The Faroe Islands, an 18-island archipelago midway between Iceland and Scotland, is closing to tourists for a weekend in April – unless they want to help locals keep the rocky isles clean and unspoiled.

Gudrid Hoejgaard, head of the local tourist board, said about 100,000 people visit the islands every year.

Ms Hoejgaard said “tourism is not all about numbers”, adding that “our aim is to preserve and protect the islands”.

The town of Torshavn, the capital of the Faroes
Torshavn, the capital of the Faroes (Andrew Milligan/PA)

The windy islands, inhabited by about 50,000 people and 80,000 sheep, draw visitors to their dramatic scenery, with waterfalls and abundant birdlife.

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