st kilda trips from barra

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Free your spirits in the Western Isles

Enhance your visit to the Outer Hebrides with stunning tours and adventures to Mingulay, St Kilda and around the Southern Islands

Welcome to hebridean sea tours. we provide access to some of the most awe inspiring locations and sights along the west of scotland. experience our natural wonders from the safety of our boats or hop ashore to get closer still. between 50 and 100 miles off the coast, nestled along the edge of the north atlantic ocean the outer hebrides and st kilda archipelago offer unique opportunities to witness wildlife, giant sea cliffs, remote beaches and to step into our cultural history. we offer a range of trips designed to satisfy your needs, from gentle sight seeing to supporting more adventurous pursuits. whether you are seeking the history of abandoned villages, the rarest of our sea birds or the drama of our rocky shores..

Our excursions are ideal for tourists and photographers wishing to create beautiful memories and images of the Western Isles.

From our base on the Isle of Barra we offer sea tours to St Kilda, Canna, Mingulay, Pabbay, Sandray and all Islands accessible from Barra.

Charter and transfers

Spirit of hebrides, explore the beauty of the western isles.

Spirit of Adventure

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Uist Sea Tours will take you to places you've never been to see things you've never seen!  St Kilda by boat is a must do

The highlights of our  schedule include seeing bottlenose dolphins in the sound of barra as well as  puffins on mingulay, the abandoned island at the south of the hebrides .

Join us this summer for an unforgettable adventure, experience the natural beauty of the Outer Hebrides. Take in the stunning scenery and encounter amazing wildlife on boat tour!

**All trips subject to weather and minimum booking numbers**

The Experts

Guide to the, waters around uist.

Take advantage of our years of experience on a Uist Sea Tours trip in the waters around Uist.

See the wildlife

In, under and around the wild atlantic and minch.

From Seals to Killer Whales, Sea Eagles to Dolphins and rare Puffins on Mingulay, keep your eyes out for the unique wildlife of the Hebrides!

Private Hire

Personalized trips available for small and large groups.

Create your own fun-filled itinerary for unique one of a kind trips around the Hebrides.

Why not add a taste of the Hebrides to your trip, we supply fresh Lobster, Scallop, Crab and Langoustine/Prawn straight from the sea!! Contact us for more details...

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St Kilda and the isles of the Outer Hebrides 10-nights

Truly the trip of a lifetime, a visit to the haunting and dramatic Archipelago of islands and stacs that make up St Kilda is never to be forgotten . After a sea journey through the Inner and Outer Hebrides there is always excitement and anticipation as St Kilda comes into view, often with the top of the highest sea cliffs in Britain shrouded in mist. Dolphins, Minke whales and basking sharks often accompany the vessel enroute to St Kilda and even into Village Bay itself. Our sturdy, specialised vessels and highly experienced Skippers allow a unique opportunity to cruise close to the stacs, for incredible views of thousands of sea birds nesting on the cliffs and wheeling overhead; St Kilda is home to over 200 bird species. Anchoring in sheltered Village Bay, guests go ashore on the main island of Hirta to explore the poignant history of the abandoned village and try to spot the rare St Kilda wren and St Kilda mouse. A climb up Connachair, the highest point on Hirta, provides breathtaking views over the open sea and surrounding stacs.   

The choice of Outer Hebrides island stopovers on this cruise is equally awe-inspiring and may include Mingulay, Vatersay, Barra, Eriskay, the Uists, the Shiants, Harris and others, depending on wind, tide and the wishes of the guests on board.  The waters of the Outer Hebrides are the best for sightings of cetaceans and our vessels are ideal for navigating close to remote island cliffs where many rare species of birds nest. With the unique wild flower machair in bloom, and stunning shell-sand beaches to walk along, shore trips are magical. There is a good chance of seeing corncrake and many other rare birds on the coastline, as well as otters and the spectacle of hundreds of seals hauled out on the beaches.

St Kilda is very remote and we have an excellent record of reaching the Archipelago. The 10-day cruise allows the Skipper to choose the best weather window to achieve an anchorage in Village Bay. The safety of guests is always paramount and any part of the sea journey is at the Skippers discretion and the final decision rests with him.

This cruise books up early but can also be booked as a private cruise charter, providing suitable dates are available

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Cruise Dates 2024

Master cabin available (Emma Jane & Lucy Mary Only).

