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Two puffins stand side by side on a cliff, looking out to sea.
Northern Islands

Fair Isle

Getting here

Fair Isle lies between Shetland and Orkney.
Address Fair Isle Shetland ZE2 9JU OS Ref: HZ210720

The mail boat Good Shepherd IV operates regularly during summer between North Haven on Fair Isle to Grutness Pier near Sumburgh in Shetland (with a few sailings to Lerwick). The boat carries 12 passengers and takes about 2½ hours to Fair Isle. For bookings, phone 01595 760363.

Airtask (formerly known as Directflight) offer the only year-round scheduled air service to Fair Isle, taking up to 7 passengers.

Contact information

Telephone: 01463 732621 (regional office)

Get directions

Provided by Google Maps

Opening times

Fair Isle

Current period All 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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Planning your visit

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

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.

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