The Mýlingur hike was the absolute highlight of my trip to the Faroe Islands, and my favourite hike of the whole journey. Starting near Tjørnuvík, the remote route climbs through the rugged Sjeyndir valley towards Mýlingur’s mountain ridge and dramatic sea cliffs. From the higher slopes, you can look out across the North Atlantic and, on a clear day, towards Eysturoy and the northern islands.
The wild scenery made this an unforgettable experience. If I could recommend just one hike in the Faroe Islands, this would be it, which is why it has comfortably made it into my list of the 5 Best Hikes to Do in the Faroe Islands.
Mýlingur is remote, and the route isn’t clearly marked all the way, so it takes more planning than a typical walk. In this guide, I’ll share what to know before setting out, including the route, navigation, conditions and how to prepare.
Mýlingur Hike Overview
Trailhead: Signs from Tjørnuvík small townsite “Saksun Trail” | Google Maps
Parking: Town center free parking | Google Maps
Total Hiking Distance: 14 km I return
Total Hiking Duration: 5 hour hike | return
Difficulty: Moderate
Altitude: 565 meters above sea level
Price: The hiking trail is free
Highlights: Tjørnuvík fjord, the dramatic black-sand beach, and the legendary sea stacks Risin og Kellingin (the Giant and the Witch)
Where are the Mýlingur Sea Cliffs?
Mýlingur is a mountain on the northwestern coast of Streymoy, the Faroe Islands’ largest island. It stands above the remote Sjeyndir valley, in the mountainous area between Tjørnuvík and Saksun. Its steep coastal slopes plunge towards the North Atlantic, forming the dramatic sea cliffs.
The hike is associated with Tjørnuvík, a small town at the northern end of Streymoy. Saksun lies on the other side of the mountain landscape, placing Mýlingur in a remote corner of the island.
That remote setting is part of what makes Mýlingur feel so special to me. The mountain, valley and sea cliffs give this corner of Streymoy a real sense of wilderness.
How to Get to Tjørnuvík
The Mýlingur hike starts in Tjørnuvík, a remote village at the northern end of Streymoy, around 60 km from Tórshavn. You’ll need to plan how to reach the village before setting out. The main options are hiring a car or travelling by public transport; I’ve outlined both below.
Note that there are currently no organised tours to Mýlingur available.
Hire Car Self-Drive to Tjørnuvík
Hiring a car is the easiest way to reach Tjørnuvík and explore the Faroe Islands at your own pace. Companies such as Avis, Budget and Europcar have locations at Vágar Airport and in central Tórshavn. Rental prices vary, so compare options before booking, as car hire can be a significant trip expense.
The drive to Tjørnuvík is quite scenic, especially as you approach the village, with Tjørnuvík Bay on one side and views of Risin og Kellingin; better know as the Giant and the Witch, on the other.
The journey details are:
Distance: Around 60 km from Tórshavn
Drive time: Approximately 55 minutes
Roads: Paved all the way, so a 2WD is suitable
If it fits your budget, having a hire car makes getting around the islands much easier. I would almost say it is a necessity to save yourself a lot of unneccesary time.
Public Transport - Bus to Tjørnuvík
You can reach Tjørnuvík from Tórshavn by regional bus, but the journey takes some planning:
Take a bus from Tórshavn to Oyrarbakki, then change for a bus to Tjørnuvík.
Services run on weekdays and are infrequent, with buses only every few hours.
Check the Strandfaraskip Landsins website for current routes and timetables.
Public transport is a budget-friendly option if you’re exploring the Faroe Islands without time constraints. If you need to stick to a schedule, though, infrequent services and a missed connection could mean a long wait.
Mýlingur Hike Map
Mýlingur is a mountain on the northwestern coast of Streymoy in the Faroe Islands. The map below shows its location in relation to Tjørnuvík, Saksun and Sjeyndir valley, helping you see where the hike sits within this remote part of the island.
Where to Stay for Hiking Mýlingur
Staying near Mýlingur is a good idea if you want to make the most of this long hike and explore the surrounding villages at a more relaxed pace. Tjørnuvík is the closest option, while Saksun offers a quieter countryside stay about a 35-minute drive away. Both are small villages with limited accommodation, so it’s best to book early.
Alternatively, you can base yourself in Tórshavn, which has a wider choice of accommodation, restaurants and shops. It’s a convenient option if you’re happy to drive to the trailhead.
Best Places to stay in Tjørnuvík
Staying in Tjørnuvík makes it easier to fit in the long Tjørnuvík–Mýlingur hike without rushing the drive from Tórshavn. You can start the day close to the trail, take your time on the hike and enjoy the village before or afterwards.
