TRAVEL TO AND FROM FAIR ISLE

Loganair Links Orkney and Fair Isle again
This summer, from late May to October, Loganair is to operate a scheduled air service from Kirkwall to Fair Isle. Using an Islander aircraft the service will operate on Thursday mornings and Sunday afternoons from 8th May until 28th Sepyember.

Follow links to relevant section

Travelling to Fair Isle
Connections in Shetland
Travelling to Shetland
Travelling to Aberdeen

All information included on this webpage is subject to change and we recommend that all our visitors contact each travel company directly to confirm dates, times and costs of transport. Fair Isle Bird Observatory cannot be held liable for information contained herein.

We strongly recommend that all visitors travelling by air obtain their own travel insurance well in advance of travel, as cancellations can occur due to weather, technical problems and air-ambulance needs. Please note that it is often cheaper to book on-line direct from websites.

If in any doubt, please feel free to ring Hollie or Deryk at the Observatory for advice.

Travelling to Fair Isle

By Sea
A ferry service, operated by Mr N. Thomson of Fair Isle for Shetland Islands Council, sails between Grutness Pier (near Sumburgh at the southern tip of Mainland Shetland) and Fair Isle. The ferry is called the Good Shepherd IV.

During the summer this service operates once a day on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. Departure from Fair Isle to Grutness is about 0730 and the return from Grutness is usually at 1140, arriving Fair Isle about 1410.

On alternate Thursdays the ferry departs from Fair Isle at 0600 arriving into Lerwick at 1030, and departs from Lerwick at 1530 arriving Fair Isle at 2000.

This service is wholly dependent on the weather so please phone to confirm sailing. If a sailing is cancelled it will take place on the next suitable day. Single fare is a bargain £2.60, and booking is essential.

For more information and bookings, please call Mr or Mrs Thomson on 01595 760228.

By Air
Air travel between Shetland Mainland & Fair Isle operated by Direct Flight
Tel: 01595 840246                 Fax: 01595 840247

Please note: FIBO cannot be held responsible for any mistakes or changes to these timetables – so please ensure you check all times carefully when booking.

Summer Timetable 18^th February 2008 – 19^th October 2008
Tingwall (Lerwick)-Fair Isle-Tingwall
Passengers must check in 30 minutes before the departure time of their flight.

Tingwall-Fair Isle-Tingwall Saturdays only 18th May to 11th October

Fair Isle-Sumburgh-Fair Isle Saturdays only 18th May to 11th October

Connections in Shetland (to Grutness & Tingwall and Sumburgh Airports)

To and from Grutness (for Good Shepherd IV) and Sumburgh Airport

The number 6 bus service from Lerwick to Sumburgh Airport and Grutness Pier (next to Sumburgh) runs regularly. A timetable is available here. http://www.leaskstravel.co.uk/bus-timetables/sumburgh.shtml

All times of departure should be confirmed with Leasks and Sons (01595 693 162). It takes about 45 minutes to make the journey. The Viking Bus Station is within walking distance of the Northlink ferry terminal at Lerwick or alternatively a taxi should be available on arrival. Call Shetland Islands Tourism for further information on 01595 693434.

To and from Tingwall Airport (Lerwick)

Tingwall airport is a small airport 10 minutes outside of Lerwick, and is used as the base for all inter-island flights within Shetland. Bus services do run fairly close, but it is strongly recommended to have a taxi to and from Lerwick. Shetland Islands Council subsidise a shuttle taxi (run by Sinclair Taxis) from the Viking Bus Station to Tingwall. A single fare is a bargain £1.50. Call 01595 745 745 to book. All journeys must be booked by 1630hrs the previous day (1530hrs on Friday for Monday bookings).

Normal taxi fares to Tingwall would be in the region of £8. For a list of taxi companies telephone Shetland Islands Tourism on 08701 999440.

Travelling to Shetland
Flights

There are seven daily flights from the UK mainland: Aberdeen (55 mins), Edinburgh (85 mins) and Glasgow (90 mins) and several from Inverness and Kirkwall. Some are still operated by Loganair www.loganair.co.uk

For more information www.britishairways.com (Tel : 08708 509850)

In summer (23^rd May – 28^th August 2008) you can fly direct to Shetland from London Stansted with Atlantic Airways twice a week (Mon and Fri each direction). The flight only takes 1 hour 40mins.

Take a look at www.flyshetland.com or www.atlantic.fo/ or phone Leasks (01595 693162) or Stewart Travel (01292 476721)

Ferry

Northlink Ferries operate a ferry service from Aberdeen to Lerwick. Typically the ferry sails from Aberdeen either at 1700 or 1900 every day during the summer months. Arrival at Lerwick is at 0700 the following day. Returning, the ferry leaves Lerwick at either 1730 or 1900 arriving in Aberdeen at 0700 the following day. A full timetable is available here http://www.northlinkferries.co.uk/Timetables.html    [link]

Call Northlink for more information and booking on 0845 6000 449 or e-mail info@northlinkferries.co.uk.

Travelling to Aberdeen

The bus and coach stations are right next to each other, which is conveniently only 5 minutes walk from the Northlink ferry terminal. Ask staff at either station to point you in the right direction.

For train connections contact National Rail Enquiries: 08457 48 49 50
For coach connections look at http://www.nationalexpress.com/home/hp.cfm or http://www.gobycoach.com

Aberdeen airport is situated just outside of Aberdeen and is easily accessible by bus and taxi.

Regular bus services operate from the airport to Aberdeen city centre. Services are less frequent at weekends than on weekdays. A single fare to the city centre is £1.30 (subject to change). For further details contact First Aberdeen  on 01224 650 065 or Stagecoach Bluebird on 01224 212 266

Flights into Aberdeen

Take a look at the Aberdeen Airport website destinations board to see the many places you can get to Aberdeen from.

http://www.aberdeenairport.com/ Then click on Flight Information and then Destinations and Airlines.

No photograph contained within this site may be reproduced without prior permission.
Last modified: 26 February, 2008   Further information about Fair Isle at: www.fairisle.org.uk