Dagfinn, our driver/guide, was mostly right about where to find the best weather. Not once did we have to abort an activity due to poor weather and our drive along the Faroese coastline and through small villages was very pleasant.
Dramatic coastline views P1010658
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The highest point of our drive – 882 m – near Slaettartindur (P1010669
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P1010670
There were some small flowers to enjoy too.
A tiny eyebright. You could easily miss this one!(P1010663
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P1010672
Most Faroese plants are Arctic-alpine – made up of low growing wildflowers, mosses, lichens and grasses. The upper slopes of the craggy peaks are usually barren.
Sea-birds dominate the bird population along with those who prefer open ground. There’s no woodland here. The Pied Raven has become extinct while many other birds have developed distinct Faroese sub-species. Puffins are very common and are still part of the Faroese diet.
There are only three species of wild land mammals to be found on the Faroe Islands. All three; the Mountain Hare, Brown Rat and House mouse, were introduced by man.
Over the last 1200 years common animals such as the pony, cow, sheep, goose and duck have been domesticated.
View down a fjord (P1010673
Again, we passed through quaint villages with their brightly painted houses but didn’t stop. We just continued to drive further up-country through beautiful, beautiful scenery.
Old whaling station buildings (P1010689
One place we stopped at was an abandoned whaling station called, Vid Ai.
Abandoned buildings and equipment (P1010678
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An old boiler and storage tank (P1010676
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At the whaling station jetty (P1010682
Angellica (P1010692
Abandoned building sites are great places to find plants that like a disturbed environment. Many are weeds.
A lovely buttercup (P1010698
It was good to wander around this old, abandoned site but we had more to see on this drive – and that’s for next time. D
I See You See 