Fair Isle — knitting, birds, and El Gran Griffón

Fair Isle sits halfway between Shetland and Orkney and has been internationally famous for two things: its multi-colour knitting patterns and its bird observatory, the first in Britain (founded 1948). Less remembered: in September 1588 the Spanish Armada flagship El Gran Griffón, blown north around Scotland in retreat, wrecked on the cliffs at Stroms Hellier. 200 of the crew survived as guests of the islanders for six weeks, eventually being shipped home. Population today is around 50.