A mini tour of the James Bond Film Set
In this blog post, we will visit a Faroese gem that has risen in popularity in the last years because of a James Bond movie. We will try finding out if the Kalsoy Island is really worth being part of such an iconic movie.
Before we jump into the details of the Kalsoy Island, you might want to go through the introductory section of my page Places on Vágar that will blow your mind for a quick recap of why to visit the Faroe Islands, best time to visit the Faroe Islands and easiest way to access any destination.
So, dear readers, let's try finding out what Kalsoy has in offer for us !
In This Guide
Why visit Kalsoy
The Kalsoy Island extends only 18 km from north to south and only 2.7 km from west to east. There are four quaint villages on the island - Syðradalur, Húsar, Mikladalur and Trøllanes. People come from far away to visit two attractions on Kalsoy - the remote Kallur lighthouse and the statue of a Seal Woman called Kópakonan in the village of Mikladalur. If you are a James Bond fan, you will be glad to know that some scenes from the film “No Time To Die” were filmed on the Kalsoy island. The actors were never personally on this island. But the film shooting crew was here to capture the beautiful sceneries of Kalsoy. The recording was edited in post-production to fit the scenes needed in the movie. In the sections below, I have detailed the reasons why you should travel to Kalsoy in your next holidays.
Location on Google Maps: Kalsoy Island
How to reach Kalsoy
There are no under sea tunnels or bridges between Kalsoy and other Faroese islands. But a small ferry called SAM sails between the city of Klaksvík on Borðoy island and the village of Syðradalur on Kalsoy island. The ferry has several departures during the day. Before boarding, you must wait in a car lane. There are in total 3 marked lanes for vehicles. Only lanes 2 and 3 are for visitors to Kalsoy. Following, I have summarised the ferry journey.
Route: Klaksvík to Syðradalur
Journey Time: 20 minutes
Car Capacity: Only 12
Online reservations: No
Payment method: Tickets can be bought on board using a credit card.
Location on Google Maps: Klaksvík harbour
Arrival and Driving on Kalsoy
The ferry arrives on the port of Syðradalur village in South Kalsoy. The attractions of Kalsoy are in its north. You have to drive on a narrow road to reach the northernmost village Trøllanes. Additionally, there are 4 spooky mountain tunnels that you have to drive through. They are Villingardalstunnilin, Ritudalstunnilin, Mikladalstunnilin and Trøllanestunnilin. You will take around 20 minutes to reach Trøllanes. The visitor’s car parking in Trøllanes is free of charge.
Location on Google Maps: Syðradalur harbour
Kallur Lighthouse Trail Details
Kallur Lighthouse is the most famous attraction of Kalsoy. Its position is in fact on the northernmost tip of the island. There are no fees for hiking to the lighthouse. The trail is quite easy. While hiking, you will notice many paths. But most of them are very narrow indicating they were made by sheep. So, follow the path which is broader and less muddy. From the lighthouse, the legendary sea stacks Risin and Kellingin are also visible. If you walk a further 200 m away from the lighthouse in the direction of the Borgarin peak, you reach the James Bond gravestone. Following is the trail profile.
Trailhead Google Location: Kallur Lighthouse trail head
Destination Google Location: Kallur Lighthouse
Lowest altitude: 70m
Highest altitude: 250m
Total distance: 4km
Total duration: 1.25h
Ascent: 170m
Level: Easy-Medium
Hiking fee: None
Orientation: There are no sign posts on the trail. However, the paths are clearly visible.
Available safety measures: None
Mikladalur and its Seal Woman
The lighthouse hike has ended but the journey on Kalsoy not yet. On your way back to the Syðradalur port, take a break in the village of Mikladalur. The famous Seal Woman Statue of Mikladalur is associated with an interesting folktale of greed, betrayal and love. The story says that one day a seal arrived at the shore of Mikladalur and removed its skin to enjoy the day by transforming to a human female. A mean man stole her seal skin while she was enjoying her day. As she returned to the shore in the evening, she could not turn back into a seal without her stolen skin. The skin thief blackmailed the seal woman to marry him. He kept her skin locked in a chest for many many years until one day the seal woman found the key of the chest, got back her skin and left into the ocean forever. There are numerous such captivating Faroese legends. Take precautions while walking to Mikladalur’s shore where the statue is located. It can get slippery at times. After a tour of Mikladalur, drive back to the Syðradalur port. Try to arrive at the car waiting lane of the port 1-2 hours before the ferry departure.
Location on Google Maps: Mikladalur Seal Woman
Kalsoy Image Gallery
Hope I could inspire you to visit this exceptional Faroese James Bond Island. Leave a comment below and let me know if you enjoyed reading this article.
Related Posts
If you liked my article, then you might be interested in my other set of travel posts from the Faroe Islands.
WISHING YOU MY GORGEOUS GLOBETROTTERS SAFE TRAVELS !
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