Fair Isle is located between mainland Shetland and Orkney, a small island with a big sense of identity. Around 24 miles south of Sumburgh Head, it is home to a close-knit community of roughly 50-60 people. Everyday life is shaped by cooperation, shared responsibility and a strong connection to place.

Fair Isle at a glance
Location

The most remote inhabited island in the United Kingdom, located around 24 miles south of Shetland Mainland, between Shetland and Orkney.

Population

Approximately 60–70 people.

Communities

A close-knit island community centred around scattered crofts and homes, with most residents living in the south of the island.

Transport links

Regular ferry and scheduled air services connect Fair Isle with Shetland Mainland, although all island travel is weather dependent.

On your doorstep

World-famous birdwatching, dramatic cliffs and coastal scenery, traditional Fair Isle knitting, the Fair Isle Bird Observatory, island walks and exceptional opportunities to experience nature every day.

Known to many through the Shipping Forecast and for its distinctive knitwear, Fair Isle is also a small, working community and a place people call home. The island is part of Shetland, despite its physical separation, and is linked to the Shetland Mainland by a scheduled flight from Tingwall Airport, with a ferry service operating when conditions allow.

Much of Fair Isle is owned and cared for by the National Trust for Scotland, which helps protect the island’s landscape, buildings and way of life. Because the island is small and housing is limited, moving to Fair Isle usually happens through specific opportunities as they arise, such as job roles, tenancies or other openings that support the community. People who move to the island tend to do so having carefully considered what island life involves and what they can contribute.

Life on Fair Isle is shaped by its size and by the people who live there. With little anonymity, neighbours rely on one another and everyone has a role to play, whether through crofting, fishing, renewable energy, bird observatory work, public services or simply keeping things running.

Decisions are made locally and tend to involve the entire community. There is an active social life and newcomers do not stay strangers for long. Fair Isle suits people who value taking part and who understand that island life asks something of you as well as offering a great deal in return.

I moved to Fair Isle eight years ago to knit and I fell in love with the lifestyle, the island... Slowly, I started taking on all the other jobs that make you an islander. The biggest misconception is thinking that you're coming to a tiny island in the middle of nowhere to be on your own, because I know every single person that lives on the island. They can count on me and I can count on them. It's way, way better than living in a city.

Marie Bruhat, Fair Isle resident

  • How easy is it to get on and off Fair Isle?

    Scheduled flights usually operate several times a week between the island and Tingwall Airport on the Shetland mainland, with the journey taking around 25 minutes, weather permitting. A ferry service also operates when conditions allow, though less frequently. Because travel depends on weather and schedules, residents tend to plan journeys carefully, and many only leave Fair Isle occasionally for appointments, supplies or longer trips.

  • How do I buy a house in Fair Isle?

    Most of the island’s housing is owned and managed by the National Trust for Scotland, and properties are generally let rather than sold. Homes only become available occasionally and are usually offered as tenancies, advertised directly by the Trust, rather than through estate agents. As a result, people who move to Fair Isle typically do so through specific opportunities or roles, rather than by buying on the open market.

  • What sorts of jobs exist in Fair Isle?

    Work on Fair Isle is limited and tends to be closely tied to keeping the island going. Jobs include roles with the National Trust for Scotland, work at the Fair Isle Bird Observatory, crofting or fishing, public services, skilled trades and of course, traditional Fair Isle knitting. Some residents are self-employed or work remotely. Vacancies come up from time to time rather than being ongoing, and many residents combine more than one role.

  • Is there a school in Fair Isle?

    Yes. Fair Isle has its own small primary school, which serves children from early years through P1–P7 (around ages 5–12), usually in a single mixed-age class. The school is an important part of island life and reflects the community's close-knit nature. There is no secondary school, so pupils of secondary age normally continue their education on the Shetland mainland, in Lerwick, and board during term time.

  • Is there a shop in Fair Isle?

    Stackhoull Stores is Fair's Isle's general store and post office. It stocks food, drink and other everyday essentials. Its opening hours are limited and vary by season, especially in the quieter winter months, but it’s a key part of daily life on the island. As Fair Isle’s supply chain depends on transport links and weather conditions, it’s usually best to contact the shop in advance if you’re hoping to have something specific held or set aside for you when you arrive.

  • Is there a pub/restaurant in Fair Isle?

    There is no traditional pub or restaurant in Fair Isle. Food and drink are available at the Fair Isle Bird Observatory, which has a dining room and bar/lounge used by residents, staff and visitors, usually by arrangement.

  • Is there internet and signal in Fair Isle?

    Fair Isle has fibre broadband, following the installation of a subsea cable linking the island to the Shetland mainland. This means high-speed internet is available across the island and can support everyday use, including video calls and remote working. As with any rural island, performance can still vary by provider and package, but connectivity is much better than it was in the past.

  • Is there a nurse or doctor in Fair Isle?

    Medical care in Fair Isle is provided locally by a resident community nurse, who is the first point of contact for day-to-day health needs and minor emergencies. There is no resident GP in Fair Isle; GP services and specialist care are based on the Shetland mainland. If hospital treatment is needed, patients are transferred to NHS Shetland facilities, most commonly Gilbert Bain Hospital in Lerwick.

What next?

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