Hiking the Klakkur Trail (+ Exploring Klaksvík)

Going to the Faroe Islands and *not* wanting to hike is borderline impossible. But unfortunately, many trails are only accessible during the summer. When we visited in April, we were on the lookout for something that was fun but also wasn’t a huge risk or beyond our skill level. The Klakkur mountain ridge, located on Borðoy island in the Northern Isles, promised to meet our criteria. 

Although I wasn’t feeling well on the day we hiked, Klakkur is still one of my top hiking recommendations for the Faroe Islands. Though challenging in parts, it’s not *too* strenuous. Moreover, the hike doesn’t take too long and is accessible for much of the year. 

Still, preparing for your hike in advance is a good idea. Based on our experiences doing the trail, I’m bringing you this comprehensive guide to hiking Klakkur. I’ll also take you on a journey through Klaksvík, the second largest town on the Faroes. 

Starting the Hike

To start our hike, we first drove our car up the Niðan Horn street. Here, we found a parking lot. From there, we got out of the car and walked up Astarbravt. We did see some cars go up there, and there’s another car park close to the trailhead. 

Be warned, however, that the road is narrow and the final part is a gravel road. We figured it was easier to park at Niðan Horn and walk, and I suggest that you do the same. Plus, you get the best views of Klaksvík when you walk up Astarbravt to the start of the trailhead, anyway. 

Since I wasn’t feeling well, we had to stop more often than we normally would. However, we did find a couple of benches along the way. So, this wasn’t a huge issue. 

Since this is the Faroe Islands, you’ll also see plenty of sheep along the way 🙂. We also saw some geese; you’ll pass various farms as you walk up to the trailhead. This part of the hike was straightforward, though it did become taxing on our legs after a while. You’re also walking in a straight line with a steady incline, effectively, so it can get a bit monotonous.

Conditions on the Trail

After passing through the gate, we found ourselves at the start of the trailhead. Like other hikes on the Faroe Islands, you’ll see a board with a map of the hiking route at the beginning. This contains other useful information, such as how long the hike will take and its distance.

The sign is in both Faroese and English, and the information is laid out pretty well. You can also scan QR codes for more information if needed.

While we hadn’t seen any snow in Tórshavn, where we were staying, the top of the mountains surrounding Klaksvík were peppered with snow. While beautiful (and precisely what I was hoping for from a photographer’s perspective), this did present some challenges. 

After leaving the gravel road, much of the Klakkur trail was very muddy. If we weren’t wearing good hiking shoes, it would’ve been very slippery. As we continued up the mountain, these conditions didn’t change.

The trail itself was quite easy to follow. Even though much of it was covered in snow (which made it slippery in parts), we didn’t have much trouble sticking to the path. Comparatively, we started in the wrong place when we did the Eiðiskollur hike on Eysturoy island.

As you move up the trail, you’ll start to see the surrounding mountains and islands. We had plenty of photo opportunities, but because parts of the trail were slippery, I kept my camera in my bag. When I saw something I wanted to capture, I’d then stop and take my camera out. 

To reach the summit, you pretty much just have to follow the trail up and aim for the antenna on top of the ridge. It took us around an hour to get there, and there were a few other tourists on the trail. While one of the busier routes we did, the crowds were not bad at all.

Reaching the Summit

Once we reached the summit, we were met with some of the most stunning views anywhere on the Faroe Islands. We could see the island of Kalsoy, in addition to Kunoy and the whole of Klaksvík, from above. 

The summit at Klakkur is very steep, and it’s very important that you pay attention to where you’re walking. Parts were quite narrow, though there weren’t any heart-in-mouth moments. It was very windy when we reached the top, and as a result, I didn’t go right to the end. Still, the surrounding landscape did not disappoint.

Despite not feeling well, I was still glad that we did this hike and reached the main vantage point. Amidst the coughing, I felt at least a bit better thanks to the views. 

How Difficult Was This Hike?

The Klakkur hike is of moderate difficulty, and I don’t think most people with good fitness levels will have much of an issue completing it. While it would’ve been better to do it in sunny weather with no wind, I still felt like it was doable in the conditions we had. 

However, I’d advise against doing the hike if it’s dark or you have bad visibility. As I mentioned, some parts at the top are quite steep. It will probably be windy at the top regardless, but I wouldn’t do this hike in a full-on storm. 

