The four islands in the St Kilda (Hiort) group - Hirta, Dun, Soay and Boreray - form the remotest part of the British Isles and often feature on the bucket lists of seafarers, sailors and visitors to the Outer Hebrides.
These remotest of Scottish islands, with their cliffs and sea stacks, are designated as a dual UNESCO World Heritage Site and are recognised as the most important seabird breeding area in north-west Europe with over one million birds breeding on 1,300 foot high cliff faces making them a popular destination for bird watching enthusiasts visiting the Western Isles.
Abandoned in the 1930s, St Kilda is now managed by the warden who lives in the factor’s house.
A small area of land on Hirta is leased to the Ministry of Defence as a radar tracking station for its missile range on Benbecula in the Outer Hebrides.
A PASSAGE TO ST KILDA
Crews sailing in the Outer Hebrides should be aware that suitable weather to attempt a passage to St Kilda and then to anchor is rare. The conditions are changeable and visitors sailing to St Kilda must be prepared to clear out at short notice.
In clear weather an overnight passage to St Kilda may be made but there are no lights to assist the passage, the leading lights at St Kilda have a range of three miles.
There is no VHF signal in Village Bay so report to the Coast Guard before entering the bay.
SAILING DISTANCES TO ST KILDA
Distance to St Kilda from the east coast:
Distances to St Kilda from the west coast of the main Outer Hebrides:
- Pabbay 42 miles
- Berneray 49 miles
- Monach Isles 42 miles
- Vaccasay 53 miles
If you are unable to sail to St Kilda there, local charter boats regularly go to these outlying islands.
LANDING ON ST KILDA
It is advisable that crews sailing to St Kilda do not delay going ashore to visit the island as it may be necessary to clear out at short notice should the conditions change. All visitors are asked to contact the Ranger on arrival using your vessel’s VHF radio - call sign "Kilda Warden", Channel 12 or 16. Crews are asked to try to avoid visiting on Tuesdays and Fridays, as these are supply days.
It is possible to camp on St Kilda; bookings should be made with the National Trust for Scotland. However, dogs and other domesticated animals are not permitted on the islands.
