If you’ve done any research on driving around the Faroe Islands, you’ve probably seen people mention the dramatic cliffs, the endless tunnels, and the weather. And yes — the weather absolutely lives up to the hype. It’s moody. It changes constantly. And in the case of Norðadalsskarð, it’s trying to blow you off the mountain.
Norðadalsskarð is famous for being the Faroe Islands windiest mountain pass and after visiting this last October I can attest, it was extremely windy. When I was there the wind was registering at around 60 mph but in the winter the wind can reach hurricane levels.
It also holds the very specific title of “Windiest Place in the Faroe Islands.”Which is honestly impressive when you consider that everywhere in the Faroes feels like the wind is personally attacking you. Don’t believe me? Check out this video here as my proof.
It’s not a destination in the traditional sense — there’s no café, no hiking trail, and no ticket booth. But there is a gravel pull-off where you can park your car, get out, and soak in the insane views (and, depending on the day, possibly have your hood ripped off your head by a gust of wind).
I highly recommend visiting just before sunset. When I visited there were only a few other cars there and I felt like I basically had the entire mountain pass to myself.
I pulled over on the side of the road and just took in the views. The sunsets here are truly insane.
If you drive down to the bottom of the mountain pass like I did you will see a small farm at the foot of the mountain. The scenery is so beautiful there. It was one of my favorite evenings I spent in the Faroe Islands. So freaking peaceful.
Where Is Norðadalsskarð?
Norðadalsskarð is located on the island of Streymoy, which is the biggest and most populated island in the Faroe Islands.
If you’re coming from Tórshavn, it’ll take you about 15 to 20 minutes by car to get there. That’s only about 9 miles (15 kilometers), but the Faroe Islands don’t really do straight lines or flat roads, so it always feels longer (in a good way).
Located between the villages of Leynar and Kollafjørður, Norðadalsskarð is one of the highest and most exposed mountain passes on the island of Streymoy.
Driving through this mountain pass truly felt like I was driving through the sky. I didn’t realize just how high up I was until you look down into the fjord below. It’s a pretty wild drive.
Final Thoughts
Norðadalsskarð isn’t a long stop — you’ll probably spend about ten minutes there unless you’re really committed to braving the wind for the perfect shot. But it was a spot I overlooked on my first trip to the Faroe Islands and I regret it.