stacks far out.

Immediately behind the houses the mountainsides tower above the village
Looking out over the west side of the bay. The road ends at the houses you can see in the distance.

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