With the Faroe Islands on the UK’s green list of approved nations we take a look at this elusive holiday destination.

NOTE: DUE TO THE SLAUGHTER OF DOLPHINS IN THE FAROE ISLANDS WE CAN NO LONGER RECOMMEND IT AS A DESTINATION.

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The Faroe Islands are an interesting conundrum.

Physically very close to the UK, they are in FIFA as an independent team, playing in several tournaments, leading to many people concluding that they are in fact an independent nation.

This is completely wrong.

Despite being  200 miles off the coast of Scotland, they are in fact part of Denmark, along with Greenland, giving Denmark quite an impressive share of the global landmass given that only 5.8 million people live in Denmark.

The Faroe Islands themselves have a piddling population of just over 50 thousand people, with their economy being built around fishing.

 

Recent research suggests that the islands were inhabited prior to Norse settlers arriving in the 9th century, however by the time of the eleventh century it was effectively a Norse settlement, with many of the first arrivals from this wave sourcing their origins from those fleeing the reign of King Harald.

The Faroe Islands as the name suggests comprises an archipelago of islands, with a windy and cool climate throughout most of the year.

Beautiful this may be but don’t go expecting Caribbean beaches, as the climate is similar to the UK in the autumn months.

The local waters are however in the five to eight degree celsius region, so for those into the recent fad for cold water exposure this could be a hardy expedition worth taking on (please take all appropriate safety measures when undertaking outdoor swims).

Given its windswept, rugged and remote location this is a suitable destination for those into the great outdoors, hiking and some quiet time away from the busier metropolitans of Western Europe.

The British government recently released a list of approved destinations for those in seek of some relief from the daily grind, and while some are certainly off the beaten path (the list includes British overseas territories such as the Falkland Islands and St Helena), the Faroe Islands may be a more acceptable compromise.