Fair Isle Images

Island Dog

Ash

Highlander & Texel

Puffins are back

Gets the Worm

Low Tide in the South Harbour

Hello Auld Haafinch

Frogs

Sheep Rock

Bonxie - Eater of Puffins

Puffin

The Girls

Another Sunset

View from Malcolm's Head

Seals & Pups

South Light

Epic Fair Isle

Atlantic Puffin

Stormy Seas

The Dance

The South Light

I hope you enjoyed my POST

 

Traveling to Fair Isle: Information

 Traveling to Fair Isle?

Fair Isle - Shetland Islands - Scotland - UK.

Hello, it's a lot easier than it looks… really there are just so many options when traveling to Fair Isle the most remote inhabited island in the UK. With time, money and maybe some travel motion pills you'll get here. Wherever you are you'll need to first need to get to Scotland, which is always a good place to be! But specifically getting to Fair Isle you'll need to travel through mainland Shetland by plane or boat. I'll break it down into understandable travel information.

Flying from Scotland to Shetland is straightforward travel from a number of Scottish cities. Shetland's Sumburgh Airport has direct flights to and from Edinburgh, Aberdeen, Glasgow, Inverness & Kirkwall in Orkney. Also, Shetland has flights to and from Bergen, Norway.

 

Travel at Sea is also a popular way to get to Shetland, taking the overnight Northlink Ferry from Aberdeen or Orkney to Lerwick, Shetland has its advantages when on to Fair Isle. 

Once in Shetland you need to decide do you want to take the boat or plane to Fair Isle?

The Boat (Fair Isle's Good Shepherd Ferry) goes every other day so it seems a bit confusing the 1st time. Many of the ferry boat crew are also part of the fire crew at the Fair Isle airport, this helps to explain the travel schedule. The plane has 1 or 2 flights a day, with no flights on Sunday.

Flight from Sumburgh airport to Fair Isle, on Saturdays only at 11:30 am. Totally the easiest way to Fair Isle is this small 8 seat plane, it takes about 10 minutes flying time.

By Sea, Good Shepherd Ferry? departing from the Sumburgh Pier about two miles from the airport easily reached by a quick Taxi (5 pounds?) or even walk about 2 miles to the Good Shepherd Ferry Boat to depart for Fair Isle (15 pounds each way Tues. Thur. Sat.) This is cheap! and no weight restriction on luggage, cameras, scope, bike, etc. If you take the Northlink Ferry you land in Lerwick and would need to take the bus to Sumburgh pier ( about 3 pounds and one hour ride) Warning! Once on the Good Shepherd the boat does move with the waves and the tides so make sure you bring your sea legs.

By Air, Shetland's Tingwall Airport to the outer Isle? Leave Sumburgh on a nice bus to Lerwick (3 pounds each - trip 1 hour) in Lerwick then catch a Taxi - Airport Shuttle to nearby (10 minutes) Tingwall airport (about 5 pounds) and get a small 8-10 seat plane to fair isle (90 pounds round trip - each adult- trip time 25 min.). When planning a Shetland holiday it is better to book your small flights 1st because there are so few seats and so few options and these sometimes conflict with the large airlines schedules.

Arrive in style, some people arrive with their Private Plane landing on the Fair Isle crushed stone and dirt runway they think it's fun. Planes are also occasionally chartered by Twitchers from London to come see a rare bird. Many other sail into Fair Isle's North Haven Harbour in their Private Yachts... Some folks come on cruiseships just for a few hours as part of a tour. No matter how you get here, the travelling on and off island is part of what makes Fair Isle such an awesome experience.  

Delays in travel? every time I travel anywhere there are delays. Fair Isle is not much different, it just seems so extreme and desperate here at times.

When booking tickets on the Plane to Fair Isle it seems complicated because if you change your plans from one day to the next the scheduled times change from one day to next. this is done on purpose to give Fair Isle and Foula alternative long shopping days and chances for day-trippers.

Travel plans often change on Fair Isle…

Example 1: I wanted to leave on Monday’s plane but we had fog and then had to take the boat on Tuesday as the boat can travel in fog. 

Example 2: We have a Gale (strong winds) and all transport is canceled and you had planned to take the boat, the next day the wind drops but the sea is still high. So you take the plane, if they have room of course. 

