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St Kilda Islands are 44 miles off the
northwest coast of Scotland from Leverburgh on
the Isle of Harris. There are other places in
Scotland you can take boat trips from such as
the Isle Lewis. See the Websites below for
links to the Boat Trips.
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This is one of the hardest to reach
attractions in Scotland, also one of the top
attractions.
Click On Map for area Attractions
It takes about 2 and a half hours for the
Boats to travel out to St Kilda, then you are
allowed a few hours on the main Island named
Hirta, so a long day.
There are three larger Islands, Hirta, Soay
and Boreray, that were used for Sheep, Cattle,
Barley, Potatoes, and Hunting Seabirds.
Seabirds and their Eggs were plentiful from
April - September, with the Gannet Eggs being
the size of large Chicken Eggs.
Gannets are about 2 - 4 kg / 5 - 8 lb, the
size of a Goose, said to taste like a salty
Goose.
St Kilda has about 60,000 Gannets.
Hirta has the highest Sea Cliffs in the UK,
where you can take a walk.
People have lived on the Islands for
thousands of years, with the Village on Hirta
being the only large settlement.
The Village on Hirta seen today was built in
the 1800s, with the remains of buildings from
many hundreds of years further back seen here
and there.
The population peaked at 180 in the 1600s,
with the last residents of Hirta being taken
off the Island in 1930.
The Military has some people on the Islands
all year, also Conservation workers and
Scientists often visit the Islands.
1300s? - the Islands were under the control
of Clan MacLeod of Harris with the Islanders
religion being Druidism, worshiping Nature.
1615 - Clan MacDonald raided Hirta taking 30
Sheep and Barley.
1700s - visiting ships led to loss of life
on the Islands due to illnesses such as Cholera
and Smallpox.
1758 - the Reverend Kenneth Macaulay was one
of the first tourists to visit the Island.
1822 - Rev John MacDonald began visiting the
Islands to convert the Islanders to
Christianity and provide Education.
1834 - the first Steamship named Glenalbyn
visited St Kilda, leading to an increase in
Tourism.
1877 - the Steamer Dunara Castle from
Glasgow arrived at St Kilda with 40 passengers,
the first of many scheduled visits for Tourists
over the next 40 years.
1914 - 1918 - World War One led to the end
of Steamers visiting St Kilda.
1930 - the last people from the Islands were
relocated to larger Islands or the
Mainland.
1957 - a Military Base was set up at St
Kilda for Radars on the Islands.
The Base had a Pub named the Puffin Inn,
claimed to be the most remote pub in
Europe.
1958 - Conservation parties began visiting
St Kilda.
1960s - Cruise Ships began visiting St
Kilda. Small local boats from the Islands of
Harris, Lewis and Skye also began providing
tours from that time.
1986 - the Islands were taken over by the
National Trust for Scotland.
2017 - the old original Military Buildings
were removed with new buildings being built
that blend in with the environment more.
2019 - the Puffin Inn on St Kilda was
closed, then demolished.
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