Scotland

St Kilda (Hirta)

Remote, dual UNESCO World Heritage Site 41 miles west of the Outer Hebrides; evacuated in 1930 and now home only to a small military and conservation team.

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St Kilda (Hirta)

Part of the Scotland islands map and the Outer Hebrides collection.

Names

Scottish Gaelic: Hiort; Irish: Hiort; Welsh: Sant Kilda; Manx: Heertçh; French: Saint-Kilda

Geography

Volcanic archipelago with the highest sea cliffs in the UK at Conachair (430 m). Home to nearly a million seabirds.

Geology

Contains British Geological Survey materials © UKRI 2026, licensed under the BGS Open Data Licence (OGL v3.0). Source: BGS DigMapGB-625 Bedrock & Superficial WMS.

History

Continuous habitation from prehistory until the surviving 36 islanders requested evacuation on 29 August 1930. Bequeathed to the National Trust for Scotland in 1957.

How to reach it

No scheduled service. Day boats from Harris and Skye in summer (sea conditions permitting); cruise ships and private yachts visit.

Accommodation

None for general visitors. National Trust working parties and researchers stay in restricted accommodation.

Nearby and related islands

Sources

Last reviewed: 2026-08-13.