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Elduvík - Oyndarfjørður
Enjoy hiking along the old village path from the charming village of Elduvík to Oyndarfjørður
Leaving Elduvík, you take the beautiful old village path up the hill, which is easy to walk even though it is quite steep. The path is well-kept, having undergone major maintenance in 2019, when the hill of Elduvík was part of the Closed for Maintenance project. At that time, poles where set on the path on the stretch to Oyndarfjørður, making it clearly marked.
The walk between Elduvík and Oyndarfjørður is beautiful and filled with fascinating stories. Before the church in Elduvík was built in 1952, the custom was that the youngest of the male god parents ran home to Elduvík with the child after it had been baptised – and so, it was believed, the child would grow up to be fast and have great stamina. In 1906 it almost ended in tragedy. A young boy, following the tradition, ran from Oyndarfjørður with a little girl who had just been baptised and named Jana. At the brook Skarðgil, which is at the steepest patch in the hill down to Elduvík, the boy lost his footing. Sliding down toward the bluff, he was lucky, came to a stop at cliff’s edge, just before both would have plunged into the sea. No one was hurt, but since that day the place has been known as Jana’s Bluff.
There are ample opportunities to take a break on the hike, for example by the spring Vígdu, which you reach when entering the pass at the top of the hill. In ages past, people were stationed here, at the old watch post, Vaktarhúsið, on the lookout for pirates.
The view is expansive down the rocky slopes out toward the island of Kalsoy and its high peaks. to the hill of Funningur, the rocks of Kolbanagjógv and the spit of Fjalltangi.
Note specifically the two characteristic peaks of Kalsoy, the jagged Nestindur and the somewhat flat Borgarin, creating a wonderful harmony together. It was in the area below Nestindur that Páll Fangi hid from authorities in the 1600s, because he was wanted for murder. Páll was a farmer’s son in Mikladalur. A maid on the farm was in love with him, but the feelings weren’t mutual. The jilted maid took revenge by insinuating that Páll had murdered his father because the father had given the farm to his brother. Páll was convicted of murder and imprisoned in Tórshavn, but he managed to escape from prison three times. On one of the occasions, he hid for a whole year in a cave in the rugged area under Nestindur.
Follow the path until you reach the outfield gate and remember to close it on your way down to lovely village Oyndarfjørður.
You can take the path in either direction. The view is perhaps more stunning walking to Elduvík, where you can enjoy the broad views as well as the tranquillity of the small village when you reach it.
Elduvík - Oyndarfjørður
Public transport
Neither Elduvík nor Oyndarfjørður is accessible by public transportation.
Arriving by car
Parking, Elduvík
Good parking is found near the church in Elduvík. Some parking is also available next to the graveyard, located in the eastern part of the village, where the path to Oyndarfjørður starts.
Oyndarfjørður - Elduvík
Public transport
Neither Elduvík nor Oyndarfjørður is accessible by public transportation.
Arriving by car
Parking, Oyndarfjørður
It is easy to park your car in Oyndarfjørður. Park at the football pitch in the village.
Elduvík - Oyndarfjørður
Oyndarfjørður - Elduvík
Facts
Duration
distance
Peak
Elevation