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Have you ever been to the Faroe Islands?

Finding a unique holiday or vacation destination has become something of a game amongst those with easy money to spend. The famous where are you going this year question becomes ever more competitive year by year. But if you take a vacation to the Faroe Islands then you really are going to trump most of your friends.

The Faroe Islands are a cluster of eighteen small isles in the North Atlantic. They sit half way between Norway and Iceland to the north west of Scotland. With a population of about fifty thousand people they are home to a thriving and bustling community. The Faroes have about seven hundred miles of coast line so - no matter where you are - you'll never be more than a mile or two from the sea. The locals have garnered a bad reputation with conservationists in the past because of their fondness for whale meat and whale products, but if you can leave that to one side then you really won't visit a more friendly country anywhere in the world.

Don't expect a sun tan if you head for these remote islands - wind burn or rain damage is more likely. The temperatures in summer average around eleven degrees - although the gulf stream helps ensure that winters are not as cold as they are on Iceland or in Scandinavia. In truth however, and jokes aside, most days in summer are mild and dry, and if it does rain the geography means that it often blows past quite quickly.

Most natives speak some English - particularly in the younger age groups - and the scandinavian languages are generally well understood.

OK ... so why would you want to take a vacation in this most remote location? Well, in truth, the main attraction is the friendly people and the warm local culture. Folk culture and tradition is very strong and their are open dances and festivals of dance and music all year long. The country hosts two major open air rock festivals each year. Food on the Faroes is certainly an experience. Mutton is popular and of course fish is omnipresent. Even sea birds make it onto some local dinner plates.

Travel to the region is not difficult. You can go by ferry from Scrabster in northern Scotland all year round and from Denmark and Iceland in the summer months. Cheap flights are available from London, Aberdeen and from Norway, Denmark, Iceland and Sweden. Scrabster is a fishing port on Scotland's most northernly coast - not too far from the town of Wick and accessible by road from all parts of the UK. Cheap flights are available from UK air operators and it's not difficult to find deals if you search online.

Don't forget that the Faroe Islands are part of the "lands of the midnight sun" and in June or July have almost no hours of darkness. They also provide an excellent location to see the northern lights of the aurora borealis.

Take a trip to the Faroes - you'll have a vacation experience to remember for the rest of your life.