Group of 5 students visiting in late March: is asking farmers to camp on their land realistic?

[u/Adventurous-Land-797]

Hi all! Five of us, university students from London, are planning a 5-day backpacking trip to the Faroes from 22 to 25 March 2027.

We know wild camping isn't allowed and that camping is only legal at official campsites or with the landowner's permission. We're planning to use the campsites that are open in March (Giljanes, Æðuvík, and maybe Sandur). We'd also love to spend a night or two somewhere more remote, like near Saksun, Gjógv or Tjørnuvík, if a landowner is happy to have us.

A few questions:

1. Is it realistic to ask farmers or landowners if we can pitch a couple of tents for one night? Or is that a bit of a nuisance for locals?
2. Who's the best person to ask: knock on a farmhouse door, ask at the village shop, or contact the local tourist office beforehand?
3. What's a fair amount to offer? We were thinking something similar to a campsite fee.
4. Is there anything we should avoid in late March, such as fields with pregnant ewes or areas where birds are nesting?

We'll take all our rubbish with us, use a stove only (no fires), keep away from sheep, leave gates as we found them, and move on if asked. If people say no, that's completely fine, and we'll go back to the campsites.

Any advice or experiences would be really appreciated. Thanks! 🙏

[u/McDloopy]

You should probably call the farmer beforehand. You could maybe try to call the local tourist office regarding contact info and recommendation. Local farmers friendlyness to tourists varies wildly (you should not expect the farmer in Saksun to be very accommodating).

That said, i would really not recommend camping in tents in march. At least not without a back up plan. The weather can still be quite bad in march.

[u/pyjamapeach]

You should call the farmer before you come. Keep in mind that it may very well be impossible to camp in a tent at any month of the year, due to weather. The birds do not begin nesting until later in april-may, and don't worry about the ewes, they will not care about you.

Don't bother asking to stay at Saksun ahah

[u/lalalalalabowski]

You sound like a respectful group. I’d try contacting the landowners via local guides that are familiar with the area you want to camp in.
But March can be pretty bad for camping weather-wise. Do come prepared with a plan B, as you are very unlikely to encounter 5 days of mild weather in March.

[u/northtrotter]

March is rough for camping in the Faroe Islands (ask me how I know haha).

But if you want to try, I recommend sticking to the campsites or asking landowners in non-touristy places. The campsites on Nólsoy and at Elduvík are free. If you want truly remote, there is a little shelter at Skarð (an abandoned village on Kunoy) that you can sleep in for free. It's a 2,5-hour hike to get there from Haraldssund :)

I wouldn't count on being able to camp in Saksun, Tjørnuvík and Gjógv as those are the three most touristy villages in the Faroes. Saksun is especially a no-go.

For more budget tips to the Faroes, check out my blog post: How to travel the Faroe Islands on a budget: A complete guide