Gróthúsvatn Witch Rock

The Witch Rock (Gróthúsvatnssteinn) is a glacial erratic on the shore of Gróthúsvatn lake, north of Sandur village. The boulder sits at the edge of a quiet lake in typical Sandoy landscape — green hillsides, farmland, and the sea visible in the distance — and is known locally for an unusual tradition: each summer women from the island deck the rock in knitted objects, creating a temporary installation of woolwork that celebrates both the craft tradition and something older and less easily named.

The walk to the rock from Sandur village takes about 45 minutes on a clear path, and the lake itself is worth the journey regardless of the season — swimming in Faroese lakes is not for the faint-hearted but the landscape is consistently beautiful. Ask locally for directions to the rock, as the path is not marked on all maps.

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A story
Each summer, women from Sandoy make a pilgrimage to this specific boulder at the edge of Gróthúsvatn lake and cover it in knitted graffiti — sweaters, socks, mittens, and small figures — in an annual tradition that blends old ritual with the Faroese love of wool craft. The knitting is eventually removed by weather and the process begins again the following year.

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