Why do the Faroe Islands have mild winters?

Question

I was reading up on these beautiful Islands - they are placed roughly between Northern Scotland, Iceland and Norway, (and they are actually about about 200 miles north of Scotland.) Anyway, I read on wikipedia that they have cool summers (understandable), but mild winters!!!

I found this very odd as I would have thought that the winters would be freezing and they would have had loads of snow. How come they don't? is it anything to do with Faroe being a group of small islands and everywhere on them being only a couple of miles from the sea or something? it just seems odd that they should have 'mild' winters when Scotland and the North of England have very harsh ones?

Thanks...

Answer 1

The coastal areas of the west of Northern England and Scotland also have mild winters, as has Ireland.
The Norwegian coast is also ice-free round the year, with relative mild winters.

That is because of the warm trade stream, which is also keeping the Faroe Islands from going cold in winter.

The winters in Scotland and Northern England are only harsh where it is mountainous or the winds come over the mountains.

Answer 2

The Gulf Stream makes life in Iceland, northern Norway and the Faroe Island possible, it is responsible for the relatively mild climate in this region.