( CNN ) -- With up to 300 rainy days per year , the Faroe Islands are n't set to become the next big summer vacation spot . But the unscathed landscape , idiosyncratic architecture and a calming simplicity is attracting tourists more than ever . Situated in the Gulf Stream in the North Atlantic , midway between Norway and Iceland , the 18 islands that make up the Faroes have 600 miles ( 965 kilometers ) of roads and a population of sheep that significantly outnumbers the people . Many arrive , just like I did , with a limited knowledge of this remote archipelago . Travel guides mention the Faroe Islands only in passing . But the islands , a territory of Denmark with a total area smaller than London and just 49,000 inhabitants ( and 70,000 sheep ) , are becoming more than a refreshment stop for travelers on their way to Iceland . As soon as I arrive , I meet Barour , an intern with the local tourist board . Over one of the most expensive beers in my life ( $ 10 for half a pint ) in a hotel bar in the capital Torshavn , he briefs me on the local must-sees . Tjornuvik is the northernmost village on the main island of Streymoy . `` From there , you 'll see where the Icelandic giants hurled a rope to tow the Faroes toward their island , '' says Barour . Mythological creation . According to local myth , creatures from Iceland were so jealous of the raw beauty of the Faroes that they wanted to have the islands for themselves . But two giants that swam during the night across the ocean struggled to move the islands . When the sun rose , they turned to stone . That 's how Risin and Kellingin ( `` The Giant '' and `` The Witch '' ) , two sea stacks north of Eysturoy island , each about 230 feet ( 70 meters ) tall , were created , the legend goes . Despite the comparatively small size of the Faroes , distances here appear surprisingly large and public buses run infrequently . A camper van brought across via ferry or a rental car hired locally makes traveling the islands much easier . Driving around the Faroe Islands is a thrilling experience . Smooth , often narrow , one-lane roads wind through the Middle-earth-like surroundings , making for a perfectly picturesque road trip . Such is the case with the road to Tjornuvik -- a patch carved in rock on top of a nearly vertical cliff with narrow passing bays and sheep wandering the roads . The road to Saksun , just few miles south of Tjornuvik , is less demanding , but equally unforgettable . Seven miles of gentle bends in a juicy green valley lead to a lonely church overlooking a fjord and surrounded by waterfalls . Green roofs . Scattered along these roads are many grass-roofed houses . These started life as a pragmatic solution for dwellings ( see gallery ) , but have since become a symbol for the islands . Houses have been built like this for more than a thousand years , providing protection from rain and thermal insulation . Long hours of daylight ( though rarely direct sunshine ) in the summer allow for a thorough exploration of the northern Faroes . The main islands are connected by underwater tunnels and one bridge : `` The only bridge over the Atlantic Ocean , '' jokes Barour . Driving on another otherworldly road from Gjogv , known for its natural harbor in a gorge , it becomes clear that while the Faroes are a wonder for a fleeting visit , life here is difficult . As I await the never-coming dusk of the almost polar day , the beautiful islands start to feel monotonous . Lack of perspectives , loneliness and remoteness are problems for young Faroese and many leave to study abroad . But not all is bad , say those who return . `` You have close family and people to help you here , and the environment is very anti-stressful , '' says Bodil , a Faroese woman from the island of Eysturoy . Despite weather so volatile that , according to a local saying , Vivaldi could have composed `` The Four Seasons '' in one day here , the Faroes can easily enchant a tourist with their unusual beauty . Getting there . The sole carrier offering regular flights to the only Faroese airport , Atlantic Airways connects the archipelago mostly with Copenhagen and Billund in Denmark . Some flights depart to Norway and Iceland . In summer there are also rare connections to London , Barcelona and Milan . A weekly ferry is another option for those willing to endure three days on the typically rough North Sea . Dominik Sipinski is a Polish freelance writer publishing both in Polish and in English .
The islands have up to 300 rainy days a year , but the landscape gives them special importance . Grass roofs in the Faroe Islands are the most conspicuous feature of the local landscape . Many young Faroese leave to study abroad to escape the loneliness of home , but often return .