Klakkur hike near Klaksvík: short climb, huge view

The Klakkur hike near Klaksvík is one of those walks where, somewhere along the way, you may think: why am I walking through all this mud? And then you reach the top, look around and understand it straight away. This was one of the most beautiful short hikes we did in the Faroe Islands.

You walk from the mountains above Klaksvík to a viewpoint with views of Kalsoy, Kunoy, Klaksvík and the fjords around them. On a clear day, it feels as if you can see the whole northern Faroe Islands at once. Big view, relatively short walk. Only that path… that does need a bit of attention sometimes.

We did the Klakkur hike from Klaksvík, where we stayed ourselves. From our accommodation, it was about a 10-minute drive to the car park up on the mountain. In this blog, I will tell you how to get to the start, where to park, how hard the hike is and why you should not assume too quickly that you are not allowed to drive farther up.

To Klakkur from Klaksvík

Klakkur lies above Klaksvík, on the island of Borðoy in the north of the Faroe Islands. Klaksvík is one of the larger towns on the islands, which immediately makes it feel a bit more practical than many of the small villages you pass along the way. You will find accommodation, shops, a harbour and enough facilities to make it a good base.

The hike itself is just above the town. That makes Klakkur ideal if you are staying in Klaksvík or planning a day in the northern islands. You do not have to turn it into a long day hike, but you do get a view that feels as if you should have walked much longer for it.

Are you planning your route through this part of the Faroe Islands? Then Klakkur is easy to combine with a day on Eysturoy. Also read our blog about what to do on Eysturoy.

Driving to the Klakkur car park

We drove from Klaksvík to the start of the hike. First you drive up through the town and then towards a gravel road that continues farther up the mountain. When we were there, a lot of new houses were being built, so the roads did not quite match Google Maps. But with a bit of common sense, we found our way just fine.

Along the way, we already saw several cars parked at the bottom of the mountain. There were also people walking up. That made us doubt for a moment: are we still allowed to drive farther, or does everyone start walking from here?

Because we were travelling with a baby and knew there should also be a car park higher up, we asked a local who was walking his dog there. He said very casually that we could just keep driving and that there were still a few cars parked at the top. So back into the car we went.

On the way up, we saw a few surprised hikers looking at us as we drove past. But at the top, there really was a small car park with space for a number of cars. That saves you about a kilometre of walking on the gravel road. Of course, that section up is also beautiful, because you are already at altitude, but for us starting from the upper car park was ideal.

We were happy with our rental car here. We had booked it via Discover Cars. There were more rental cars parked at the top, by the way, so we were definitely not the only ones who drove on to the higher parking spot.

So can you drive up to Klakkur?

Yes, when we were there, that was possible. Even if you see cars parked lower down and people walking, that does not automatically mean you are not allowed to continue driving. There is a parking area at the top near the start of the hike.

If you want to make it a slightly longer hike, you can of course start at the bottom near the beginning of the gravel road. We saw many people doing that. But if you want to keep the walk shorter or are travelling with children, the upper car park is a nice option.

Do keep in mind: it is still a gravel road. Drive slowly, pay attention to where you are driving and check if necessary whether your rental car is suitable for this kind of road. Park neatly at the top, because space is limited.

How long does the Klakkur hike take?

We spent just over 1 hour and 15 minutes on the Klakkur hike. That was there and back from the upper car park, including photo stops and calmly enjoying the view at the top.

You can probably do it faster if you walk at a firm pace. But honestly: I would not necessarily recommend that. The path requires your attention in some sections, especially because of the mud. And at the top, you simply want to stand still for a while, because the view is the whole reason you do this hike.

If you start at the bottom near the gravel road, you need to allow extra time. You first walk another section to the actual start of the hike. That is not complicated, but it does mean more elevation gain and more time.

What is the path to Klakkur like?

The beginning of the walk is still quite neat. You walk a short stretch on a maintained path with gravel and a kind of step-like structure. After that, the path quickly changes into grass, mud and wet sections.

We regularly had to look carefully where we put our feet. You are clearly not the first person walking here, and in the Faroe Islands it of course rains regularly. That quickly creates muddy grooves and wet patches that you have to find your way around.

