Fair Isle (Scand. farr, 'a sheep'), an island of Dunrossness parish, Shetland, 29 miles SSW of Sumburgh Head, and nearly midway between Shetland and Orkney. It measures 3 miles in length, and nearly 2 in breadth; is inaccessible except at one point on the NE; and rises into three lofty promontories. One of these, the Sheep Craig, is nearly insulated, has a conical shape, and rises to the height of 480 feet. The upper grounds are mostly covered with excellent sheep pasture, and the lower are fairly fertile, but the island does not raise grain enough for its inhabitants. These, who dwell chiefly in the middle vale, are engaged—the men in fishing, and the women in hosiery. The art of knitting woollen articles of various colours and curious patterns is said to have been taught the islanders by the 200 Spaniards who escaped from the wreck at Stromceiler Creek of the flagship of the Duke de Medina Sidonia, the admiral of the Spanish Armada, when retreating in 1588 before the English squadron. In 1868 a German emigrant ship went full sail into Sheltie Cave; but this time happily no lives were lost. Canada has from time to time received a good deal of the surplus population, and in 1874 there was serious talk of an emigration en masse to New Zealand. There is an Established mission church; and a public school, with accommodation for 56 children, had (1880) an average attendance of 24, and a grant of £29, 15s. Pop. (1801) 160, (1841) 232, (1861) 380, (1871) 226, (1881) 214.

(F.H. Groome, Ordnance Gazetteer of Scotland (1882-4); © 2004 Gazetteer for Scotland)