Move over penguins, you've got competition for the world's cutest bird! I was pretty unaware of the puffin's existence until probably earlier this year. Amazing really, considering how distinctive it looks, and the fact that there's even a breakfast cereal brand named after the bird with its image emblazoned on the front of boxes. 

There's three different species of puffins, two that call the North Pacific Ocean home, and then this one which is aptly named the Atlantic Puffin. The name leaves little to the imagination as to its whereabouts and it's definitely lucked out in the looks department too.

Of the various Faroe Islands, Mykines is definitely the "Puffin Island" of the bunch. Thousands of puffins have created their burrows there near the cliff edges along the coast. Immediately west of Mykines is the 1km long islet of Mykineshólmur, also home to plenty of puffins, and where I sighted this one among many.

Just getting to the puffins is a fun small adventure in its own right. The island of Mykines is serviced by both ferry and helicopter, although during some months of the year, when the waters are rougher, there is a higher chance the ferry may not always operate due to the weather conditions. Hopefully you don't get stranded there, but if you do, there are still 14 people that call the island home. When I was there, it seemed like a lot more than 14 people, but perhaps some people have summer houses there and so it's really only 14 permanent year-round residents, but seasonally more.

Assuming you've made your way to Mykines, you then hike upwards towards the western edge of the island. Along the way, you are bound to encounter some puffins - and perhaps a bit of fog - before you descend down to a 40m long footbridge, crossing the Atlantic Ocean and dropping you onto Mykineshólmur. From there, the islet is yours to explore. Hike along the coast, in search of puffin burrows or make your way to the lighthouse. There's always a lighthouse somewhere when you're in the Faroes.