Kunoy, Faroe Islands: Home of the Famous Faroese Forest

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Eighteen stunning islands make up the Faroe Islands. Kunoy is a sparsely populated island that is in the north and situated close to Bordoy and Kalsoy.

Planning your trip to the Faroe Islands last minute?

Below are some of the top tours, hotels, and transportation options in the Faroe Islands to help you plan your trip!

🚗  Getting around the Faroe Islands (+ airport transfer!):

  1. Cheapest car rental options (you must book ahead!)
  2. Vagar airport to Torshavn (a hassle-free transfer service)

🇫🇴  Top Experiences and Tours in the Faroes:

  1. Outstanding Faroe Islands ʻSee it Allʻ tour (7-hour bestseller!)
  2. 1.5-hour Vestmanna sea cliffs boat trip (easy half-day option)
  3. Mykines 7-hour tour (ferry to Mykines – summer option!)
  4. Kalsoy and Kallur Lighthouse 8-hour guided tour (my fave place!)

🛌  Top Lodging and Hotels in the Faroes:

  1. Hotel Hafnia (Torshavn)
  2. Hotel Føroyar (Torshavn)
  3. Panorama Boathouse (Klaksvik – perfect for visiting Kalsoy)

This is a Kunoy travel guide with practical information about the island as well as reasons why you should visit.

Kunoy Travel Guide

I didn’t make it to Kunoy on my first trip to the Faroe Islands but, fortunately, I did get a chance to pass through during my second trip.

The island is famous for being home to a forest, which, as many travelers who have been to the Faroes know, is an anomaly in the North Atlantic archipelago!

An island in the north of the Faroe Islands that often is forgotten about is Kunoy island. This is a Kunoy travel guide, including the forest on Kunoy and more.
Kunoy as seen from Bordoy and Klaksvik

I didn’t get to spend as much time there as I would have enjoyed, but in all honesty, the weather was a bit lousy the day we arrived, and the sporadic rain sessions kind of hindered our trip to Kunoy. Such is life in the Faroes…

This is a quick guide to Kunoy Island, including practical information like how to get to Kunoy and what to do when you’re there (spoiler alert: there is not much!). If you have more to add, please leave it in the comments.

About Kunoy

The beautiful island of Kunoy is located in the northeastern part of the Faroe Islands. It’s a tall and mountainous island with incredibly gorgeous scenery and an impeccable natural charm.

An island in the north of the Faroe Islands that often is forgotten about is Kunoy island. This is a Kunoy travel guide, including the forest on Kunoy and more.

The name of the island means Woman Island in Faroese, which is fitting considering one of the closest islands is called Kalsoy, which means Man Island. 

One of the most prominent things about Kunoy is its landscape. To say they’re dramatic is an understatement, as everywhere you look, you’ll be greeted by beautiful views. They’re not beautiful in the typical sense, as Kunoy’s charm is rugged and bare.

During winter, it can get pretty cold and empty, but the peacefulness makes it all worth it. However, the summer months are just as breathtaking as the island’s nature comes to life in full swing.

Its coasts, hills, and ridges bloom incessantly with birch and spruce, and while the entire island is covered in nature, it never feels overwhelming.

Kunoy, Faroe Islands: Home of the Famous Faroese Forest

An island in the north of the Faroe Islands that often is forgotten about is Kunoy island. This is a Kunoy travel guide, including the forest on Kunoy and more.

An island in the north of the Faroe Islands that often is forgotten about is Kunoy island. This is a Kunoy travel guide, including the forest on Kunoy and more.

How to Get to Kunoy

Getting to the island and its villages is quite easy, as they’re directly connected to the city of Klaksvik via a causeway from the island of Bordoy.

From Torshavn, it is about an hour and a half to Kunoy. From Klaksvik, you’re looking at a 10-15 minute drive. You will need to go through a tunnel on the edge of Klaksvik that is quite narrow. Be careful, I did $1000 in damage to a car in that tunnel.

