Sumba

Sumba is the last village on Suðuroy and so the southernmost in the country, sitting on a shelf above the sea with the cliffs of Beinisvørð to the north. It has a reputation in the islands for its ballad singing and for keeping the Faroese chain dance, a line of dancers linked by hands moving to sung verse rather than instruments, which survived here when it faded elsewhere. The name comes from the old form Sunnbøur, the southernmost village.

Highlights

• The chain dance tradition - the sung dance the village is known for keeping.
• The southernmost position - the last village in the archipelago.
• The old name - Sunnbøur, the southernmost village.
• The Beinisvord approach - the cliffs rising along the coast to the north.

When to go

May to September is the season. Dance evenings are community occasions rather than scheduled performances. Winter here is severe.

Practical notes

The chain dance is a community practice, not a show, and there is no performance laid on for visitors. The village has minimal facilities. It is a long way from anywhere.

Nearby

Akraberg is south, and Beinisvord is north.

Key facts