Trust celebrates isle anniversary

Fair Isle is famous for its spectacular cliffs

Scotland's most remote inhabited island is celebrating its 50th anniversary under the ownership of the National Trust for Scotland.

Fair Isle, which lies half way between Orkney and Shetland, was handed over to the trust in 1954.

To mark the anniversary, a big party was held on Friday night.

The island is just three miles long and has a population of 70. It is best known for the shipping forecast, its knitwear and vast seabird colonies.

Population decline

The isolated island's many tourists visit to observe exceptional flora, fauna, archaeology, spectacular cliff scenery and traditional crofting practices.

Fair Isle is also extremely popular with bird-watchers.

The bird observatory is one of the most important centres for ornithology in Europe.

It was first established in 1948 by the island's owner Dr George Waterston.

Fair Isle knitting has a worldwide reputation/Shetland Museum

In 1954, ownership passed to the trust and the present observatory and lodge, built in 1969 with assistance from NTS, provides accommodation for 34 visitors.

Since the National Trust for Scotland took over the island it has modernised its housing, provided electricity supplies and helped stem its population decline.

The trust said it was looking at new ways to diversify the economy so that future generations may be encouraged to make the island their home.

Chief Executive Robin Pellow said: "The key thing for the future here is we've got to create sustainable livelihoods, real jobs to keep young people here.

School numbers

"I'd like to see school numbers go up from 16 to 20 and even above that, which I think is the lifeblood of the future of the island."

It has encouraged and initiated various improvements, including a renewable energy project using wind power.

The intricate, colourful knitted patterns, which take their name from the island, are famous and the Fair Isle Knitting Co-operative sells island knitwear world-wide.

Additional crafts now include traditional wooden boat-building, spinning, weaving, woodturning, fiddle-making, and the manufacture of stained-glass windows.