Example 3: Don't save the best for last. Say you visit Shetland for 2 weeks and come to Fair Isle for your last night before heading back to Australia, New York or any international or domestic flight. (Not a good idea!) If you get stuck due to weather... your major international airline ticket holders don't care that you missed your local transport out of Fair Isle. (Loganair and the Northlink out of Shetland are somewhat sympathetic) but your international flights you will most likely need to rebuy, reschedule and rebook all your tickets and it's a costly huge mess! make sure to Schedule your Fair Isle visit at the beginning or middle of your trip.

That is why I suggest when visiting Shetland and you want to come to Fair Isle, come here first, then you wont mess up your larger travel plans before leaving Shetland. 

Auld Haa Guest House - Fair Isle - Shetland Islands - Scotland - UK

If you are planning to stay at the Auld Haa Guest House please let me know what days you are thinking of and I will do my best to advise you.

 

email: tommyartgallery@yahoo.com

Message me on Instagram or Facebook Messanger 

The Good Shepherd Ferry Service

Fair Isle - Sumburgh, Shetland

Summer 1st May - 18th September FAIR ISLE/ SUMBURGH	DEPART FAIR ISLE	ARRIVE SUMBURGH	DEPART SUMBURGH	ARRIVE FAIR ISLE
TUESDAY	07.30	10.00 (approx)	11:30	14.10 (approx)
ALTERNATE THURSDAY	07.30	10.00 (approx)	11:30	14.10 (approx)
SATURDAY	07.30	10.00 (approx)	11:30	14.10 (approx)

Fair Isle - Lerwick - every other Thursday

FAIR ISLE/ LERWICK	DEPART FAIR ISLE	ARRIVE LERWICK	DEPART LERWICK	ARRIVE FAIR ISLE
ALTERNATE THURSDAY	06.00	10.30 (approx)	15.15	19.45 (approx)

Winter Ferry Service: Tuesday only (weather permitting)

All bookings to Tel. 01595 760 228 

and must be confirmed 24 hrs before departure. 

Fair Isle's Good Shepherd

Northlink Ferry as seen from the Auld Haa Garden - Fair Isle

   Northlink Ferry Boat,  Aberdeen – Lerwick

Ferry Ticket Reservations By Telephone   09067 533 451

Northlink Link: http://www.northlinkferries.co.uk/

Over night ferry from Aberdeen, Scotland to Lerwick, Shetland Price varies on seat or cabin - round trip etc.. goes nightly. Usually cheaper and much slower than plane from Aberdeen but you can travel with while sleeping.

 

Direct Flight - Shetland - Tingwall (Lerwick) to Fair Isle 

Website Link: http://www.directflight.co.uk/

Timetable: https://www.airtask.co.uk/userassets/Summer_19_07_02_update.pdf

Fares: http://www.directflight.co.uk/shetland/shetland-islands-fares/


Average Summer Day Crossing on the Good Shepherd Ferry

           

I don't know if if Kirkwall to Fair Isle are going to resume this Summer?

Loganair

Kirkwall, Orkney to Fair Isle Flights

June through September

https://www.loganair.co.uk/destinations/city-guides/fair-isle/

Ben Fogle - New lives in the Wild - Plein air Painting - Fair Isle & Tommy Episode.

 

Where the Wild Men Are. Fair Isle

Ben Fogle came back for a Fair Isle revisit episode in mid-October 2020
The Fair Isle - New Lives in the Wild is now being aired for the first time in the UK .
March 9th at 9pm on Channel 5 

The 2015 Channel 5  TV Promo Video

Seen on TV all over the world.
Dubbed and Subtitled in many languges.
It was funny to see myself talk in French and Hindi.

Sort of awkward... we had to be six feet apart at all times.

Ben looking at my Paintings before his art lesson.

Insparation for a bit of Plein Air Paiting of his own. 

Ben Fogle the Art Student

Artist: Ben Fogle - Auld Haa, Fair Isle - Oil Painting on Canvas - October 2020

Out-standing in his field, but not this one!

Ben didn't want to put the Paint Brushes down.
I could tell this was a challenge he wanted to spend more time with.
We had only 30 minutes of painting time, while also being on camera.
This was great fun though, I remember saying...
"The most important part of this painting is going to be the signature."
😋😂

House Painting

Artist: T H Hyndman - Auld Haa, Fair Isle - Oil Paint on Canvas - 2020

Our oil paints of the Auld Haa Guesthouse on the French Easel.

