Everyone has heard of ghost towns – but ghost islands? Scotland has a quantity of ghost islands and one of the very most famous could well be St Kilda. They're owned by the nation's Trust for Scotland and are UNESCO Listed – it is unusual in becoming dual-listed for nature and culture. They are truly dramatic islands rich in history, seabirds, and towering cliffs.
Another ghost Scottish island may be the island of Mousa – renowned for its best-preserved Iron-Age Broch (the 'skyscrapers' of ancient Scotland). Other dramatic islands to visit would be the Neolithic Orkney Islands with their Skara Brae Prehistoric Village.
Why The Ghost Islands St. Kilda Are Unique
St. Kilda is definitely an isolated archipelago around 64 kilometers of 40 miles of the major Scottish island of North Uist in the Outer Hebrides. The archipelago is called “Hiort” in Scottish Gaelic. It's the westernmost the majority of the island of Scotland's Outer Hebrides. The biggest island from the small archipelago is Hirta and the three smaller islands are Dùn, Soay, and Boreray.
- Located: 40 Miles West-Northwest of The Outer Hebrides of Scotland
- Designated: World Heritage Site Since 1986
In the past, small islands were utilised for grazing and seabird hunting.
Today one can see many of the unique stone storage huts called “cleitan” still around the islands. You will find around 1,260 cleitan around the main island of Hirta with another 170 alternatively smaller islands.
History And Evacuation of St Kilda
The small population had major troubles during the 19th century and also the upheavals of World War One put into the area being evacuated in 1930. The St. Kildan's voted to leave their island his or her old life-style became untenable.
That ended the permanent habitation the hawaiian islands which had likely been populated for around 2,000 years. Or based on the National Trust for Scotland, a residential area existed here for at least 4,000 years. They provided their existence exploiting the dense colonies of gannets, fulmars, and puffins for food, feathers, and oil.
It is likely the population peaked in the late 1600s at around 180 and went into decline thereafter.
Population:
- The late 1600s: Perhaps Up To 180 Inhabitants
- 1851: 112 Inhabitants
- 1861: 71 Inhabitants
- May 1930: 36 Inhabitants
- Latter 1930: Remained Inhabitants Evacuated
The only people living around the islands today are conservation workers, volunteers, scientists, and military personnel. Volunteers labor in the summertime months to restore the cleitan.
Seabirds and Unique Sheep Of St. Kilda
Even after the evacuation of people, two types of early sheep have persisted on the islands – a Neolithic type called Soay as well as an Iron Age type called Boreray.
Importantly these ghost islands are essential breeding cause for various seabirds like northern gannets, Atlantic puffins, and northern fulmars. They have Britain's largest colony of Atlantic puffins. The total population of sea birds is believed to number some A million seabirds. The hawaiian islands have their particular unique types of wren as well as a sub-species of mouse that actually reaches be twice the size of its British fieldmice compatriots.
Visiting St. Kilda Islands
Today visitors can make their own way to the island or come across tour. While the islands are extremely remote, some adventurous folk brave the weather to sail to the 'islands at the edge of the world' for the experience of a lifetime.
- Entry Fee: None
There are a few companies offering day trips to the St. Kilda islands. On these cruises, visitors can admire the masses of seabirds, the dramatic coastline with its towering sea stacks, and disembark to wander the islands.
Kilda Cruises:
Kilda Cruises offers day cruises to the islands that stop off at Hirta where readers are equipped with a map detailing historical points of interest and suggested routes for touring the island by walking.
This cruise leaves at 8.00 am and arrives at St. Kilda around 10.45 am. After receiving treatment by the National Trust for Scotland warden passengers explore what exactly of historical interest on Hirta (there are a church, schoolroom, and museum to be seen). Go back to the boat at 3.30 pm for tea, coffee, and fresh home baking before heading back at 4.00 pm.
- Type: Day Cruise
- Price: lb245 ($325)
- Departure Point: Leverburgh Pier in South Harris
- Season: Usually Start Mid-April And Tell you to Mid September
- Frequency: Three Trips A Week (every day If the Weather Allows)
Another company offering trips to St. Kilda is Visit St. Kilda also provides a selection of day tours, private trips, and camping trips towards the remote dramatic islands.
