St Kilda UNESCO World Heritage Site

St Kilda is remarkable not just for its striking landscape and unique human story. It’s unique geographical position and oceanic climate allow it to support a dazzling array of inter-dependent ecosystems. An extraordinary biodiversity can be observed, both on its windswept lands and beneath the sparkling surface of its coastal waters. The world heritage site is 95% marine and the seabird colonies are the most important in the north-east Atlantic.

The islands were evacuated on 29 August 1930, when the remaining 36 islanders voted to leave as their way of life was no longer sustainable. Now St Kilda is inhabited by just a few staff members of the National Trust for Scotland and Ministry of Defence and a handful of researchers.

St Kilda is a stunning and beautiful place which can be an amazing experience, but the culture and history of this group of islands is reflected in the wider Hebridean community. The heritage site is a protected environment, so it cannot accommodate a large number of visitors. Tours by boat are available but availability is strictly controlled.

If you do explore the islands directly, you’ll have a rare experience of walking through a landscape abandoned by the entire community in 1930. You’ll also visit preserved archaeological sites and relics, which reveal the close relationship the islanders had with their unique natural environment, and how they adapted to outside influences. You’ll see this in the remnants of houses, enclosures and cleits – drystone storage structures – remnants of World War I guns and communications.

If you visit St Kilda, a great place to begin is the small museum housed inside the refurbished 19th century houses on The Street of Hirta. Inside you’ll find artefacts ranging from pottery and textiles, to agricultural implements, attire and personal items; all which offer a glimpse into what life was like in days gone by.