Tommy's "Wild Life" adventures. Lifestyle and island living insights on the most remote inhabited community in the UK.
Fair Isle, Shetland Islands, Scotland. - Population 45 Resident Islanders, 1200 Sheep, 20,000 Puffins and a few rare birds.
Iain Brown, from Wales, now living in Edinburgh, came to the Fair Isle to climb his "final" Marilyn in the UK. Ward Hill 217meters, this is Iain,s 1552nd Marilyn! What's a Marilyn? A Marilyn is a hill with a prominance of 150 metres or greater, , that is a drop of 150m (500 feet) on all sides There are 1554 Marilyns in Britain but the 2 inaccessible stacs in St Kilda (Stac Lee and Stac Armin) have not been climbed by any of the Marilyn Baggers, though the other hill of St Kilda are on Iain's list. So no one has completed all the Marilyns on list. Iain says that is sort of the beauty of the thing. (always one or two hills to far) Iain has travelled the length of Britain in his quest. There are only 3 others that have reached 1552 to date. Iain also walked most of the Fair Isle's coastline and the other top spots Malcolm's Head, Hoini & Vassetter. Over dinner we discussed at length Iain's wish to climbing Sheep Rock? No one has been up there in over 25 years... Congratulations Iain! you're "Tops" with us! I think he saved the best for last.
Everyone loves taking photos of Fair Isle's South Lighthouse, but wouldn't you love to take a look inside? Now you can! Thanks to the new Fair Isle Lighthouse Society.
Things are looking up at the South Lighthouse!
Thanks to the Northern Lighthouse Board and the
members Fair Isle Lighthouse Society, you can now climb to the top of the South Lighthouse Tower just like the Lighthouse Keepers did. A handful of islanders have joined together to form the Fair Isle Lighthouse Society. The main purpose of this group is to over see visitation inside and up the South Lighthouse for tourist. Almost everyone who visits Fair Isle asks if they can go up the Lighthouse? But, this access has never been formally allowed until now. The NLB requires the FILS to purchase public liability insurance every year. As to date we have not received any public money. (unlike the millions for Sumburgh Lighthouse.) The society is not a non-profit nor a viable commercial enterprise. We started with a £500.00 loan from the National Trust for Scotland which needs to be paid back shortly. We hope to raise £1000.00 in donations from Fair Isle lovers & Lighthouse enthusiast who understand the value of providing this historic access as much as we do. We are also looking for any historic items or stories for display if you have any? Maintaining this access to the light creates a important infrastructure for the isle's tourist activities & heritage. The money from your donations will hopefully cover the start up cost and the future access fees should pay the yearly insurance from here after. We appreciate anything you can do to help.
our goal is to raise £1000.00
Donations can be sent by post or PayPal.
Fair Isle Lighthouse Society
South Lighthouse, Fair Isle, Shetland Islands, ZE2 9JU.
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