Cruise Dates 2025

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20 July 2023

Thank you to Rob, Sam, Ruari, Abbie and all at Hebrides Cruises, not forgetting the beautiful Lucy Mary for another amazing trip. Graeme was thrilled to achieve his ambition of visiting the original (and best ) St Kilda. We also enjoyed revisiting The Small Isles. A bonus was the weather whist not warm it was mostly dry and whilst we were at St Kilda  we were able to view the magnificent stacs under clear blue skies. Sam's offering from the galley were truly magnificent with an amazing  range of textures and flavours from all over the world. We enjoyed many a chat with Ruari - did you know he could have been a concert pianist? Abbie clearly loves her job and we  hope she continues to look after your guests as well as she did us. Huge thanks to Rob for his skill, diligence and great stories of life on the sea and in the islands.

Graeme & Sue Hurst

The cruise to St. Kilda was brilliant, and we were thrilled to see whales and dolphins on the way. The trip round the stacks was especially memorable and very much appreciated as the birds circled above us. The boat was very comfortable even luxurious, providing for all our needs ,with top deck viewing and even a library! We have to mention the exceptional crew; Sam’s excellent t meals; Ruairi’s expert knowledge of wildlife and Abbie, who was so cheerful and thoughtful being there for all the guests. Thanks Rob for a wonderful cruise.

Patricia Armitage

17 July 2023

Far beyond our expectations. The crew were amazing and nothing was too much trouble. The amount of wildlife we saw was unbelievable. Altering course to search for and find the Fin Whale and later on the 2 Hump Back Whales went above and beyond what we could have hoped for. Full marks to the very capable skipper, Bren. Zoe, Charlie and Hannah also deserve our heartfelt thanks for making this trip the experience of a lifetime that will stay with us forever.

Sheelagh Green

Dear Emma - It was lovely to meet you briefly both before and after our recent cruise - Fiona and I had such a wonderful time, the fellow passengers were great company but what really made the trip was the fantastic crew, James (for the first 2 days), Bren, Zoe, Hannah and Charlie. They were so professional but also very personable and we could not have asked for better care (or indeed better food when it came to Charlie!).  The cruise gave some spectacular highlights but for me the encounter with the humpback whale on the return leg was amazing but even better was the sunset off the Cairns of Coll - the evening meal had just finished when Bren came to announce that the sunset promise to be spectacular. I spent a good hour on the top deck photographing the beauty of the sunset but was aware of something special as Zoe, Hannah and Bren remained on top and there was total silence as we reflected on the profoundness of the scene.

4 July 2023

Booking was easy and effective.  Information was helpful with final preparations before the trip.  The crew went out their way to make sure we were well fed, watered, entertained and informed.  With careful planning the Skipper during the early part of the cruise we made it to St Kilda.  So the trip was especailly successful for my wife and I.  We anchored in some lovely sheltered bays and onshore trips were well organised and well led.  You would find it hard to find a better way to explore the Hebrides!

Nick Tardivel

The Skipper used his knowledge of weather and sea state to time our trip to St Kilda and to include areas where we were likely to see (and did see) lots of wildlife.  The chef did very well to cater for the dietary requirements of all passengers.  Meal times were a very pleasant experience.  

Jayne Rendall

This was my second Elizabeth G holiday . I enjoyed everything about the holiday.We visited some wonderful places and saw fantastic wildlife. The crew Alistair, Craig, Zoe, and Minty were excellent and were a pleasure to be with. Thank you Emma and I hope to return one day.

Joan Francis

Appreciated the dropping off the luggage before embarking, and that the luggage was in the cabin upon our arrival.  The Skipper was so informative and knowledgeable – he inspired confidence in knowing that the trip was going to be memorable for all the right reasons. Thoroughly enjoyed his briefings in the evening.

Hazel Walker-Smith

3 July 2023

The scenery was stunning further enhanced by the knowledgeable crew.  Anchorages were always in peaceful coves chosen by Chris ensuring peaceful nights.  I cannot think of anything that would have made it more special than it was.  I have already passed on your details to a friend.  I'd say go for it, a trip if a lifetime.  

Roger Fisher

Our trip exceeded all expectations and took us on an incredible journey around the Islands and ultimately the voyage to St. Kilda…….a once in a life-time experience! The knowledge and capability of the crew, along with their personal interaction and dedication, enhanced everything we did from our daily travel routine, land, sea and wildlife exploration to our cabin comforts and the absolutely delicious food we were graced with each day. Chris, our skipper, Lynsey, our wildlife and daily excursion leader, Greig our culinary artistic expert and Bea who looked after us all so well throughout. Thanks to you all for making our trip such a memorable one. X

Kim and Ian Somerville

Need extra info?

