Evacuated in 1930, it now offers visitors a glimpse into an isolated past and Europe’s largest seabird colony.
This four-isle archipelago lying 41 miles west of the Western Isles is a place of superlatives.
It’s the remotest part of the British Isles; possessor of the UK’s highest cliffs; and home to the nation’s largest colony of puffins, and the world’s largest colony of northern gannets.
Where is St Kilda?
St Kilda is an isolated archipelago situated approximately 100 miles (160 km) off the west coast of mainland Scotland in the North Atlantic Ocean. It consists of five main islands: Hirta, Soay, Boreray, Dun, and Levenish.
Why is St Kilda so special?
Nowadays St Kilda has a small transitory population of Ministry of Defence and National Trust for Scotland employees, and scientists researching the Soay sheep that originated on the archipelago. The islands’ isolation has given it two other unique animals: a type of wren and a very large sub-species of mouse.
When was St Kilda granted UNESCO World Heritage status?
St Kilda was inscribed as a natural World Heritage Site in 1986 and later extended in 2004 to include the surrounding marine environment.
In 2005, it achieved dual status as a cultural landscape, highlighting both its historical significance and natural beauty.
- Find out other UNESCO World Heritage Sites around the UK with our round up of the best ten.
Why was St Kilda evactuated?
Despite its isolation and its susceptibility to all the Atlantic can throw at it, evidence suggests that the islands have been inhabited since the Bronze Age, though how the settlers chanced upon the archipelago in the first place is a mystery.
Remarkably, St Kilda was still inhabited come the 20th century. However, life was extremely hard and rough seas often cut off supplies from the mainland.
By 1930, following a brutal winter, the population had dwindled to a mere 36. They voted to leave the islands and were evacuated by the Admiralty sloop Harebell on 29 August 1930 to begin a new life on Morvern, a peninsula on the west coast of Scotland.
The ruined village they left behind – a crescent of simple one- or two-room houses built in the 1830s and 1860s – remains as their memorial.
How to get to St Kilda
Accessing St Kilda can be challenging due to its remote location. Visitors typically reach the islands by taking boat trips from the Outer Hebrides, specifically from the Isle of Harris or Skye. Day cruises are also available, but these are heavily dependent on weather conditions. It is advisable to book in advance with specialized tour operators to ensure a spot.