Fair Isle

Of interest to ornithologists is Fair Isle, which lies 24mi/39km southwest of the southern tip of Mainland. It can be reached by ferry from Grutness (about 2hrs 30 mins) or by plane (25 mins by Loganair from Tingwall Airport). The name is derived from the Nordic word "fridarey" meaning "peaceful island". Designated in 1954 as a "National Scenic Area", the island is administered by the National Trust for Scotland.

Only about 70 people live here and they have hundreds of thousands of birds to keep them company. About 340 different species have been observed, including fulmars, razorbills, storm petrels, puffins, kittiwakes and great skuas predominate. In spring and autumn they are joined by countless migratory birds. Fair Isle Lodge and Bird Observatory was restored in 1989 and it offers overnight accommodation, plus the opportunity to catch up on the latest research (tel. 013412 258).

Fair Isle has been inhabited for many years as the prehistoric earthwork that splits the island in half testifies. In the course of the centuries, many a ship's crew whose vessel came to grief on the rocks off the Shetland Islands found themselves washed ashore on Fair Isle. In 1588, for example, 300 men from "El Gran GrifÓn", a flagship of the Spanish Armada, were lucky to reach safety here and in the 19th century 465 German emigrants bound for the USA on board the "Lessing" were fortunate to end up on dry land here. According to legend, the famous Fair Isle pattern on Shetland sweaters was influenced by the Spanish sailors.