St Kilda (Hirta / Hiort) in the Outer Hebrides
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St Kilda, Outer Hebrides
Approximately 55 miles west of Harris.
Designated by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site
The name is probably a corruption of the Norse designation 'Skildir'
Information links, boat trips, books - see below |
St Kilda copyright the Internet Guide to Scotland 2009 and 2011
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 Museum |
 Soay Sheep |
 School room |
 Church |
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INFORMATION
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Since 2018, camping has been allowed on St Kilda for the first time. This is strictly managed by the National Trust for Scotland and it's essential to book in advance. The campsite takes 6 people. The maximum length of booking is 5 nights. The cost is payable to the warden on arrival.
Contact 01463 732645. Shared use of showers and toilets. Access to drinking water.
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Cruises & Boat Trips to St Kilda (weather permitting):
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BOOKS
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St Kilda and the Wider World: Tales of an Iconic Island
This radical new interpretation of the islanders' lives has been written by Andrew Fleming (Professor of Archaeology at the University of Wales) and discusses the realities of island life before evacuation.
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A Natural History of St Kilda
John Love creates a fascinating and insightful account of the islands' human history
and shows just how important wildlife was to the survival of the islanders.
Much of this information has lain for years in little known private diaries, files, reports or obscure scientific journals.
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The Life and Death of St Kilda:
The Moving Story of a Vanished Island Community This 297 page paperback by Tom Steel is one of the most popular books about St Kilda and is a highly recommended read.
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St Kilda: Island on the Edge of the World
A part of Britain but a world apart, St Kilda society existed almost completely isolated from the mainstream of civilization for more than 1000 years. Increased contact with the mainland during the 19th century brought about the downfall of what many once regarded as an ideal society. Missionaries and tourists brought money, disease and despotism. In 1930 the islanders, who could no longer support themselves, were finally evacuated at their own request.
The island's story was chiefly recorded by outsiders. This book examines the island and the St Kildan society as a microcosm of a process which is consistently taking place, often on a much larger scale, all over the world. St Kilda remains a symbol of the ability of man to survive in the most hostile of environments and it remains a fascination unique among islands. This new edition of Charles Maclean's study of the island contains an introduction highlighting recent findings about St Kilda.
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The Prisoner of St Kilda: The true story of the unfortunate Lady Grange The dramatic true story of 18th century marital and political strife – from Lady Grange’s origins as the daughter of a murderer, to Edinburgh socialite, to being abducted by her husband's powerful friends and stranded on St Kilda for 7 years.
Condemned to a very different lifestyle than she had enjoyed in Edinburgh, and baffled by the strange tongue of the Gaelic West, she still obstinately survived, finally dying in Skye in 1745.
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Based on Harris, Hebrides People (C̣ Leis Thu?) features Bill Lawson's books and genealogy archive for family tree research in St Kilda and the Western Isles.
The Internet Guide to Scotland
contains information about many other Hebridean islands such as:
Harris - Lewis -
Uist - Barra