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Northern Islands

Fair Isle

The most remote inhabited island in the UK, famed for its seabirds and fabulous knitwear

Planning your visit

Fair Isle can be visited all year round, although getting there can be weather-dependent.

Your first port of call should be Fair Isle Bird Observatory, which is home to the island’s visitor centre, as well as offering accommodation, meals and other facilities. It’s open from mid-April until the end of October and you can pick up factsheets, self-guiding leaflets, information on wildlife and maps of the island here. You can find out more about the island’s history at the George Waterston Memorial Centre and Museum, located in Fair Isle’s former school and housing a collection of knitwear, artefacts, photographs and other historical memorabilia. The ranger service offers guided walks, talks and other events at the observatory.

Stackhoull Stores is the only shop on the island and is also the post office. It’s well-stocked and you can buy food, drink and other provisions here. There’s no bank on Fair Isle, but cash withdrawals can be made from the shop/post office.

For more information about planning your visit, please see the drop-down Facilities below or our frequently asked questions.

Facilities & access

We have an ongoing programme of accessible content development. Detailed accessibility guides for the most visited Trust places are available on our Accessibility pages as well as links to useful resources.

We’d love you to visit the Euan’s Guide website to review the accessibility of Trust places and tell us (and others) what’s good and where we need to do better.

Bike facilities

Fair Isle Bird Observatory offers a free ranger service from May to the end of October, including guided tours of the island.

By arrangement with the Northern Lighthouse Board and the Fair Isle Lighthouse Society, visitors can book an official guided tour of the South Lighthouse.

Public toilets are available at the Bird Observatory, at the airstrip waiting room, at the Hall and via an outside door at Stackhoull Stores.

Walks

Opening times

Fair Isle

Current periodAll year, daily

Entry prices

Fair Isle
Adult
Free
Family
Free
One adult family
Free
Concession
Free

Members go free

At all Trust places, admission is free for members.

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