So do not expect a perfectly constructed hiking trail. The route is not technically difficult, but you do need to keep paying attention. Especially if you are walking with a camera, phone or baby in a carrier, you do not want to step through the mud too casually here.

The final section to the top

The final section towards the top gets steeper. Going up, we found that still very manageable. Going down, I actually found it a bit more exciting, because you then have to deal with slippery mud and steeper sections.

Luckily, in some places there were little footholds or worn sections in the rocky part. Those made it easier to see where you could place your feet. Still, you need to pay attention. Take your time, choose your own route if a section feels too slippery and try not to descend too quickly.

At the top, you come out onto a rockier section. That actually makes walking a bit easier again. You can continue a little farther across the top for different views. Definitely do that if the weather is good, but stay sensible near edges and in strong wind.

The view from Klakkur

And then the view. Because that is what you do this hike for.

From Klakkur, you look out over Klaksvík, Kalsoy, Kunoy and the fjords around the northern islands. Luckily, we had clear weather. Not a bright blue sky, but good visibility, some clouds, a little bit of sun and enough light to see far into the distance.

That made the walk really worth it. You see Klaksvík below you, the mountains behind the town and, on the other side, the narrow fjords and islands. Kalsoy and Kunoy especially stand out. These are the kind of views where you keep looking in a slightly different direction and see something new again.

You do notice at the top that the wind can get stronger. Logical, because the higher you get, the more exposed you are. For us, it was quite windy, but still fine. In strong wind or fog, I would be more careful here. The view can disappear quickly, and on the top you do not want to walk unnecessarily close to the edges.

Klakkur in good weather: no sun needed, but visibility matters

We had pretty good hiking weather by Faroe Islands standards. Not a bright sunny day, but clear, with occasional sun and clouds. That is actually perfect for Klakkur. What you mainly need is visibility. Sun is nice, but not necessary.

In thick fog, I would not do this hike quickly. Then you miss the most important part: the view. The path can also feel more difficult because of the mud and steeper sections if you cannot clearly see where you are going.

So especially check the visibility above Klaksvík before you leave. In the Faroe Islands, it can look fairly okay down in the valley while the top is covered in clouds. Of course, the opposite can also happen, and then you suddenly get lucky.

Staying in Klaksvík

We stayed in Klaksvík ourselves. We found that convenient for the Klakkur hike, but also for the northern islands in general. You are close to the walk, have facilities nearby and do not have to keep driving back and forth from Tórshavn.

Klaksvík is one of the larger towns in the Faroe Islands. Do not expect a lively city, but it is a practical base with shops, a harbour, accommodation and enough options to plan your trip through the north.

Want to stay in Klaksvík like we did? Then view accommodation in Klaksvík via Booking. Especially if you want to do the Klakkur hike or explore the northern islands further, this is a nice place to sleep.

Practical tips for the Klakkur hike

• Drive on to the upper car park if you can. Even if you see cars parked below, you can usually continue up via the gravel road.
• Count on about 1 to 1.5 hours. We spent just over 1 hour and 15 minutes, including photos and enjoying the view at the top.
• Wear good shoes. The path was very muddy and wet when we were there.
• Take the descent seriously. We found some of the steep muddy sections more exciting going down than going up.
• Go especially when visibility is good. The view is the reason to do this hike.
• Keep the wind in mind. At the top, it can be much windier than down in Klaksvík.
• Park neatly. The upper car park only has space for a number of cars.

Klakkur hike: mud on your shoes, views in your head

The Klakkur hike was one of those walks where the effort felt exactly right for us. Not too long, not extremely difficult, but with enough mud and steep little sections to make it feel like a real hike.

The best part is at the top. Klaksvík below you, Kalsoy and Kunoy in the distance, fjords on all sides and that typical Faroe Islands feeling of green, rocks, wind and sea. We were lucky with clear weather, and that made this short hike really strong.

If you start from the upper car park, you get a lot of view for relatively little walking time. And yes, your shoes will probably get dirty. But here, that is more of a good sign than a problem.