St Kilda tourist information

The beautiful islands of St Kilda give new meaning to the word remote. Located 40 miles further out into the Atlantic than the rest of the Outer Hebrides, they are a fascinating, windswept place, and have been awarded UNESCO World Heritage Status for both their natural and cultural significance.

Battered by the Atlantic weather and with high seacliffs lashed by waves, the islands are reached only with difficulty, which led to the unique culture of the inhabitants who have left their mark in the ancient ruins and houses they left behind. After thousands of years of surviving the hardships of St Kilda, the last 37 people living there were evacuated to the mainland at their request in 1930.

Today, St Kilda remains uninhabited by people, excepting National Trust for Scotland staff and a small military presence. There are no scheduled ferry services, but occasional cruise ships and others do come to the islands - check the website for links. Annual working holidays are a great way to stay on the islands for a short time, but are usually oversubscribed.

If you can make it to St Kilda, it will not disappoint. The dramatic sheer cliffs are home to half a million breeding seabirds, once hunted by the islanders. The wonderfully clear waters draw divers from around the world, and the Soay sheep are a are a relict population of a prehistoric breed, amazingly able to survive on the craggy island of Soay.