Víkar is located on the northern side of Vágar. The walk from Gásadalur northwards to Víkar is about 15 km.
The route takes you from Gásadalur up to Gresskarð, which is 518 metres high. You then descend into Gresskarðadal and continue to Sniðdal. From there, you reach Neytagjógv, and after making your way down the gorge, you arrive at Víkar.
Around the same time that people settled in Hvítanes and Slættanes (in the 1830s), Jákup Jógvansson from Sørvágur (1792–1885) settled in Víkar in 1833, along with his wife, Sára Sofía Ábramsdóttir, who was from Gásadalur. A few years later, Rasmus Jóannesarson from Gásadalur (1798–1875) and Maria Súsanna Óladóttir from Bø also settled there. Shortly after Rasmus moved to Víkar, Hanus Jóannesarson from Mykines (1808–1888) and his wife, Sigga Pætursdóttir from Vestmanna, joined them. In 1855, the population peaked, with 16 people living in the three houses. However, Hanus and Sigga did not stay and moved away again in the 1860s.
The houses were typical Faroese wooden houses with turf roofs, and where the wind was strongest, they built stone walls for protection. These three houses were situated on a beautiful, flat plain, and each house had its own enclosed field, the remains of which are still visible. Stone walls were built around each field, high enough to prevent sheep from jumping over. The soil at Víkar is fertile, making cultivation relatively easy.
They lived off farming, bird catching, and fishing. They made and sold woollen jumpers. Although grain grew well, they did not thresh much of it, as the area is very exposed to the wind; the gusts often caused significant damage to the potato fields.
The peat conditions were good. You can still see that the peat-cutting areas were located both east and west of the village, slightly higher up than the houses. A lot of digging was required to reach the peat. Each house had a peat store in the outfield, and at least one had a peat house.
It is remarkable how much these men built. They also constructed two boathouses, and the third boathouse was used for smaller boats. They even made a long row of wooden logs to help pull the boats up. There is a landing place, but launching a boat is difficult, and pulling it back up is a tough task. However, the village was well-positioned for boat fishing, and the men of the first two generations were hardworking fishermen. They sold fish. The third generation did not fish much locally; they went to sea instead.
Life in Víkar was harsh, and this small village had only a short lifespan. The population slowly but steadily decreased, and by 1910, only three men remained from the third generation. By the end of the year, they too had left, and the village was abandoned.
Víkar is an incredibly beautiful place. The wide plain, surrounded by towering mountains, is stunning to behold. The view northward over the sea is magnificent, and to the east, you can see the cliffs near Miðvágur to the north, and in the distance, you can catch a glimpse of Streymoy. Many tourists visit the area in the summer.
Heini F. Petersen
