Observations by Elliot Rillie

Coming from the UK, my first impression of the Faroe Islands was how harsh the landscape was, compare that to the green rolling hills and over-reaching trees of the South-West of England, imagining the effort to survive on these rocks and in this water. The fog blocked most of the view on the first day and after it cleared I was met with a bizzare mix of architecture. The beauty of the old houses with grass roofs and the contrast behind that of some strange 1980’s coal miner looking houses.


The lack of trees and sheep roaming free reminded me of Orkney, where I have been living for the last year. The one largest surprise upon arrival in Torshavn was the functioning, bustling harbours that line these coasts, something that has been absent from most UK shores for some time. The shells which used to support fishermen and coastal communities have been given back to nature for 40 years and the silence that fills old fishing towns on UK shores has all the hallmarks of these functioning harbours but without the action.




The local peoples comprehension of the English language has amazed me, it is the first country, who doesn’t have English as a native language, that I have not adjusted my speech to. This is normally the third language for most of them also, making it even more impressive. 

My final observation is of the amount of young people and children here, it does not feel like the most remote place I have ever been to, with cafes, restaurants, bars and gyms, it could be a central European city, without the stereotypical hallmarks of an island nation, secluded from all civilisation. 

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