Hvithamar Hike in the Faroe Islands (Must See Views!)

Hvithamar Hike (also known as the Gongturur Hiking route) in the Faroe Islands is the textbook definition of a high reward, low effort hike. I have now completed this hike twice and the views are absolutely stunning the entire way!!

It is a must see for everyone visiting, no matter the time of year.

What makes the Hvithamar Viewpoint so special?

There are two things that make Hvithamar so special. One is just how easy it is to reach! With the first viewpoint only an easy 10 minute walk you really can’t miss this amazing spot!

The second thing is the location. It is also located in one of the most beautiful mountain passes in the entire Faroe Islands, the Gjáarskarð mountain pass.

It is also worth noting that this hike is also one of the few in the Faroe Islands that is perfect for children!

Hvithamar Hike Location

The Hvithamar hike is located on the island of Eysturoy, between the villages of Funningur and Gjogv. The entire area is absolutely breathtaking!

Beware in the winter – The roads in the Gjáarskarð mountain pass are NOT plowed in the winter.

The best way to get there is by car. We rented from this company because they were the cheapest. Thankfully we had no complaints or issues renting from them.

If you are staying in Torshavn, the drive to the trailhead will take you about 40-45 minutes.

The fastest route will take you through the Eysturoyartunnilin underwater tunnel which will cost you 200kr (about $29 USD) one way. Which is insanely expensive.

If you want to avoid paying the fee there is another way to get there via the free Streymin Bridge that connects the islands of Streymoy and Eysturoy.

Taking the alternate route will add 10 minutes to your drive. For me, it was definitely worth taking the longer way!

I couldn’t get my GPS to show the alternate route option, so here’s what worked for me: I added Hvalvík as a stop in my GPS before setting the destination to Funningur. This way, the GPS automatically rerouted me the correct way.

It is just a 10 minute drive from the village of Gjogv so I highly recommend combining this hike with a trip to Gjogv.

Trailhead Parking

You will park at the Gjáarskarð mountain pass. Here is the exact location in Google Maps.

There is a small parking area located near the trailhead, just off the road between the villages of Funningur and Gjógv. The trailhead is well-marked, making it easy to find.

When you get there you will ask yourself, is this the right place? Because it won’t look like it. There are no signs to let anyone know that this is where the hike begins. For a second I wondered if I was going to get a ticket for parking on the side of the road.

The trailhead parking is just an area off the side of the road. I was the only one there the day I did the hike.

What to Expect on the Hvithamar Hike

Expect mud—seriously. This is one of the muddiest, swampiest hikes I’ve done in the Faroe Islands. Both times I did this trail, the ground was swamp-like, especially at the beginning of the trail so be sure to choose your steps carefully to avoid sinking ankle-deep into the mud.

The Hvithamar Hike consists of two viewpoints. The Hvíthamar ridge viewpoint and the Skeggjanøv viewpoint. Both are worth hiking to.

Hvíthamar ridge viewpoint

It only takes about a 10 minute walk (all flat) to the first viewpoint the Hvíthamar ridge viewpoint.

You will know you have reached the viewpoint when you find a metal railing, which literally might have saved my life.

When I was here last year in 80 mile an hour, wind gust hit out of nowhere and it completely pinned me to the railing. I was unable to move. It came out of nowhere and was honestly terrifying. I had never felt wind like that before. Had the railing not been there I probably would have been blown off the edge.

I have since realized my apple weather app just doesn’t cut it here since the weather varies greatly depending on what part of the island you’re on. For my most recent trip I started using meteoblue weather app and I found it to be very accurate. 

iAnother app I recommend is the Faroe Islands live weather app. It is incredibly useful and they include live cameras at each location. I used both apps daily during my recent 2 weeks stay in the Faroe Islands.

The weather was rough the day I did this hike. Rain, hail and wind non-stop all day.

Be prepared to walk through a swampy, muddy mess, especially if it has recently rained.

Skeggjanøv viewpoint

It will take you 20 minutes from the trailhead parking to the to the Skeggjanøv viewpoint and only 10 extra minutes from the Hvíthamar ridge viewpoint.

It is mostly uphill and will require a little bit of scrambling around rocks towards the top. You will continue following the blue sticks in the ground that mark the trail.

Be careful as the winds can get very strong in this area. Even if the weather is bad, I still recommend heading up the hill to this viewpoint. It’s worth the 10 minutes of extra effort.

Tips for getting to the Hvithamar Viewpoint

The mud is next level (Swampy)

There’s muddy, then there’s Faroe Islands muddy. What do I mean by that? I mean you take a step in the mud and your foot sinks down to your ankle. It’s like walking through the swamp especially if it has just rained.

You will be pretty miserable if you don’t have a good pair of waterproof boots.

Beware of the wind here

The entire Faroe Islands is windy, there’s no getting around that. But in this spot in particular the wind was absolutely INSANE.

There were signs all along the hike warning you to not underestimate the winds here.

The gusts were so strong I was unable to stand numerous times. Had I been close to the edge I absolutely would have blown right off.

When the wind gets too strong to stand drop to your knees and wait for it to pass.

Conclusion:

Whether you’re looking for a short, easy hike or simply want to capture some of the most stunning views in the Faroe Islands, the Hvíthamar Viewpoint is a must-visit for any traveler. Its accessibility and rewarding views make it one of the highlights of Eysturoy.