//
Southernmost Shetland Island, Scotland
Photo: LHOON from Mechelen, Belgium, CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Fair Isle (Old Norse: Friðarey) is one of the Shetland Islands. It lies 24 miles (38 km) south of Shetland Mainland, midway between Shetland and Orkney, and vies with Foula for the title of Britain's most remote inhabited island. The island is 3 miles long by 1.5 miles wide, and in 2011 had a population of 65. The main settlement is towards the south, the traditional landing point, but ferries nowadays land to the northeast.
From the travel guide. Select a place for details, a map and what is nearby.
George Waterston (1911-1980) was a leading ornithologist, for many years Scottish Director of RSPB. He set up the Observatory here, and indeed bought the whole island, eventually selling it at cost price to the NTS. This one-room museum in the former school hall relates his history and the island's.
A farmhouse with breakfast and dinner from £160 double, £120 without meals; single for £100 with or £70 without meals.
This is the main accommodation on the island, rebuilt after a fire in 2019.
By plane
Airtask fly to Fair Isle from Lerwick-Tingwall airport on Shetland Mainland, taking 25 min. There are 2 or 3 flights M, W-F so a day trip is possible with 5 hours on the island.
Choose an airport to see hotels, stations, taxi ranks and car rental desks around it.
Lerwick, Shetland · Regional · LSI
Loading places around the airport…
Articles and travel topics about Fair Isle and United Kingdom.
Travel tipsComplete 2026 guide to the UK Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA). Check eligibility, the £20 fee, application steps, and transit rules.
7 min read
Travel tipsComplete 2026 guide to global tourist taxes and access fees. Compare entry fees in Venice, Bali, Bhutan, Kyoto, and Edinburgh, and learn how to pay them.
8 min read
Travel tipsFind the cheapest countries to fly to from the US and UK in 2026. Compare realistic round-trip flight deals, budget airlines, and prime booking windows.
8 min read
Travel tipsA complete guide to taking the Eurostar from London to Paris. Learn about check-in times, border controls, baggage limits, ticket tiers, and booking tips.
7 min read
Every section of the guide. Open one to read it in full.