Voula Island, the calendar there is different from the rest of the country

Voula Island does not offer Wi-Fi, pubs or bars, but it has other advantages. For some, it may be a real paradise.

The island of Fula is one of the most interesting places in Europe, and perhaps in the world. It is not recommended by tour operators, and most guides are silent about it, which is a good thing, because crowds of tourists will deprive this place of its unique atmosphere.

Let’s start with the fact that Voula is located in the Shetland archipelago in the Atlantic Ocean. It is one of the most isolated inhabited islands (only 30 people) in Great Britain. The nearest and largest island of Shetland, the mainland, is 22 kilometers away, and 172 kilometers from the mainland. The inhabitants of Fula mainly deal with sheep and ponies. This is preferred by the mountainous terrain. However, the real animal ambassadors of the island are the birds. If any tourists come to the island, they are most likely ornithologists from all over the world. In Voula, you can see puffins, skuas, and gannets, among others. With a little luck, you can also spot killer whales and common porpoises from the coast from time to time.

The number of visitors to Al Foula is limited. Only two guest houses and several camping sites offer accommodation. Apart from the rich fauna mentioned above, the island does not offer any other typical tourist entertainment. When planning such a remote trip, remember that there is no Wi-Fi, bars and bars in Voula, or even a store for basic products. Guests must take everything with them. At a time when more and more people are complaining of overstimulation and chronic fatigue, a vacation in such a place can be a welcome luxury.

Its neighbors from the archipelago rarely visit the isolated island. If most Britons know about Fula at all, they most likely associate it with the Julian calendar. Unlike the rest of the country, the humble islanders did not adopt the Gregorian calendar. The island of Fulah is also the last place in Britain where the Scandinavian language was spoken. In the eighteenth century, a smallpox epidemic killed most of the island’s inhabitants, and when the English-speaking islanders brought back Shetlanders, Norn was discontinued. To this day, only one word remains, mainly the names of seabirds. For example, Solan go means janet and maaile means northern fulmars.

Fula has been owned by the Holborn family for over a hundred years. The Shetland Islands themselves form a separate administrative unit of Great Britain, and the administrative center of the archipelago is at Lerwick on the mainland. The residents of Al-Fula can reach the main city in the area by ferry or by plane. The airport has been operating on the most isolated island since the 1970s.