My Quick Oil Painting Study of the Auld Haa

Me Landscape Painting 2015 
Ben Fogle - New Lives in the Wild - Drone Footage over Landberg a Bronze age fortifaction.

My Painting from that day.

T H Hyndman - Sheep Rockfrom Landberg - oil painting on canvas- 50cm by 20cm - June 2015

 -

What a beautiful day for Plein air Painting that was...

Henry, Ben Fogle & Tommy Hyndman 2015

Henry & Tommy December 2020

Thank you, everyone. We hope you enjoy the show.
Cheers from Fair Isle.

Link to Tommy Art Gallery to view more works of my Art.

http://fair-isle.blogspot.com/p/art-gallery.html

 

Fair Isle Artist in Residency & Auld Haa Guesthouse Self-catering

New Adventure! I am starting the Fair Isle Residency Project. 

Artist - Adventurers - Scientists - Craftpeople

Creative types and hard workers wishing to stay 2 weeks or more can apply for this opportunity.

  If you are willing to stay in my Son's room while he is away at University and give me 20 hours a week of work we might be able to make an arrangement. The work would be physical, gardening, maintenance, house painting, cleaning, etc. After a video chat interview, if you are selected and a time slot is vacant and agreed upon, your stay at the Auld Haa will be self-catered with plenty of free time to enjoy Fair Isle and creative pursuits. If selected use of my Artist Studio at the South Lighthouse a close walk away will also be yours to use and enjoy. At the end of your stay, I would like a work of your art for my collection.

Only a few residencies a year will be offered. 

I am taking applications now for Spring 2021 (sometime in April or May)

   This may seem to be a great deal seeing how I sometimes rent Henry's room for £100.00 a day. Remember not to over idealize it. I'm sort of a wild guy needing some help getting some stuff done in a place it's hard to find people to help. I like to help other artists too, I know a visit to Fair Isle is an inspiration for a lifetime. If you have a grant or sabbatical and want to work out a longer stay without the work hours and a reduced rate let's talk. If you are traveling with a partner or friend let me know, that might work too. It's all new and I am working with new ideas.

Please contact me through my  Instagram or Facebook Messanger 

email: tommyartgallery@yahoo.com

A registered historic building and landmark owned by the National Trust for Scotland.

New Self-catering Accommodations

As Travel and Tourism start again I am offering Self-catering Accommodation. 

It's not the way I choose to have guests, it's how I can have guests safely.

A preference for longer visits from guests is the new normal.

Self-catering Prices - food can be bought at the Fair Isle Shop.

1 person, 1 room - £70.00 

2 persons, 1 room - £120.00     

Aerial picture of Fair Isle in case you don't know where you are going?

the blue room

  

Full Board Rates - When Back to Normal

Two small but charming rooms with shared bath, access to the dining room,
living room, Garden & Wireless Internet.

One large size bed in each room, very luxurious for one…

made to comfortably sleep two. Shared bathroom.

♦ Price includes Breakfast, Dinner & Dessert ♦
No Lunch

 Food is bought at full retail from Stackhoull Store. Supporting another Fair Isle business as well.

You can pay this much for just a room in most places in Britain.
And we are the most remote! not surprising most things cost more here.

Full Service Prices

 1 person, 1 room - £100.00 

2 persons, 1 room - £160.00 

The Auld Haa has two guestrooms and a third room if necessary, to accommodate children,  students, stranded day-trippers, and desperate birdwatchers when a rare bird is about... 
I may find a bed for you. So give Tommy a call. 01595 760 349

If you want Student Rates, (25 or under with student ID.)
Woofing or can help around the house and garden let me know.
Maybe we can work something out?
{Requires a Video Interview}

the red room

Guest Bathroom

*

This is not a fancy Guesthouse! no lace doilies here.
This is staying in a weird artist's home full of curious art and objects.
Be warned the Auld Haa is run by an independent wild man,
the type of person that would live on a remote island. 

I run the Guesthouse mostly alone,
or sometimes with help from my son or another Islander.

Family-style meals at a shared table. 
A very relaxed atmosphere.
The house cleaning could be better I know!
Most people think it is quite an experience, to say the least.
I have been welcoming guests to my home since 2007.

No one has died yet, but a few almost from laughing.