Tjørnuvík is a small, peaceful village at the northern end of Streymoy, set in a sheltered bay beneath steep mountains. It’s known for its black-sand beach and views of the sea stacks Risin and Kellingin. There are few places to stay so it is encouraged to book well in advance.
The best places to stay in Tjørnuvík are:
Holiday Cottage in Tjørnuvík - A cosy, self-contained cottage with a kitchen, sea views and free on-site parking. It’s a convenient base for the hike and for enjoying Tjørnuvík’s beach and village setting. This tends to be booked out a long way in advance so it is important to get in and book it quick.
Luxurious Unique Villa in Tjørnuvík - A spacious three-bedroom villa with a terrace, sea views and free parking, suited to families or groups. The beach and hiking are close by, and the house looks out towards the famous sea stacks Risin and Kellingin. Another popular option that can hold a lot more people.
Best Places to Stay in Saksun
Another option is to stay in Saksun, around a 35-minute drive from Tjørnuvík. It’s a quaint village known for its dramatic mountain setting, historic church and tidal lagoon, and is likely to be a stop on your trip anyway. Staying here gives you more time to explore the area at a relaxed pace. This is a great alternative if Tjørnuvík is already fully booked.
Note that the town itself is extremely quiet so this is best suited to those wanting a proper escape into the Faroese country side.
Saksun Mountain and Beach Cottage - This cottage offers a quiet, self-catering stay in the heart of Saksun, surrounded by the village’s dramatic mountain scenery. It’s a good choice if you’d like to spend more time exploring the area and enjoy the peaceful atmosphere after day visitors have left
Saksun Authentic Faroese Cottage - A characterful cottage in Saksun, offering a peaceful stay amid the village’s dramatic mountain and lagoon scenery. It’s a lovely base for exploring the church, tidal lagoon and surrounding countryside.
Best Places to stay in Tórshavn
Altneratively Tórshavn the capital offers a far greater choice of accommodation, restaurants and other facilities than you’ll find in the villages. It’s around a 55 minutes to Tjørnuvík, so you can still do the hike easily as a longer day trip. Staying in the capital also gives you plenty to do before or after your hike.
The best places to stay in Tórshavn are:
Hotel Brandan - A four-star superior hotel about a three-minute walk from central Tórshavn. It has a restaurant, café and bar, plus a sauna, fitness suite and outdoor hot tubs. It’s a more upscale option, with free parking and electric car charging, and works well if you want extra facilities while staying close to town. This would be my top choice if you want to be walking distance to the city center.
Hilton Garden Inn Faroe Islands - A modern hotel around 1 km from the city centre, with complimentary on-site parking, a fitness centre and an on-site restaurant serving breakfast, lunch and dinner. It’s a comfortable full-service option, though you’ll have a slightly longer walk into the centre than from the most central hotels
Hotel Djurhuus - A simpler, generally more budget-friendly hotel about a 9-minute walk from central Tórshavn and close to the harbour. Rooms include Wi-Fi, and the stay includes breakfast and free parking, making it a practical choice if you want a convenient base without paying for as many extra facilities.
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When to Hike Mýlingur
The weather in the Faroe Islands is highly unpredictable, so check the forecast carefully before setting out and bring a waterproof, windproof jacket. Good visibility is essential for this hike. Do not attempt it in low cloud: the route is unmarked, and cloud can quickly cover the ridgeline, making it difficult and dangerous to navigate.
We found this out the hard way as low cloud descended on us making navigating nearly impossible. It got to the point where our visibility was only about 20 meters at a time. We ended up having to wait for it to clear before being able to continue.
The hike is most practical in summer, when longer daylight hours give you more time to complete the route. I’d recommend starting in the morning so you have plenty of daylight and can aim to return well before nightfall, with extra time in case the hike takes longer than expected.
Keep your plans flexible and choose a day when the forecast shows clear conditions and good visibility. If low cloud or poor visibility is expected around the ridgeline, wait for a better day rather than trying to stick to a fixed schedule.
What is the Mýlingur Hike Like?
The hike starts in Tjørnuvík, following the signed trailhead for the Saksun toTjørnuvík Trail.
The initial climb out of the village is steep, but the route is fairly easy to follow, with small signs and coloured rock markings. You’ll pass waterfalls and cross streams before reaching a broad valley, where cairns mark the way up towards the saddle. This section is really beautiful and you have stunning views of Tjørnuvík and the sea stacks Risin and Kellingin. Around 6 km into the hike, a cairn marks the saddle where the route splits. The signed trail to Saksun continues south-east; the route to Mýlingur heads north-west and is unmarked.
