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A blog about my second home. Pictures and stories.
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Preserving History: Uppi í Beiti. The Old House in Viðareiði

Mazuhn October 14, 2018

“You are looking for Sverri? Down there, that’s his house. Park your car in my driveway and follow the narrow path. That’s the shortest way.“ No sooner said than done. The second I walk towards the back of the old house, I know that something doesn’t add up – for whatever reason. Soon, I’ll find out. Within the private home, Sverri Steinhólm is about to pour home-made pancake batter into hot iron pans. “Welcome to Uppi í Beiti“, he says – loosely translated: welcome to a place that’s called “up at the pasture“; where the cows were grazing in the olden days.

Uppi í Beiti, a turf house with walls made of giant rocks and wood, located in Viðareiði on the island Viðoy, the northernmost of the Faroes. A village (about 350 inhabitants) built on an isthmus, high mountains both to the north and the south, linked to the regional center Klaksvík by tunnels and a causeway.


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An old farmhouse? Too vague. Because it’s actually two houses we are in, one part dating back to 1890, the other to 1926. That’s the impression I got but couldn’t put into words when I walked towards the back of the house in the first place: slightly nonparallel floors and walls. And with that said, we are right in the middle of our story featuring Sverri and his wife Armgarð. Preserving culture, tradition and history: That’s what it’s all about. 

This summer, Sverri the pastor poured 200 liters of home-made pancake batter into his small iron pans. For guests, when Uppi í Beiti turned into a unique five-week-pop-up-café. That’s how Sverri spent his summer vacation. Running a café, collecting money, in order to be able to persistently restore the building(s), accurate in every detail. 


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During the week, Armgarð is the head of the infrastructure department of Landsverk, the Faroese institution that consults, plans, carries out, runs and maintains main roads, harbors, buildings and helipads. In her spare time, she carefully sands 128-year-old window frames. Tórshavn is their main residence, Uppi í Beiti their second home, the place Sverri and Armgarð want to live in one day, once they retire. 

Vestiges of the past everywhere. A dictionary of foreign words, published in September 1837. A 1869-bible. Also old ropes, tools, buoys and a bird-catching net in the former roykstova. In olden days: the room without a ceiling board and with a smoke hole in the roof ridge; where the hearth (grúgva) was situated. Shortly after, we are sitting at table, having cake, whipped cream and delicious pancakes made by Sverri. 


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He grew up in Toftir on the island Eysturoy, with 6 sisters and 4 brothers. In the beginning, he worked as a fisherman and ship’s cook for many years – then he went back to high school and college in the mid-eighties, studied theology in Copenhagen and became a pastor of Fólkakirkjan, the Faroese Evangelical Lutheran Church.

How come? “I’ve always been strongly rooted in faith. But then I had a car accident. Which meant three months in hospital. Broken legs, broken back. I had plenty of time to think. I decided that I wanted to do something meaningful, something that helps and serves others.“ Tórshavn cathedral, hospital, prison: As a pastor, Sverri meets „all those who are sorely in need.“ His additional mission in his free time: preserving Uppi í Beiti. The old farmhouse in Viðareiði that’s actually two houses. Before I leave, I’ll take a few more pictures. This time, in front of the house. As clear as day. Floors and walls: nonparallel. Two doors. And worthy of preservation. 


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POP-UP CHRISTMAS CAFÉ: Sverri will have another pop-up café at Uppi í Beiti. This time, the house will turn into a cozy Christmas café. The dates are: 23 - 25 November. 30 November - 2 December. And 7 - 9 December. All days: open from 1 in the afternoon to 7 in the evening. Hot and cold beverages, pancakes, Christmas almond cream rice pudding, sweet biscuits and much more. Guests can also bake cookies. Details and booking via Uppi í Beiti on Facebook.

The house is a private home and so far not available for vacation rental. All the same, companies or private persons willing to genuinely support the preservation work are welcome to contact Sverri via Uppi í Beiti Facebook.

In Faroese & Their Stories, Architecture, History, Tradition, Window Views Tags Viðareiði, Pop-Up, Grass Roof, Christmas, Hvølpalás, Churches, Roykstova
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Anja Mazuhn, journalist, writer. German philology, political science and theater studies (Freie Universität Berlin). Axel Springer School of Journalism. 

Having worked as a journalist for more than 20 years (i.a. DIE WELT), Anja wrote reports, travelogues and did interviews with the celebrities of Hollywood.

Together with her husband, she deeply fell in love with the Faroe Islands, and they bought a house on Eysturoy more than seven years ago – Anja’s second home. Urge to explore. In love with adventures, both on the large and small scale.



Our wool project! Jackets, hoodies …

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Together with some island farmer friends, we have set up a project, the Nordic Wool Factory. Beautiful things made of Faroese sheep’s wool and made for eternity. Jackets, hoodies, blankets, bags and such like.

Faroese sheep’s wool: a precious, renewable, sustainable and natural product, living up to former glory. Check out the German or English version of our Nordic Wool Factory website.

Community, philosophy, resources, design, pictures, sheep, videos, web shop, story. It’s all there. And we ship worldwide.

Nordic Wool Factory



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Staying on top of things: Categories 

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Anja's map of the Faroe Islands 

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Increase the size of the image and find out about the geographical situation and the names of the 18 islands.



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Wanted poster for a remote beauty  

Location: The Faroe Islands comprise 18 Islands in the North Atlantic. The Islands are separated by sounds and fjords.

On the map: 62º latitude North and 7º longitude West. Or one can say: North-west from Scotland, south-east of Iceland and west of Norway. 

Official language: Faroese. The second language is Danish. Almost everyone also speaks English.

Politics: A self-governing nation within the Kingdom of Denmark. Faroe Islands has its own parliament and its own flag. Capital: Tórshavn.

Population: Approximately 52,500. The Faroe Islands are also home to about 70,000 sheep.

Climate: The Gulf Stream rules. Average temperature in summer: 13°C. The average temperature in the wintertime is 3°C.



Ready, set, go: How to get here   

By air: Direct flights with Atlantic Airways from i.a. Denmark, Island, Norway and England. Also: SAS Scandinavian Airlines.

By sea: Smyril Line. There is a direct ferry connection to Denmark, Hirtshals. The ferry Norröna also sails to Iceland.

Paperwork in advance? Maybe, maybe not. Read about passport & visa rules before you book your trip.

Tourist information: Phone and internet services, accommodation and so on. Visit Faroe Islands.



Current, official travel guideline

Latest policies and news: Travel to the Faroe Islands.



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Once you arrive: Help and advice

Weather, driving conditions: www.landsverk.fo

Helicopter service: www.atlantic.fo

Ferries and busses: www.ssl.fo

Airport Vágar: www.floghavn.fo

Pharmacies: www.apotek.fo

In emergencies: dial 112. Hospitals in Tórshavn, Klaksvík and Tvøroyri.



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Studying in the Faroe Islands

University: www.setur.fo. Another useful page: Study in the Faroes.



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