All guides
Weather and safety
Staying safe
What are the genuine hazards here?
Cliffs without railings, weather that turns fast, and no mobile signal where you need it most.
The short version
- Emergency number is 112.
- Cliff edges are unfenced and grass over an undercut edge looks solid.
- Tell someone your route — signal is unreliable off the main roads.
Emergency services112 — police, fire and ambulance
The real risks
- Cliff edges. There are almost no railings and the turf can overhang the rock beneath it.
- Wind gusting on exposed ridges — enough to knock you over on Slættaratindur.
- Fog closing in on a marked route in minutes.
- Incoming tide cutting off a beach or a lagoon crossing.
- Sheep on the road at dusk.
Mountain rescue exists but is volunteer and small. Self-sufficiency is expected — the response is not quick.
Carry more layers than you think, tell your accommodation where you are going, and turn back earlier than you would at home.
Read next
Where can I walk, and what does access cost?
Hiking in the Faroe Islands
Most land is privately owned and several popular routes charge a fee or require a guide.
How bad is the weather really, and how do I plan for it?
Faroese weather, and planning around it
Not cold, rarely still, and different on two sides of the same island. Plan flexibly rather than optimistically.
What do I actually need to bring?
What to pack
Wind-proof rather than warm, waterproof boots, and no umbrella.