Fugloy (Island)

Fugloy covers an area of 11.18 km² and is the smallest and most northeastern of Norðoyggjar. The highest point on the island is the 621 m high Klubbin. The island’s two villages are Hattarvík on the eastern part and Kirkja on the southern part.

To the northeast, Fugloy lies open to the Atlantic Ocean, while to the south the island is separated from Svínoy by Fugloyarfjørður, waters that can be treacherous to navigate in winter and where the local landing sites are primitive. In December 1941, the British ship Sauternes went down in a storm in Fugloyarfjørður. The ship came from England with Christmas supplies for the British soldiers in the Faroe Islands. Due to a fatal misunderstanding, it lay in wait for better weather in Fugloyarfjørður, believing that the ship was safe off the village of the same name.

There is a road between the villages and ports at both villages. Today, the sea route is supplemented by regular helicopter service, but landing conditions can be extremely difficult or impossible in bad weather, particularly in winter.

Fugloy has been an independent municipality since 1932. The population reached its maximum in 1935 at 227 inhabitants. In the period 1966‑2020, it fell from 105 people to 43. Of these, around 30 live in Kirkja and the rest in Hattarvík.

Further reading

Read more about The islands, towns and settlements