From here, the terrain climbs towards another ridgeline, with your first glimpses of Mýlingur’s far side. Follow the ridge west for about an hour, then look for a gap between rocks that leads down towards the valley floor.
The descent is very steep, so take your time, especially if the ground is wet. From the bottom, you’ll reach spectacular viewpoints beneath Mýlingur’s 400-metre-high cliffs. Keep well back from the edges.
You can compare the Mylingur hike to the other major hikes around the Faroe Islands in my trekking guide.
How Difficult is the Hike?
Although the hike is often rated moderate, it’s a long route that can be tiring. The first climb out of Tjørnuvík is a steep grind, but the trail eventually opens into a broad valley where the gradient eases and the ground becomes much muddier. The final ridgeline is generally easier to walk along, while the steep descent and the climb back up afterwards can take extra effort.
It’s not a highly technical hike, so it should be manageable for many people with average fitness, provided they’re well prepared and comfortable with a long day on uneven, muddy ground. The route is easy to follow in clear conditions, but the Mýlingur section beyond the saddle is unmarked. Faroese weather can change quickly: we experienced low cloud that reduced visibility to around 20 metres, so check the forecast and be ready to wait or turn back if conditions worsen.
How Long Does it Take?
Allow around 5 hours for the 14 km return hike, though the time can vary depending on your pace and the trail conditions. I’d also set aside at least an extra hour at the end to take in the views and explore the area around Mýlingur before heading back. Leave some flexibility for breaks or delays, especially if the trail is muddy or the weather changes.
There’s no phone reception for much of the route, so download an offline map before you leave. You could use Google Maps or AllTrails, and save pins for key turning points, including the saddle where the route to Mýlingur leaves the Saksun trail. To be honest though in my opinion this was one of the coolest things about it.
Bring enough food and water for the full hike; there are no facilities along the way.
What to Wear and Bring
Wear sturdy, waterproof hiking boots. The valley section can be extremely muddy, and the route crosses small streams. A waterproof, windproof jacket is essential because Faroese weather can change quickly, especially on the exposed ridges.
I normally wear a polar fleece light weight synthetic top underneath.
There is no shelter anywhere along the route, so bring enough food and water for the hike and dress in layers. If relying on your mobile device for navigation make sure that it is fully charged and potentially bring a power bank as a back-up.
Is Hiking to the Mýlingur Sea Cliffs Worth it?
Absolutely. The Mýlingur hike was our favourite hike of our entire Faroe Islands trip. If you’re road-tripping around the islands, it’s a no-brainer to add it to your itinerary, especially if you enjoy remote scenery and a bit of adventure. The vast valley, enormous sea cliffs and unmarked trail made it an experience unlike any other on our trip.
For me, Mýlingur rounded out the number 1 spot out of the 5 Best Hikes to Do in the Faroe Islands
Our Experience Hiking to Mýlingur
We set off from Tjørnuvík fairly early, although the weather didn’t look promising. Rain followed us through the first section of the hike, and low cloud rolled in around the saddle, making it difficult to see where we were going. We had to wait for the cloud to clear before continuing.
Later, as we descended into the final valley, the clouds lifted and the sun came out. The change was incredible. With the huge cliffs, open landscape and sunlight all around us, the valley felt like a little paradise.
The best part was how quiet it was. We didn’t see anyone else until we were getting ready to leave, when one other couple came down into the area. Until then, we’d had the vast landscape and dramatic sea cliffs almost entirely to ourselves.
There’s something special about walking through such a wide, remote place, with the cliffs rising above the ocean and no marked trail leading the way. It felt like a proper adventure and gave the hike another level of isolation we hadn’t experienced elsewhere on the trip.
The route takes effort, particularly on the steep climbs and descent, but the scenery and peacefulness made it well worth it. If you’re comfortable navigating an unmarked trail and the weather is clear, I’d highly recommend adding the Mýlingur hike to your Faroe Islands itinerary.
Hike Out of Town
Risin og Kellingin (the Giant and the Witch)
Saddle Turn Off Point to Unmarked Path
Saddle View South
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Planning a Faroe Islands trekking trip? This six-day itinerary maps out a memorable hiking adventure, from the sea stacks of Drangarnir and the remote Mýlingur cliffs to Kallur Lighthouse on Kalsoy. I’ll show you how to group the hikes by location, where to stay along the way and how to plan around transport and changeable weather.