Tjørnuvík
Tjornuvik · Tjørnuvíkur
62°19.9'N 007°08.2'W
Depth
4–10m
Bottom
sand
Alarm Radius
110m
Holding
Fair
Recommended Anchor Alarm Radius
110m
110m in the open bay in 4–10m on sand/gravel. This is an exposed open bay — holding is only fair and the anchorage is untenable in any NW or westerly swell. Use only in flat calm conditions. Set anchor with engine test. Day visit only — never overnight here.
About This Anchorage
Tjørnuvík is a village of approximately 70 residents at the northernmost tip of Streymoy island, and the closest accessible point by sea to the Rísin og Kellingin ('The Giant and the Witch') — two isolated sea stacks rising 71m (Rísin) and 68m (Kellingin) from the North Atlantic just offshore. According to Faroese legend, a giant and witch from Iceland attempted to tow the Faroe Islands to Iceland, were caught by dawn light, and turned to stone. The stacks are among the most recognisable natural landmarks in the Faroe Islands and are visible from numerous points on land, but the view from sea level — anchored in the small bay below with the stacks framing the village and mountains — is unique and accessible only by boat. The bay itself is completely exposed to the north and northwest, meaning it can only be visited in flat calm conditions. The black sand beach is dramatic and the village has some of the oldest continuously inhabited farms in the islands.
Protected From
S · SE · E
Exposed To
N · NW · W
Anchoring Rules
- Anchoring fee
- Free
- Permit required
- No
Restrictions: Open bay — day visit only in flat calm; do not approach the sea stacks closer than 100m (swell rebounds violently from their bases); dinghy landing on beach possible in calm only — approach with care; no services of any kind.
Hazards
- !EXPOSED: open bay facing full North Atlantic — do not overnight here under any circumstances; any NW or N swell makes the anchorage dangerous
- !Atlantic swell rebounds off the Rísin og Kellingin stacks and the surrounding cliffs — confused seas even in moderate conditions
- !Sand/gravel holding is only fair — anchor drag risk in any breeze above F3; set with engine test and maintain anchor watch
- !Dinghy landing: the black sand beach shelves steeply — waves can beach a dinghy suddenly; approach bow-on and be ready to abort
- !This is one of the most exposed positions in the Faroe Islands — weather can deteriorate from flat calm to F7 in under 2 hours
Skipper's Tips
- →This is strictly a fair-weather day stop — check the forecast for a minimum 6-hour settled window; if in doubt, do not anchor
- →The best view of Rísin og Kellingin is from approximately 200m NW of the stacks — approach slowly by dinghy in flat calm only
- →The sunrise view of the stacks (pre-0500 in midsummer) in flat calm is extraordinary — anchor overnight at Klaksvík and leave at 0300 for the passage
- →The black sand beach at Tjørnuvík is one of the finest in the Faroes — formed from eroded basalt; safe swimming in calm conditions
- →The walk from the village to the headland above the stacks takes 45 minutes and gives a bird's-eye perspective of the stacks and the open Atlantic
Facilities
No facilities. The northernmost point of Streymoy — entirely self-sufficient required. Return to Klaksvík or Tórshavn for all needs.
Nearest provisions: Klaksvík (25nm SE) (25nm)
Best Months & Season
Jun, Jul, Aug
June–August, fair weather only. This is not a routine anchorage — it is a specific destination for calm-condition pilotage. The sea stacks are frequently obscured by cloud and mist. A clear day in calm conditions is required for this visit to be worthwhile.
Recommended Anchor Types
Nearby Anchorages
Set Your Anchor Alarm to 110m
In the remote outer islands of the Faroe Islands, an undetected anchor drag in the night can put you on rocks with no assistance available for hours. Safety Anchor Alarm monitors your GPS position continuously.
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