Land of legends

Robin McKelvie makes the journey to the remote island of St Kilda

For many Scots St. Kilda, the mystical string of islands that lie 41 miles west of the Outer Hebrides, have something of the Holy Grail about them.

Many dream of making it out to this UNESCO World Heritage listed outpost, but few actually manage to conquer the Atlantic and land on the islands. It is an oasis that swirls in myths and legends, awash with tales of a long lost way of life, where man is very much outnumbered by swathes of eagles, puffins, dolphins and whales.

The journey out to St. Kilda is part of its legend; a stomach testing 16-18 hour cruise from Oban or a four-six hour trip from the Outer Hebrides.

Soon it is clear that the effort is worth it, though, as the unique landscapes of this archipelago rear into view, a sight unlike anything else in the British Isles.

St. Kilda was never tamed by the smoothing actions of glaciers and the rugged sheer rock faces and soaring stacs that shudder out of the Atlantic to puncture the horizon have more in common with the Faroe Islands or Iceland than Scotland. There are myriad islands and stacs in the chain, with the four main islands Hirta, Boreray, Soay and Dun.

Wildlife abounds on every inch of rock on St. Kilda and the flora and fauna is truly unique, making the islands very popular with wildlife enthusiasts and ornithologists.

Around one million birds call St. Kilda home with 140,000 impossibly cute puffins occupying the cliffs and Boreray boasting the world's largest gannet population with 60,000 nesting pairs.
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• By : Robin McKelvie
• In : Destinations
• Issue : 18
• Page : 28
• Words : 1,199