An island in the north of the Faroe Islands that often is forgotten about is Kunoy island. This is a Kunoy travel guide, including the forest on Kunoy and more.

Kunoy and Haraldssund

There are two main settlements on the island, and each of them is a tiny village. The more well-known of the two is Kunoy village.

It is distinguishable by its charming homes and the well-known Kunoy Church. It is located on the northwestern banks of the island. The other village is called Haraldssund.

A tunnel that is barely 30 years old connects both villages. There used to be a third village, Skarð, but a fishing accident killed the entire male population. After this, the women moved to Haraldssund.

An island in the north of the Faroe Islands that often is forgotten about is Kunoy island. This is a Kunoy travel guide, including the forest on Kunoy and more.

Skarð is now deserted, but the ruins still stand, and anyone can visit them at any time.

Kunoy Island is very sparsely populated. Around 130–150 people are living there, around 60 of whom live in Kunoy Village (and more in Haraldssund).

Why You Should Visit Kunoy

One of the main reasons to visit Kunoy is to simply see another island. Every single island in the Faroes is a bit different, and Kunoy is no exception. Below are the two main reasons we suggest visiting Kunoy during your Faroes trip.

The Forest on Kunoy

One of the best things about Kunoy, in general, is that it’s a destination meant to be explored on foot. That’s the best way to go when it comes to experiencing the magic of Kunoy’s forest.

The real magic comes from the fact that, originally, Kunoy was a pretty barren island.

An island in the north of the Faroe Islands that often is forgotten about is Kunoy island. This is a Kunoy travel guide, including the forest on Kunoy and more.

Trees used to have a hard time growing naturally on the Faroe Islands, which is why there were several groves planted. One of the most beautiful and important ones is the one known as the Forest of Kunoy (Viðarlundin í Kunoy).

It is dramatic and imposing, much like the rest of the island’s natural beauty, but it does stand out. You can tell that it’s manmade, which is what contributes to the allure.

There are benches, an arching bridge, and plenty of unique little nature pockets. Part of its amazing charm comes from the fields of flowers that look so fantastic and unique compared to the naked beauty of Kunoy.

The Kunoy forest is created to be like a park of sorts, where the focus is to feel inviting and pleasant to visitors. It offers a breathtaking view of the village, as it’s located in the valley above it.

It is unique and pleasant, and one of the finest spots to visit on the Faroe Islands.

An island in the north of the Faroe Islands that often is forgotten about is Kunoy island. This is a Kunoy travel guide, including the forest on Kunoy and more.

Hiking on Kunoy

Kunoy is home to some of the highest mountains in the Faroe Islands. There are a few hikes available there, but we don’t recommend going to any of them alone. The highest peak on Kunoy is called Kúvingafjall, and it is 830 meters tall.

A popular Kunoy hike is through the gorge called “Skarðsgjógv,” which will take you to the abandoned village of Skarð. This is a difficult hike that should only be done by experienced hikers (with the right equipment and hiking clothes) and those with a guide.

It is discouraged to take anything or move anything around if you hike to Skarð. It is simply out of sheer respect for those who can trace their families there due to the tragic history of the village.

If you’re not on the island but want a killer view of it, go hiking up to Klakkur, near Klaksvik. You will be (hopefully, if weather permits) granted a really beautiful landscape, and Kunoy should be present in the backdrop.

An island in the north of the Faroe Islands that often is forgotten about is Kunoy island. This is a Kunoy travel guide, including the forest on Kunoy and more.

An island in the north of the Faroe Islands that often is forgotten about is Kunoy island. This is a Kunoy travel guide, including the forest on Kunoy and more.

We hope that this quick travel guide for Kunoy encourages you to add the northern island to your list. It is a quiet place, and while there isn’t much to do there, it is certainly worthwhile to check out the forest on Kunoy and perhaps do a little hiking.

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