Hvalba – Trongisvágur
Bus route 702 runs from Sandvík and from Tvøroyri through Hvalba.
The path starts at Fitjarnar west of Nes in Hvalba. First, follow the fence between the meadow and the outfield right up to Lítli Hamar. Up on the ledge, there is a stone laid path, which is now grassy. It is called the Priest’s path, probably because it is so wide, that it was never necessary for the priest to dismount.
The path goes up on Káragjógv, where the priest Kári was said to have fallen. The path up the cleft is steep at times, however, it is not difficult to walk.
It takes about half an hour to reach the top of the mountain. Upon arrival, you see Hvalbiarfjall in front of you. If you follow the cairns, the first peak you come to is Lítli Íslendingur and just to the west are Sigmundarsteinar (Sigmund’s stones). They are called Sigmundur, Tórður and Einar. If you walk between them, you will either become suddenly old or you will not live out the year.
The story is that Sigmundur Brestisson carried the stones up here. Sigmundur was a Viking chief and is known from the Faroese Saga. He lived in Skúvoy around the year 1000. His greatest achievement was to swim from Skúvoy to Sandvík – most of the way with two men on his back.
Arriving at Íslendingur, a rise in the terrain by the highest cairn, there is a magnificent view. Towards the east, you can see both Dímuns, Skúvoy, and Sandoy. Westwards, you can see a part of Hvalba village, Norðbergsvatn, Norðbergseiði and
Grímsfjall in the background.
It is now a level walk south to Mannagjógv. The third cairn after Miðjufjall has its own story. On 1 December 1917, a man from Hvalba went from Tvøroyri to Hvalba. The weather was good, but after he had walked for quite a while, there was a snowstorm. He did not dare to continue, but stopped by this cairn. To keep warm, he took down the cairn and stacked it up again, hoping that people would come looking for him. After a long time, when he had almost given up hope of being helped, and had sat down, men found him and got him safely to Hvalba.
Half way between Hvalba and Mannagjógv you have an exceptional view of Vatnsdalur and Vatndalsvatn with two small islets, where there are many birds during the summer.
The path runs from Mannagjógv down to Trongisvágur.
Bus route 702 runs from Trongisvágur to Sandvík, Tvøroyri and Drelnes.
Source: “Walking in the Faroe Islands” published by the Faroese Tourist Board in 2003
