Faroe Islands are a remote but beautiful must-see destination

FOR a really different and exciting holiday why not take advantage of the new direct flights from Edinburgh to the Faroe Islands?

Atlantic Airways have introduced direct flights from Scotland to Vgar in the Faroe Islands.

The flight takes less than 90 minutes and you’ll find amazing scenery and exciting events on offer across the islands.

The Faroe Islands is an archipelago and autonomous country within the Kingdom of Denmark, situated between the Norwegian Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, halfway between Norway and Iceland.

It is made up of 18 tiny islands, inhabited by just 40,000 people and 70,000 sheep. But what is there to do?

The postman in the hamlet of Gsadalur used to hike over a mountain for four hours, three times a week, just to deliver eight people their mail.

Luckily, in 2004, a tunnel was blasted through the mountain, allowing the postman to complete his deliveries by car.

Now you can follow in his footsteps and admire the sweeping views down to the ocean, or enjoy one of the many other mountain, coastal and village walks available.

Visit the environmentally-friendly village of Gjgv

Pronounced “gorge”, Gjgv is on the north eastern tip of Eysturoy, the second-largest island.

Named after the dramatic 200-metre ravine that runs just to its north, it was nominated for the Nature and Environmental Award by the Nordic Council last year. Fly to Stra Dmun an island inhabited by just nine people!

With a helicopter flight costing approximately the same as two bagels (from £9 pp), fly to Stra Dmun, a barely inhabited rugged island.

The once-bustling atoll, which covers just one square mile, is now home to two families, two peaks (Hgoyggj, 396m and Klettarnir, 308m), countless seabirds and hundreds of sheep.

Admire the many knitted goods

A Faroese proverb states “Ull er Froya gull” wool is the gold of the Faroe Islands.

With an economy still largely based around sheep selectively bred over centuries to produce exceptionally warm and water-resistant coats wool is vital to the local economy.

To highlight this, a Knitting Festival takes place in Fuglafjrur from April 16-18. Walk through a puffin paradise

(Visit Faroe Islands)

Every year, hundreds of birds migrate to the Faroes to breed, and the western islet of Mykineshlmur offers unparalleled sightings.

Accessed by a footbridge suspended 35 metres above the Atlantic, inch across to see Northern fulmars, razorbills, Manx shearwaters, Arctic skuas, the European storm petrel and some very friendly puffins.

Run the Trshavn Marathon

First organised in 2003 with 200 participants, the marathon now sees thousands of people competing on the tough course.

The event is put together in a fun, festive manner ensuring the runners (and spectators) are entertained.

Almost all of the course hugs the coastline, and it is seen as one of the hardest in the international calendar. Hear a wide range of music at the G! Festival

The annual three-day celebration, from July 16-18 showcases a diverse range of tunes.

Taking over the village of Syrugta population 400 on the island of Eysturoy, move to the melodies on the festival’s stages, situated on the beach and the hamlet’s football pitch. Sample Faroese Food Faroese cuisine, a blend of lamb and seafood dishes, is a well-kept secret. For even a well-travelled foodie there are new flavours to be savoured.

Visit farmers Anna and li Rubeksen in the village of Velbastaur, and sample treats such as skerpikjt (a type of dried mutton) in a floor-to-ceiling windowed dining area, with panoramic views of a scenic fjord and the green islets of Koltur and Hestur.

Alternatively, dine in style at KOKS restaurant in Trshavn, for an exquisite

18 course culinary experience, or the lesser known Barbara Fish House, also in Trshavn, for a taste of the sea.

The friendly atmosphere and outdoors lifestyle enjoyed by the Faeroese will be something you won’t forget in a hurry.

Hitchhiking is a totally accepted method of getting around and visitors are greeted with beaming smiles.

Twice-weekly direct flights to the Faroe Islands, from Edinburgh to Vgar, cost from £199 return. Visit atlantic.fo for further information. For tourist info, see visitfaroeislands.com I stayed at the Gjargarur guesthouse gjaargardur.fo and Hotel Froyar, hotelforoyar.com Dine at arstova, (aarstova.fo), Hafnia (hafnia.fo), KOKS (koks.fo), and Barbara Fish House (barbara.fo).