Hestur (Island)

The island of Hestur, with an area of 5.9 km², has 19 inhabitants and covers 18 merkur. 7 merkur are copyhold land, divided between two copyhold tenants, and 11 merkur are freehold land. The sheep herd consists of 600 animals.

The church dates from 1910 and was designed by Magnus Jacobsen from Tórshavn. The village had its first school in 1890, but had no pupils in 2021. Following a local initiative and with the help of young people through ActionAid Denmark, a covered swimming pool was opened in connection with the village hall in 1983.

The island has a small port, and there is a daily ferry connection between Gamlarætt and Hestur. Fishing used to be an important occupation, but that is no longer the case.

Further reading

Read more about The islands, towns and settlements

  • Jóan Pauli Joensen

    (b. 1945) D.Phil. in History and D.Phil. in Ethnology. Professor Emeritus and adjunct professor at the University of the Faroe Islands and former rector of the University of the Faroe Islands.