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Fair Isle is home to about 60 people<\/p>\n
A “rare” opportunity has come up to live and work on the UK’s most remote inhabited island – but only for people with certain sets of skills.<\/p>\n
Fair Isle lies half way between Orkney and Shetland and is famed for its knitwear and as a haven for thousands of seabirds.<\/p>\n
National Trust for Scotland (NTS), which owns most of the three-mile (5km) long island, has sought tenants for a croft that comes with a four-bedroom house and about 15 acres (6ha) of land.<\/p>\n
NTS said the tenancy would suit “resourceful and enthusiastic” people who were already experienced in crofting, and have a trade or could contribute to the isle’s knitwear industry.<\/p>\n
Fair Isle is home to about 60 people. It has a primary school and nursery, a shop, post office and community hall.<\/p>\n
It can be reached by sea or air from mainland Shetland.<\/p>\n
The house that is available for let has oil heating, electricity supplied by the island’s renewable power schemes, a phone and internet services.<\/p>\n
A croft is small holding and crofters share pasture land called common grazing for raising livestock.<\/p>\n
People with knowledge of crofting and skills as an electrician, joiner or working with boats are among those being sought for the tenancy.<\/p>\n
They would be asked to set up a business, or have an active role in Fair Isle knitwear – a textile developed on the island in the early 19th Century.<\/p>\n
Angus Murray, NTS’ operations manager for Fair Isle, said: “We are looking forward to welcoming new people to the island to become part of the crofting community of Fair Isle.”<\/p>\n
He added: “We are inviting resourceful and enthusiastic people with the skills, creativity, and care needed to make a success of this unique opportunity.”<\/p>\n
Eileen Thomson, director of Fair Isle Development Company, said it was hoped a family could be attracted to the tenancy to help support the school which has just four pupils.<\/p>\n
“Ideally, we’re looking for younger people, people of working age,” she said.<\/p>\n
Many of the islanders have several jobs and voluntary roles.<\/p>\n
Thomson said: “Most of us have a croft but also work in the school, on the ferry and in various community organisations as well.<\/p>\n
“It’s so much better than having a nine to five.”<\/p>\n
Thomson said she hoped to see the population grow to about 70 people so key roles could more easily be shared within the community.<\/p>\n
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The majority of the island is owned by NTS, which describes Fair Isle as the UK’s most remote inhabited island<\/a>.<\/p>\n The trust will receive applications and create a shortlist. A local committee will be involved in the interview process.<\/p>\n