Of course, we have booked ferries and flights for specific days but if you wish to arrange your own travel you are welcome to do so, see the travel section of this site. If you wish to explore Orkney and Shetland as part of your trip we recommend doing this AFTER the wedding, so that in the event you are stuck on Fair Isle due to bad weather you only reduce your exploring days and will not risk missing / rearranging your onward travel back to Aberdeen or elsewhere. We request that you please just let us know well in advance so we cancel your bookings, that you confirm you can be at Tingwall airport for your flight to Fair Isle and that you can leave the island on your allocated flight. Remember to build flexibility into you plan incase of bad weather.
You can fly from a number of UK airports to Sumbrugh airport in Shetland. However, you should be aware of the following: - Flights to Shetland are more likely to be affected by adverse weather than the Northlink Ferry. - In the event you are delayed getting off Fair Isle due to weather rescheduling flights from Sumbrugh can often very difficult and expensive. - Flights to Fair Isle from Shetland depart from Tingwall airpot and not Sumbrugh and so you will need to arrange a taxi transfer from Sumbrugh to Tingwall (~£60) and make sure that your flight to Sumbrugh arrives in good time for you to make the transfer. - While ticket fares can look cheap for LoganAir there are often additional costs for bags, seats, flexibility etc.
No, the ferry from Shetland to Fair Isle is not a roll-on/roll-off ferry and so we do not recommend bringing your car. You can take your car on the Northlink ferry from Aberdeen to Shetland for an additional cost. You can also hire a car on mainland Shetland (we recommend Star rent-a-car)
Passengers on the island flight from Shetland to Fair Isle have a limit of 15kg for a checked bag + hand luggage. If necessary you can post items in advance to Stackhoull, Fair Isle, Shetland, ZE2 9JU. If you do want to send items up please let us know so we can inform the post master (i.e. the mother of the bride)
We have booked rooms at the Fair Isle Bird Observatory (FIBO). This is a ornithological research centre and guest house situated at the north end of the island. FIBO is full board and will include all meals.
There are no restaurants, pubs or cafes on Fair Isle. Fair Isle Bird Observatory (FIBO) is full board and includes 3 meals a day. If you have dietary requirements please let us know in advance.
Unfortunately this is a fairly regular occurrence on Fair Isle. The flight and ferry service to the island do all they can to maintain the regular schedule but adverse weather such as high winds and fog often affect travel. We recommend purchasing travel insurance and building some degree of flexibility into your travel plans.
Yes! Fair Isle has good internet suitable for browsing and video calling. We understand that many of our guests will have to take annual leave from work to be here and so we understand if you need to work some days whilst on the island.
As well as your glad rags and dancing shoes we recommend bringing lots of layers. Even in Summer you can experience all 4 seasons in one day on Fair Isle and so we recommend bringing some warm clothes, a rain coat, hat's and gloves, and wellies/walking boots.
Yes! The water off the north haven beach in Fair Isle is great for swimming and is a tropical 10 degrees celsius all year round. Unless you're very brave we recommend bringing a wetsuit and even gloves, boots and a hood if you have them.
Fair Isle is only 3 miles long and 1 mile across with only a few roads. Most places are walkable and so getting around the island is easy. If you don't fancy the walk then FIBO offer a taxi service to take guests around the island at scheduled times.