Tjørnuvík to Leynar — Streymoy North Coast Mountain Track
Streymoy plateau crossing above the giant stacks.
Tjørnuvík sits at the end of a long fjord on Streymoy’s north coast, famous for the sea stacks Risin and Kellingin standing offshore like petrified giants. The village is a dead end by road — or it was before locals started running a rough mountain track south and west over the high plateau toward Leynar. The track climbs fast from the village, leaving the tarmac behind within a kilometre, and pushes across open moorland at around 350 metres elevation. The surface is compacted peat track with embedded basalt, deeply rutted in the steeper sections where runoff channels have carved the route into two wheel-width trenches. The descent toward Leynar is the crux — loose gravel over wet shale, steep enough to lock up poorly managed brakes.
Conditions on this plateau change fast and without warning. Cloud drops to ground level regularly, turning a clear-day track into a whiteout navigation exercise — carry a GPS with downloaded offline maps and don’t rely on phone signal because there is none on the plateau. A capable 4WD with low-range is the right tool; anything less is a recovery waiting to happen. Drive it in June or July for the longest daylight and lowest ice risk, though the track surface never truly dries out. No facilities, no rescue infrastructure, and the nearest tow is a very long wait. The payoff is a genuine Faroese highland crossing almost nobody drives, with the north coast stacks behind you and the Atlantic horizon in every direction.
Trail Specs
| Difficulty | Difficult |
|---|---|
| Trail Type | Backcountry, High Clearance, Technical 4x4 |
| Surface | Dirt, Gravel, Rock |
| Features | High Altitude, Remote, Scenic |
| Length (miles) | 9.3 mi / 15 km |
| Duration | 3-5 hours |
| Max elevation (ft) | 1312 ft |
| Best season | June-August |
| Minimum vehicle | 4WD with low-range, high clearance |
| Nearest town | Tjørnuvík, Streymoy |
| Land manager | Faroe Islands Municipal Roads Authority |
| Permit required | No |
| Cell service | None |
| Water crossings | Yes |
| Dispersed camping | Yes |
| Start coordinates | |
| End coordinates | |
| Copy both for Google Maps directionsClick to copy the directions URL · or open it directly in a new tab | |
| Find on Google | Search on Google → |
Location
Trail Conditions
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Frequently asked questions
Can a lifted Defender or Land Cruiser handle this, or does it need serious modifications?
A stock Defender 110, Land Cruiser 76/79, or Jimny with factory high clearance will manage it, but the rocky plateau sections have embedded basalt that punishes low-hanging skid plates. Underbody protection and AT tires are strongly advised — all-seasons on an unmodified crossover will end your day early.
When does the track typically open and close each year?
June through August is the reliable window. The plateau sits above 1,300 ft and the Faroese uplands hold snow and ice well into May and again from September — the track surface turns greasy bog when wet, which is most of the year. Don't gamble outside that summer window unless you have local intel.
Do you need a permit or pay any fee to drive this track?
No permit or fee is required to drive the Tjørnuvík–Leynar mountain track. The land manager is the Faroe Islands Municipal Roads Authority, but access is open. Respect any seasonal closures posted at the trailheads, which can be issued on short notice for lambing season or weather damage.
What's the hardest section of the route and what makes it technical?
The plateau crossing mid-route is the crux — exposed basalt rock steps combined with soft peat bog on either side leave almost no margin for line error. Momentum management matters here; stop-and-inspect before committing to rock shelves, as the wet stone has near-zero traction and recovery space is tight with no room to winch to anything meaningful.
Is there any fuel or services between Tjørnuvík and Leynar, and how should I plan for water?
Zero services exist on the track itself — the 9.3-mile crossing is fully remote with no cell service. Fill fuel before you leave Tórshavn. Freshwater streams cross the route and are generally clean given the remote upland source, but treat or filter before drinking; sheep graze the plateau heavily.
Trail track
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