Getting down is, in my opinion, actually harder in some parts than reaching the top. Since some areas were slippery, we had to be extra careful with our steps. The gravel road part was much easier, though it did feel quite long when going up. 

This hike is suitable for children, but you should keep an eye on them and make sure they don’t go close to the edges. I’d say that Klakkur is one of the best things to do on the Faroe Islands for both families and those without kids. 

What to Wear When Hiking Klakkur

I say this in most of my hiking guides, but good footwear is vital when hiking Klakkur. Don’t bother doing this in sneakers or running shoes. Hiking shoes will give you better grip and insulate your feet in the parts where it’s wet and muddy. 

Before doing the hike, make sure you’ve worn your boots a few times and broken them in. Wearing a brand-new pair of boots will make your hike more uncomfortable than it needs to be. 

As you’ll quickly see when you visit the Faroes for the first time, the weather changes often. One minute, it’ll be raining, and the next, you’ll have clear skies. Bring a windbreaker that can also withstand rainy weather, and make sure you have good hiking pants, too. 

Warm baselayers are also wise. The first gravel road part is quite lengthy, and I was sweating before we even got to the start of the trailhead. You might be the same, and not dressing warmly will probably ruin your hike. 

Exploring Klaksvík

After finishing the Klakkur hike, we took a walk around Klaksvík. With a population of 5,100, this fishing town is the second biggest “urban” area on the Faroe Islands. 

Klaksvík has a nice harbor area that’s worth walking around, even if it’s largely industrial. The mountainous backdrop reminds me a lot of Bergen in Norway, and I like how the mountains look like they layer on top of each other.

If you need to fill up on food, Klaksvík has a couple of places to eat, too. We were on a bigger trip around the Northern Isles, and as a result, we went to the main grocery store to buy ingredients. Many of the places to shop and eat are close to the harbor area. 

Klaksvík also has one of the most beautiful churches on the Faroe Islands. Its unique shape and brick design were really cool to see; sadly, we couldn’t go inside on the day. Still, I do think it’s worth stopping by and seeing quickly. 

As the biggest town on the Northern Isles, Klaksvík is the starting point for a handful of tours in the area. For example, you can do a food tour with a local farmer. Moreover, you can join a tour to explore the Northern Isles.  

How to Get to Klaksvík From Tórshavn

We drove from Tórshavn to Klaksvík, and this was the most convenient way to get here. You have two options; the journey takes between 50 and 80 minutes, depending on the route you take. 

The Fastest Way

The fastest way to drive from Tórshavn to Klaksvík is via the Eysturoy tunnel. The journey takes just under 50 minutes, and you’ll pass through two tunnels: 

• The tunnel connecting Streymoy and Eysturoy
• The tunnel between Eysturoy and Borðoy

You’ll have to pay fees to cross both tunnels. A return journey costs 375 DKK from Streymoy to Eysturoy per vehicle, and driving from Eysturoy to Borðoy via Norðoyatunnilin is another 100 DKK. 

I suggest either staying in Klaksvík for a few days or exploring the other Northern Isles, and not Borðoy. We went to Kunoy (the tunnel there is pain, but it’s still worth seeing) and Viðoy. Sadly, we didn’t get to Kalsoy island (you need to take a ferry to get there), but we’ll do that on our next adventure in the Faroes.

The Longer (but Cheaper) Route

If you want to save some money, you can drive to Klaksvík via Oyrarbakki. The journey takes just over an hour; you cross through Eysturoyartunnilin and therefore won’t pay the 375 DKK fee. This journey takes just over an hour. 

When taking this route, exploring parts of Eysturoy is also a good idea. For example, Fuglafjørður is a nice town and worth a detour. You will still have to cross through the tunnel to Borðoy, but your journey will still cost less than going via the Eysturoy tunnel.

One benefit of the longer route is that you’ll see many beautiful landscapes along the way. Buses also run between Tórshavn and Klaksvík. You can see the timetable here. 

Final Thoughts

Klakkur is one of the best hikes in the Faroe Islands, and it’s pretty accessible. You don’t need a huge wealth of hiking experience, but you will need decent fitness levels. It’s also a great hike for children, and the views at the top of the ridge are amazing. 

While you’re in the region, Klaksvík itself is worth a few hours of your time. Moreover, I suggest branching off and exploring at least some of the other Northern Isles. In my opinion, these are some of the nicest on the archipelago. Now that you’ve read this guide, you should have the information you need for a great adventure. 

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