Klakkur ended up being one of my favorite shorter hikes I did in the Faroe Islands. I hiked it during my October trip, and for the amount of effort it takes, the views are incredible.
The trail sits right above Klaksvík, it’s free, and from the top you get incredible views over the town, with Kalsoy and Kunoy across the water.
One thing that made a huge difference for us was driving up to the upper parking area near Hálsur instead of starting the hike down in Klaksvík. If you have a car, I highly recommend doing the same. It cuts out a ton of extra walking and turns Klakkur into a relatively short hike with a huge payoff.
That’s also why you’ll see very different distances and hiking times for Klakkur online—it really depends on where you start.
Here’s how to pick the best starting point, what the trail is actually like, and why Klakkur is such a great hike if, like me, you’re not getting out the door until noon.
Planning more of your trip?
Klakkur Hike Details
- Elevation gain from upper parking lot: About 330–400 ft (100–120 m)
- Cost: Free. No trail fee, which is getting rarer in the Faroe Islands
- Difficulty: Easy to moderate. A steady climb, then a flat-topped ridge with steep drops on the far side
- Summit height: About 1,355 ft (413 m)
- Distance: About 1.7 mi (2.8 km) round trip from the upper parking lot, where we started. Longer if you start lower down (see below)
- Time: 45 min round trip from the upper parking lot
- Open: Year-round, weather permitting (warning – it is WINDY at the top)
- Toilets: None on the trail, so go in Klaksvík first
- Best conditions: A clear or partly clear day so you can actually see the panoramic views from the top
If you’re visiting during fall, I also have a full guide to what the Faroe Islands are actually like in October, including the wind, weather, daylight and what I’d do differently.
Where to Start the Klakkur Hike (And Why Every Blog Gives a Different Distance)
When I was researching this hike, I kept seeing distances anywhere from under 2 mi (3 km) to around 5.6 mi (9 km), and it took me a minute to figure out why.
You can start from different places on the same route up the hill, and the one you pick changes the hike completely.
If you start down in Klaksvík, the full route is about 5.6 mi (9 km) and takes around 2 1/2 hours. Starting from the upper Hálsur parking area cuts out a huge portion of that.
We started at the upper parking lot at Hálsur, and I’d do it again in a heartbeat (about 1.7 mi / 2.8 km round trip).
Exact Klakkur trailhead: This is the exact upper Hálsur parking lot and trailhead where we started the hike.
I’ll be honest, the drive up had us a little worried. The road turns to dirt and gravel, and for some reason it just gave us that “wait, are we even supposed to be driving on this?” feeling.
The gravel road leading up toward Hálsur is locally known as Ástarbreytin, or “The Love Path.”
Then we pulled into the upper parking lot, and oh my gosh, were we glad we drove to the top before starting. It cut out almost all the climbing and made the hike so short that we still had plenty of time and energy to drive up to Viðareiði afterward.
So if you get that same uneasy feeling on the way up, you’re on the right road. Take it slow, since there isn’t much room to pass if someone’s coming the other way, and park just before the small lake at the end.
This drone shot shows just how far above Klaksvík the upper parking lot sits. We parked here instead of starting down in town, which saved us a ton of extra hiking and made Klakkur a much quicker hike.
What the Klakkur Trail Is Actually Like
The trail starts through a gate just above the upper parking lot and is pretty straightforward from there.
The lower part of the trail is a mix of gravel, grass and muddy sections. There isn’t anything technical about it, but because I did the hike in October, parts of the trail were absolutely soaked.
One thing that stood out to me about Klakkur was how many locals were on the trail. This had by far the most local hikers of any hike I did in the Faroe Islands.
We saw people out walking, exercising, and heading up to the viewpoint, which made it feel a lot more like a regular local trail than some of the more touristy hikes.
The lower part of the trail is a mix of gravel, grass and muddy sections. There isn’t anything technical about it, but because I did the hike in October, parts of the trail were absolutely soaked.
