Slættaratindur

Slættaratindur reaches 880 metres, the highest point in the Faroe Islands, and unlike most of the country's peaks it can be climbed without ropes by anyone reasonably fit. From the pass on the road between Eiði and Gjógv, a route of a couple of hours climbs grass and then boulder to a summit that on a rare clear day gives a view over almost the entire archipelago, and reputedly as far as Iceland in exceptional conditions. There is a tradition of climbing it on midsummer night to watch the sun go down and come up again. The name means flat summit, which is accurate: the top is a broad plateau rather than a point, though the northern face drops away in a serious cliff that demands respect.

Highlights

• The summit plateau - the broad flat top and the panorama over the islands.
• The solstice climb - a local tradition of ascending on midsummer night.
• The north face - the sheer drop on the far side of the summit.
• The pass approach - the walk up from the Eiði to Gjógv road.

When to go

June to August, when the weather is at its most settled and the days are longest. Even in summer the top is often in cloud, so a clear window is worth waiting for. Snow can linger into early summer.

Things to know

The climb is non-technical but it is a real mountain: the weather changes fast, cloud swallows the summit frequently, and the flat top plus the sheer north face is a genuine hazard in poor visibility. Do not attempt it in fog. There is no path marking beyond the obvious, and warm windproof layers are essential even on a fine morning.

Nearby

Gjógv's cliff gorge village and Eiði are on either side of the pass; the Risin og Kellingin sea stacks are on the coast below.

Key facts