Hestur

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West coast of Hestur
Stamp FO 489 of Postverk Føroya
Issued: 2004

Position of Hestur island

Stamp FR 374 of Postverk Føroya
Issued: 18 Sep 2000
Photo: Per á Hædd

Hestur is an island in central Faroe Islands, located to the west of Streymoy and to the south of Koltur. Hestur means horse in Faroese. There are four mountains: Nakkur (296 m), Múlin (421 m), Eggjarrók (421 m) and Álvastakkur (125 m) (a pinnacle on the west coast). Also located on the west coast is a large colony of guillemot. In the north of Hestur there is a moorland with four small lakes, of which Fagradalsvatn is the largest. At Haelur, Hestur's southern-most tip, there is a lighthouse.

The island had one settlement, also named Hestur (population est. 43) on the east coast. Hestur village (61°57′27″N, 6°53′13″W) enjoys the view over Gamlarætt and Velbastaður on Streymoy. In 1919 a fishing accident resulted in the deaths of one-thirds of Hestur's men. In an attempt to fight the depopulation of the village, a swimming pool was built on the island in 1974. On the southern part of the island by the lake Fagradalsvatn, one can camp. Hestur's postal code is FO 280 and it's since 1 January 2005 part of the municipality of Tórshavn.