Shetland Isles Accommodation

Fair Isle Shetland Isles Fair Isle Bird Observatory Birdwatching Holidays

Fair Isle is right out in the Atlantic Ocean between the Orkneys and the Shetlands. It is just one and a half miles wide and three miles long. It has something of a reputation for weather being so isolated and small, but it does make a good spot for the weather station! It is more famous for its birdlife which use the island as a stopping off point during summer and autumn migration and its internationally renowned Bird Observatory carries out studies all year round.

Fair Isle is believed to have been first inhabited by Neolithic people over 5,000 years ago. The population of the island is just 70 today but was once as high as four hundred before Clearances forced much of the populations to leave in the nineteenth century. However, the community continues and for such a small population the traditional skills are kept well and truly alive in boatbuilding, the production of stained glass, straw-backed chairs, felt and fiddles and of course the colourful knitted Fair Isle jumper. The south lighthouse even houses a silver jewellery making company!

Fair Isle Shetland Isles Tourist Information

Fair Isle is today owned by the National Trust for Scotland and is 25 miles north of Orkney and 25 miles south of Shetland. (Use the Property Search function on their website for more information, link right). The island is a mix of 200 metre high cliffs on the west coast, fertile farming land in the south and moorland over much of the northern part of the island.

Fair Isle is a fantastic place for wildlife. Not only are the cliffs alive with thousands of fulmars, kittiwakes razorbills, guillemots, black guillemots and puffins from April to August, but the moorland is alive with skuas and terns who nest here over the summer. Anyone venturing out there will need to be prepared to be dive-bombed. Grey and common seals are often seen around the island and harbour porpoises, dolphins and whales pop up in summer, sometimes seen from the ferry on the way over. A range of habitats including heather moorland, marsh, wetlands and cliffs come alive with flowers from late May over the summer. The island boats a list of over 250 flowering species, several of which are rare. If you time your visit right you might be lucky enough to see heath-spotted orchid and prostrate juniper within the moorland, bog asphodel, early marsh orchid, black bog rush and butterwort in the mires and marshy areas and Shetland red campion, thrift, moonwort, frog orchid and spring squill on the cliffs and in the coastal grassland.

Weather is very changeable so if you're planning a visit be prepared for anything - fog, wind, rain but also sunshine in the summer. Check out the webcam on the Fair Isle website for a view of the latest weather - link right. The crossing by ferry can be rough at times so if you're prone to sea sickness a flight might be preferable. See below for how to get to the island.

Camping is not permitted on the island. Accommodation and meals are offered at the Fair Isle Lodge & Bird Observatory or B&Bs in the south of island in the main populated area where there is also a shop and post office.

Getting to Fair Isle

Fair Isle is accessible by either ferry from Lerwick or Grutness in Sumburgh or flights from Tingwall Airport - all on Mainland Shetland. The ferry only takes a limited number of passengers so advance booking is advised. As mentioned before, the crossing can be rough so if you don't possess particularly good sealegs a flight might be preferable. Check the information provided by the Bird Observatory on ferry crossings as they don t run every day (Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays) and are dependent on the weather so phoning before preparing to board is advised. Different timetables run in the summer. There are occasional Thursday ferry crossings to and from Fair Isle and Lerwick.

Flights are available from Tingwall/Lerwick Airport on small 8-seater planes so space is limited for passengers and luggage. Passengers are asked to check-in 30 minutes before departure. Flights run on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays. A Saturday direct flight also goes to Fair Isle from Sumburgh Airport in South Mainland.

From May to October a flight from Kirkwall in Mainland Orkney vis North Ronaldsay to Fair Isle runs on Thursdays and Sundays.

Shetland Islands Council Ferries. Voicebank: 01595 743978 Bookings: 01595 760222. Ferry services general information: 01595 743970.

Fair Isle Bird Observatory

George Waterson bought the island in 1948 to set up a bird observatory and played an important role in boosting the island's economy and destiny. He later became the Scottish Director for the RSPB and was awarded an OBE. He passed the islands to the National Trust in 1954 and the islands new role has since rejuvenated its fortunes. A memorial to George Waterson is in the form of a museum in the former Fair Isle School which traces the island's history from prehistoric times to the present day through photographs, documents and artefacts. Guided tours are available on request.

Fair Isle Bird Observatory has played a pioneering role in studying bird migration with the research here highlighting changes in the marine environment. Visitors to the islands are a mix of twitchers and bird watchers, wildlife enthusiasts and island lovers. Their website has a wealth of information on the latest bird sightings, the wildlife of the island, how to get there and the history of the Observatory.

Certain birds have become known to be "Fair Isle Specials" that regularly turn up every year including Pechora Pipit, Lanceolated warbler, Pallas's Grasshopper Warbler and Yellow-breasted bunting. The last two weeks in September are the best time to see some of these specials while mid May to early June is best for breeding birds on the cliffs, migrating birds, many in their breeding plumage, as well as better weather.

The Bird Observatory has long offered accommodation for visiting ornithologists and visitors and there are plans afoot to build an eco-friendly 21st century accommodation building. Around 400 visitors make the trip to the island every year. Fair Isle Bird Observatory, Fair Isle, Shetland ZE2 9JU. Tel: 01595-760-258. Fax: 01595-760-258. Email: fairisle.birdobs@zetnet.co.uk

Fair Isle History & Culture

Some archaeological remains are still visible on the island including oval-shaped stone houses around 3,000 years old as well as stone walls and dykes the cross the island. The "Feely Dyke" is a turf rampart that divides the common grazings from the crofts and is thought to be prehistoric. Burnt mounds are also interesting archaeological remains made up of blackened stones that would have been heated in a fire and then dropped into water to heat it.

There are 14 scheduled monuments on Fair Isle including these archaeological remains through to the remains of a World War II radar station. The island's two lighthouses at the north and south of the island that were designed by the Stevenson family in 1892 are also listed buildings.

Fair Isle is probably most famous for its colourful patterned Fair Isle knitwear. This is a special style that was created on Fair Isle by using fine yarns stranded into a double layer to produce durable, warm, yet lightweight clothing. The women of Fair Isle were kept busy with demand for the knitwear and traded with passing ships in exchange for supplies. Fair Isle is still the only place to get the authentic knitwear which is now produced by a co-operative, Fair Isle Crafts Ltd. The Shetland Museum on Mainland has a collection of Fair Isle knitted garments, scarves, hats and items from the early 20th century.

Fair Isle is a very environmentally aware community that produces its own electricity from wind turbines that produce 80% and 50% of the island's winter and summer energy requirements. There is also an initiative that aims protect the marine environment while at the same time making sure the island's resources are managed sustainably so that activities such as tourism can continue which is important to the island's economy, while at the same time ensuring that it doesn't threaten the habitats and wildlife people come to see.

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