Islands · Scottish Islands
Fair Isle
Also known as: Fara, Fara, Sealtainn
Fair Isle — island at the south of the Shetland Islands, Scotland, UK.
Wikimedia Commons contributors — see linked file page for photographer and licence licence
Plan your visit
- Typical visit
- 4 h–12 h
- Free entry
- Family-friendly
- Dog-friendly
- Limited wheelchair access
Getting there & planning your visit
Fair Isle is located in the Shetland Islands, with the postcode ZE2 9JU. Entry to the island is free, but accessibility is limited for wheelchair users.
About
Fair Isle is a island in the United Kingdom. It covers approximately 768 km². Recent population estimates put it at around 68 people. Owned by National Trust for Scotland. Managed by National Trust for Scotland. Part of Shetland Islands. Wikidata describes it as: "island at the south of the Shetland Islands, Scotland, UK". Coordinates: 59.5300°, -1.6300°.
Photo gallery
Summary from the official site
Fair Isle is the most remote inhabited island in the UK, known for its diverse seabird populations and rich cultural heritage, including a famous knitting tradition. Visitors can explore archaeological sites, enjoy the island's stunning landscapes, and witness skilled craftspeople at work. The island also serves as a critical stopover for migrating birds, making it a paradise for birdwatchers.
Read more on the official property page.
From the Wikipedia article
Fair Isle ( fair EYEL; Old Norse: Friðarey) is the southernmost of the Shetland Islands, Scotland. It is situated at the approximate midpoint between the southern tip of Mainland, Shetland; and North Ronaldsay, the northernmost of the Orkney Islands; in an area bordering the North Sea and the Atlantic Ocean known as the Fair Isle Gap. As the most remote inhabited island in the United Kingdom, Fair Isle is known for its wild bird observatory, historic shipwrecks, Scottish and Shetland-style traditional music, and its traditional style of knitting, also called "Fair Isle". The island has been owned by the National Trust for Scotland since 1954.
Excerpt from Wikipedia under CC BY-SA 4.0. See the source article linked in Sources below.
Background
History
]] Fair Isle has been occupied since Neolithic times, which is remarkable given the lack of raw materials on the island, although it is surrounded by rich fishing waters. There are two known Iron Age sites: a promontory fort at Landberg and the foundations of a house underlying an early Christian settlement at Kirkigeo. Most of the place names date from after the 9th-century Norse settlement of the Northern Isles. By that time the croft lands had clearly been in use for centuries. Between the 9th and 15th centuries, Fair Isle was a Norwegian possession. In 1469, Shetland, along with Orkney, was part of the dowry of the King of Denmark's daughter, Margaret, on her marriage to James III of…
Sourced from Wikipedia under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Coordinates
- 59.5300, -1.6300
- District
- Shetland Islands
- Postcode
- ZE2 9JU
- Parliamentary constituency
- Orkney and Shetland
- Population
- 68
- Opening
- All year, daily
- Official site
- www.nts.org.uk
Sources
- wikidata: Q762752 (CC0)
- wikipedia: Fair Isle (CC BY-SA 4.0)
- commons: Fair Isle - West cliffs.jpg (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Other places nearby
Vaasetter
Mountains & hills · 0.8 km
Fair Isle Airport
Islands · 0.9 km
Parish Church, Fair Isle
Historic churches · 1.0 km
Hoiliff
Mountains & hills · 1.0 km
Hundi Stack
Mountains & hills · 1.1 km
Sheep Rock
Mountains & hills · 1.1 km
Red Codlin Ru
Mountains & hills · 1.2 km
Breiti Stack
Mountains & hills · 1.3 km
Lang Cole
Mountains & hills · 1.4 km
Fair Isle, Burrista
Vineyards · 1.4 km
Fair Isle, Landberg
Vineyards · 1.4 km
Methodist Church, Fair Isle
Historic churches · 1.6 km
Nearby
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Fair Isle Airport
Fair Isle Airport in Orkney + Shetland, United Kingdom.
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Parish Church, Fair Isle
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Hundi Stack
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Flagship📷 5Frequently asked questions
- Where is Fair Isle?
- Fair Isle is in the Scottish Islands, United Kingdom (postcode ZE2 9JU).
- What is Fair Isle?
- Fair Isle — island at the south of the Shetland Islands, Scotland, UK.
- How do I get to Fair Isle?
- Drivers can use postcode ZE2 9JU.
- Who runs Fair Isle?
- Fair Isle is operated by National Trust for Scotland.
- Is Fair Isle free to visit?
- Yes, Fair Isle is free to enter.
- How do I get to Fair Isle?
- Drivers can navigate to postcode ZE2 9JU. It sits within the Orkney and Shetland parliamentary constituency.