The trail was ridiculously muddy—like most of the trails I’ve done in the Faroe Islands. Waterproof hiking boots are a must, especially if you’re visiting in the fall.
I wear and love these Salomon hiking boots, and they’ve been perfect for the Faroes because they handle the mud really well and I can literally hose them off at the end of the day.
If you’re trying to figure out what else to bring, I also put together a Faroe Islands Shop with everything I personally pack and recommend for trips here—from hiking gear and layers to the little things that make the weather easier to deal with.
If you’re planning more hikes, my Lake Sørvágsvatn hike guide is another one I’d definitely read before your trip. That hike is longer than Klakkur, but it’s still one of my absolute favorites in the Faroe Islands.
The built-in steps were actually one of the easier parts of the climb because you don’t have to think about where you’re putting your feet. After that, the trail opens back up into grass as you make your way toward the ridge.
The View From the Top of Klakkur
This is the reason the hike is so worth it.
The view from the top of Klakkur is the reason this hike is so worth it. From here you get huge views across the fjords and surrounding northern islands.
On a clear day, you can look straight down over Klaksvík and across the water toward Kalsoy and Kunoy, with mountains and fjords in pretty much every direction.
For such a short hike, the payoff is kind of ridiculous.
If you can, try to save Klakkur for a clear or at least partly clear day. The panoramic view is the whole reason to do this hike, and low clouds can completely hide the surrounding mountains and islands.
We had clouds moving through during our hike, but thankfully they kept opening up enough for us to still get the views. The light was constantly changing too—one minute everything was under dark clouds and then suddenly the sun would break through across the mountains.
That kind of weather is pretty normal here, especially in October. My Faroe Islands in October guide goes into a lot more detail about how quickly the conditions can change.
Would I Hike Klakkur in Bad Weather?
It depends on the weather.
I wouldn’t bother hiking Klakkur if the entire summit were buried in clouds because the panoramic view is really the whole point. I’d wait and see if conditions improve or come back another day if your itinerary allows.
I’d be even more careful with wind. The top of Klakkur is very exposed, and after experiencing how strong the wind can get in the Faroe Islands, I would not hike up there in extreme winds.
The trail itself isn’t particularly difficult, but an easy trail can feel completely different once you add strong wind, wet grass and mud.
What to Do After the Klakkur Hike
One of the reasons I loved starting from the upper parking lot is that Klakkur didn’t take up our entire day.
After we finished the hike, we still had plenty of time and energy to drive farther north to Viðareiði, which I definitely recommend if you’re already in this part of the Faroe Islands.
Viðareiði is one of those tiny villages that somehow feels way more dramatic than it has any right to. It sits right at the northern end of Viðoy, surrounded by huge mountains with the ocean on both sides, and the whole setting is ridiculously beautiful. Even just driving into town feels worth it.
We spent some time walking around, taking photos, and just enjoying the views. It’s a really easy place to add onto Klakkur because you don’t need hours there to appreciate it, and the drive itself is part of the experience.
If you’re exploring the Northern Islands, I think this is a much better way to plan Klakkur than treating it as an all-day hike. Do Klakkur first, then keep driving and explore more of the northern islands afterward.
You can read my full Viðareiði guide if you want to see what I recommend doing there.
Is Klakkur Worth It?
Absolutely.
Klakkur is one of the best short hikes I did in the Faroe Islands because the effort-to-view ratio is so good.
If you start from the upper parking lot, you don’t need to dedicate half your day to it. You can hike Klakkur and still have plenty of time to keep exploring the Northern Islands afterward.
If you’re building out that part of your itinerary, I’d combine it with other northern stops rather than treating it like a full-day hike. My Faroe Islands itinerary can help you see how I group the different islands and stops together.
And if you’re looking for more easy scenic stops to mix in with your hikes, I also really loved Eiði, Tjørnuvík, and Saksun.
For me, the only reasons I’d skip Klakkur would be if the top were completely covered in cloud or the wind were dangerously strong. Otherwise, it’s an easy one to recommend.