Fair Isle

Fair Isle, world-famous for its knitting and bird life, has a well sheltered and easily accessible pier at North Haven, and a pontoon for visiting yachts, which can also anchor off the pier if preferred. The island makes a great stepping stone, whether on the way North to Shetland or heading South to explore the rest of Britain.

Other than North Haven, South Haven and South Harbour are possible alternitive anchorages, although caution should be exercised, as they are both difficult to access safely. Consulting the Clyde Cruising Club's Sailing Directions to the Shetland Islands is essential.

Fair Isle's internationally acclaimed Lodge and Bird Observatory is around 300 metres from the pier and has toilets, showers and a telephone as well as serving excellent food.

The island lies in the migration paths from Scandinavia, Iceland and Faroe, consequently there are massive numbers of both common and rare visiting species. From April to August the cliffs are busy with thousands of fulmars, kittiwakes, rasorbills, guillimots, black guillimots, gannets,shags and puffins, while skuas and terns fiercely defend their nests on the moorland. Grey and common seals are frequently seen, with harbour porpoises mostly seen in summer. Whales and dolphins sometimes cruise close ashore, and white beaked Atlantic white sided dolphins, killer whales (orcas) and minke whales are often spotted from the mail boat "Good Sheperd" on passage to and from Shetland.

The George Waterston Memorial Centre and Museum in the former Fair Isle school on the south of the island is packed with displays of the island's history from prehistoric times to the present, and is definately worth a visit for a unique sight into Fair Isle's past and a better understanding of its present.

Fair Isle is also famous for its knitting and the only source of the genuine Fair Isle garment is on this island. A small island cooperative, Fair Isle Crafts, produces quality knitwear labelled with Fair Isle's own trademark.

 

Depth (Low water):	4m max
Contact:	Jimmy Stout, 01595 760222
Charges:	Please see - www.shetland.gov.uk/ports/tableofdues/scalloway.asp
Yacht Facilities:	Toilets, showers, fresh water, waste disposal (on pier)
Other Facilities:	Food and drink, telephone (all available 300 metres away at the bird observatory), shop and post office (2.5km).