Skúvoy (Island)

The tombstone with the Latin cross called Sigmundarsteinur stands in the cemetery in Skúvoy. It is named after chieftain Sigmundur Brestisson, who, according to the Færeyingasaga, built the country’s first church in that place. SÍMUN V. ARGE, 2005

The three islands of Sandoy at 112.10 km², Skúvoy at 11.18 km² and Stóra Dímun at 2.65 km² include the markatal settlements of Sandur, Skálavík, Húsavík, Skarvanes, Dalur, Skúvoy and Stóra Dímun. Added to this, there is Skopun, an outlying village founded in 1833 on Sandur’s markatal land. These villages constitute Sandoyar Sýsla and the superior parish of Sandoyar Prestagjald.

The three islands constitute five independent municipalities: Skopunar Kommuna, Skálavíkar Kommuna, Sands Kommuna, Húsavíkar Kommuna, which includes Skarvanes and Dalur, and Skúvoyar Kommuna, which includes Stóra Dímun.

Skúvoy, mentioned in Hundabrævið, has 33 inhabitants and covers 59 merkur and 12 gyllin. Of this area, 32 merkur and 4 gyllin are copyhold land, and 27 merkur and 8 gyllin are freehold land. The copyhold land is divided into five units, of which one copyhold tenant has leased the three. The sheep herd consists of 990 animals.

Skúvoy, together with Stóra Dímun, is one of the smallest municipalities. The village is known from the Færeyingasaga, according to which the chieftain Sigmundur Brestisson is said to have built the first church in the Faroe Islands. In the cemetery is Sigmundarsteinur, which is said to be Sigmundur’s tombstone.

Skúvoy, which is named after the bird skúgvur or skúvur (great skua, Stercorarius skua), is known for its rich bird life and the hunting of common guillemot and their eggs in particular.

The old church, which was built in 1852, was replaced in 1937 by a new one, designed by H.C.W. Tórgarð and built of concrete with a fibre cement roof.

In addition to the rich bird life, many people come to Skúvoy to visit Fagradal. This was where the woman Rannva reportedly served a life sentence for having given birth to a son out of wedlock, although the child was the result of a rape committed by a Danish lieutenant. In the background, Stóra Dímun and Lítla Dímun can be seen. ÓLAVUR FREDERIKSEN, 2019

There is a regular liner from Sandur to Skúvoy, and in the summer, many tourists visit the island.

Further reading

Read more about The islands, towns and settlements

  • Anna Paulina Leo Olsen

    (b. 1975) BA in History, MA in Legal Studies and MSc in Political Science. Academic administrator at the University of the Faroe Islands.