Why we moved to Koltur

The land on Koltur is all public property and leased as a 17 merkur copyhold. When the last inhabitants moved away in 1993, we leased the farm and have held it on copyhold tenure since January 1^st, 1994.

When the Faroese Government agreed to re-lease Koltur, it also decided that future copyholders would have to protect the relics of the island’s past. Furthermore, in 1995, extensive areas were protected by law and an agreement was signed to preserve the extraordinary strips of field Heimi í Húsi, old earth dykes and other man-made features.

In 1860, 40 people made up the 6 households in Koltur. The island was considered plentiful with its fertile lands, bird cliffs and good fishing grounds right off its shores.

Then came the industrial revolution and the modern way of life undermined the micro community’s subsistence. The number of inhabitants decreased over the 20^th century and, eventually, only one family remained. They stayed on to our days, only in 1993 was Koltur completely abandoned.

Around that time different plans for Koltur were on the drawing board. The government received proposals to protect it and take all the sheep off the island. The plan was to make it a nature reserve and a research area.

The proposals were submitted to the Government, which, nonetheless, in June 1992 decided to re-lease Koltur, on condition that future copyholders must protect the relics of Koltur’s past.

When Koltur came up for lease we decided to change our life style and make the island our home. We opted out and chose to swim against the tide. It is our vision to set Koltur apart and place it on the map as a special Faroese island. Such endeavours take time; one reason is that everything has to be completely rebuilt, such as transport, power supply and infrastructure.

Facts about Koltur

      Koltur is the Faroes’ smallest inhabited island, 2.5 square kilometres. Please visit www.koltur.com

      Address: FO-285 Koltur, Tel: +298 248800, Fax: +298 328191, E-mail: bjorn@koltur.com

      Position: Koltursnakkur 62.0º N, 7.0º W

      Highest point: Uppi á Oyggj 478 metres. Úti á Fjalli, Lágakoltur: 101 metres.

      Municipality: Tórshavn

      Inhabitants: 1 family, 2 people

      Power supply: a diesel generator

      Phone connection: GSM connection and standard tariff landline.

      Company: Føroya Tele.

      Broadband provider: Tele-Tec

      Transport: Helicopter. Please visit www.atlantic.fo

      Other means of transport: The Koltur boat, Tel: +298 248800 and +298 216026.