St Kilda, Scotland
Remote archipelago evacuated in 1930, now a World Heritage Site.
St Kilda (Scottish Gaelic: Hiort) is a remote archipelago in the North Atlantic Ocean, 35 nautical miles west-northwest of North Uist. It contains the westernmost islands of the Outer Hebrides of Scotland. The largest island is Hirta, whose sea cliffs are the highest in the United Kingdom; three other islands (Dùn, Soay and Boreray) were also used for grazing and seabird hunting. The islands are administratively a part of the Comhairle nan Eilean Siar local authority area. The entire archipelago is owned by the National Trust for Scotland. It became one of Scotland's seven World Heritage Sites in 1986, and is one of the few in the world to hold joint status for both its natural and cultural qualities.
- Location
- North Atlantic Ocean, 35 nautical miles west-northwest of North Uist, Outer Hebr
- Largest island
- Hirta
- Highest point
- Conachair, 430 metres (1,410 ft)
- Peak population
- Probably never exceeding 180, in the late 17th century
- Evacuation year
- 1930
- Current year-round residents
- Military personnel only
- World Heritage Site designation
- 1986
Lore & Background
The origin of the name St Kilda is a matter of conjecture; no saint by that name exists. It first appears in a 1592 pilot book by Lucas Waghenaer. A. B. Taylor suggests it originated as a copying error for Skilda(r), a name on Nicolas de Nicolay's 1583 map of Scotland. The Gaelic name Hiort is similarly obscure: William J. Watson derives it from the Gaelic word (h)irt, meaning 'death', noting the dangers of living on St Kilda, which 'in the Hebrides is regarded as a penitentiary rather than a gate to paradise'. Taylor derives it from the Norse word hirtir, meaning 'stags', on account of the islands' 'jagged outlines'. The medieval village on Hirta was rebuilt in the 19th century, but illnesses brought by increased external contacts through tourism, and the upheaval of the First World War, contributed to the island's evacuation. Permanent habitation possibly extends back two millennia, the population probably never exceeding 180; its peak was in the late 17th century. The population dropped to 36 in 1930, when the remaining population was evacuated.
Reader's Guide
St Kilda's significance lies in its unique natural and cultural heritage. The archipelago features the highest sea cliffs in the UK, with Conachair's north face a vertical cliff up to 427 metres high, falling sheer into the sea. It hosts endemic subspecies such as the St Kilda wren and St Kilda field mouse, and is a breeding ground for many important seabird species including northern gannets, Atlantic puffins, and northern fulmars. Two different early sheep types have survived: the Soay, a Neolithic type, and the Boreray, an Iron Age type. A cleit is a stone storage hut or bothy unique to St Kilda; there are known to be 1,260 cleitean on Hirta and a further 170 on the other group islands. The entire archipelago is owned by the National Trust for Scotland and became a World Heritage Site in 1986, one of the few with joint status for both natural and cultural qualities. Currently, the only year-round residents are military personnel; a variety of conservation workers, volunteers and scientists spend time there in the summer months.
Did You Know?
- The name St Kilda first appears in a 1592 pilot book by Lucas Waghenaer, and no saint by the name Kilda exists.
- The north face of Conachair is a vertical cliff up to 427 metres high, the highest sea cliff in the UK.
- There are 1,260 cleitean (stone storage huts) on Hirta and a further 170 on the other group islands.
- Two ancient sheep types survive: the Soay (Neolithic type) and the Boreray (Iron Age type).
- St Kilda is one of the few World Heritage Sites with joint status for both natural and cultural qualities.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is St Kilda, Scotland?
St Kilda is a small, remote archipelago in the North Atlantic that marks the westernmost edge of the Outer Hebrides. It is best known for its sheer sea cliffs, its roughly two-thousand-year human settlement, and the dramatic evacuation of its last residents in 1930.
Where exactly is St Kilda, Scotland located?
The archipelago sits about 35 nautical miles west-northwest of North Uist, open to the North Atlantic. Its largest island, Hirta, rises to a peak called Conachair at 430 metres (1,410 ft).
What happened to the permanent residents of St Kilda, Scotland?
The islanders, whose community probably never exceeded around 180 people, were evacuated in 1930 after decades of growing hardship and isolation. That departure ended what is believed to be nearly two millennia of continuous human habitation on the islands.
Why is St Kilda, Scotland a UNESCO World Heritage Site?
UNESCO inscribed the archipelago for its combined natural and cultural outstanding universal value, recognising both its dramatic Atlantic landscape and its exceptional record of human life in an extreme environment. The site is stewarded by the National Trust for Scotland.
Who lives on St Kilda, Scotland today?
There are no permanent civilian residents; the only year-round people on the islands are military personnel. Visitors can still reach the archipelago by air or sea for short guided stays and exploration.
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