If you have any enquiries about our cruises or would like an informal chat about your plans, please email using our Contact Us page. If you prefer phone Emma any-time on  +44 (0) 75851 51611  or  +44 (0)1631 711 986

• Scottish Island Wildlife Cruises
• Hebrides Magical Mini-Cruise
• In Search of Giants: Expedition Cruise
• Serenity at Sea: A Hebridean Yoga Retreat
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• Inner Hebrides Big 5 Autumn Wildlife Cruise
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• Loch Linnhe, the Caledonian Canal & Loch Ness
• Skye, the Small Isles and the Shiants
• Cruise around Skye: Secret Coastlines
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• Far-flung islands: Shiants & the Summer Isles
• Far-flung islands: Harris, Taransay & the Flannan Isles
• St Kilda and the isles of the Outer Hebrides
• Sea Kingdom of the Southern Hebrides

Huge thanks to the fabulous Elizabeth G crew, who ensured a memorable 25th wedding anniversary for us, as well as a spectacular Hebridean tour for all of us in June – especially including that long dreamt-of visit to St. Kilda

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Barra to St Kilda trip - Hebridean Sea Tours

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I booked the Mingulay trip. Although the weather was good we were unable to land because of the... read more

We were so lucky to go to Hiort with Donald and Angus in their fast catamaran. They took excellent... read more

Barra to St Kilda trip

We had a memorable trip to St Kilda on the Spirit of the Hebrides. Very comfortable boat, with suspension seating that smoothed the journey considerably. Aonghas and Raghnall looked after us well, and we benefited from their great knowledge of the area, sea and wildlife. A trip to St Kilda is a unique experience and we thoroughly recommend travelling there with Hebridean Sea Tours.

A fabulous day out to Mingulay. So friendly and a wonderful place to visit - remote and beautiful. The cliffs are absolutely amazing.

Fantastic trip. Comfortable and safe boat with experienced skipper and engaged, very helpful crew. Would recommend without hesitation.

Wednesday 4th August. Castlebay to Mingulay What a great day! Despite the heavy rain on arrival at Mingulay, we determined to go for it and made our way up hill to the west coast of the Island where the views from above the cliffs were simply stunning. We traversed the hill and cliff tops, which was, admittedly, a bit scary in places, before making our way back to the remains of the village and then back to the embarkation point. The trip back to Castlebay via the Cliffs, sea stacks and caves, of the West side of the Island, was simply awesome! We were able to stand on the foredeck of the boat all of the way back to Castlebay, enjoy the views of Pabbay, Sandray and the Sound of Vattersay as well as the seascape, before returning to Castle Bay. The whole day was an exhilarating experiencing and not to be missed. Thank you very much Gentlemen for your friendly, informative, explanations and your expert seamanship.

Fantastic day trip to St Kilda with Hebridean Sea Tours. Finally one thing from our bucket list ticked off. Spirit of the Hebrides is a really comfortable boat. Even though there was a bit of swell that day, we hardly felt it. Thanks to Angus and crew for a great trip.

Can highly recommend this trip to St Kilda. Even on a misty day the sights are incredible, add that to the thousands of puffins that you get to see. The trip out by boat is long but the seats are comfortable.

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Best ever Outer Hebrides trip! Barra & St Kilda

Nov 01 2023

It’s tricky to call your best ever trip, the years roll on, you have lots of different wildlife encounters, great weather & experiences. However this one has got to be up there. We ticked off a few firsts and we probably had some of most settled weather we’ve ever had for a week long trip. Read below for a captains log of our week based on the Isle of Barra in summer 2023.

Fancy joining us next time? See details here.

Arrival Day

For Evan & some of our passengers they caught the Calmac ferry out to Castlebay from Oban in the early afternoon. Some dolphins & a minke whale showed along with plenty of seabirds on the way before they arrived into Barra early evening. Calmac ‘n’ cheese always hits the mark in the ferry cafe before they got off to check in to the holiday house for the week.

For Ben he had a snorkel tour to run from Oban, a lovely one in the sunshine! Shane was left to pack everything and prep the boat, dingy, fuel, wetsuits and spares for the week. The boat would join the trip either that night or early the next morning. There was a bit of fretting about the weather as there was a bit of wind from west. However late afternoon looking at the wind gauges, we decided to go for it! It was a late run out but we had some lovely evening sunshine and the sun setting over the islands as we arrived into Barra.

The forecast ahead was incredible, calm seas, easterly winds and wall to wall sunshine. Could you believe it!?

Day 1 – Mingulay & Pabbay

In the morning we started off with the usual packing of the boat, paperwork and safety briefs before leaving Castlebay for the islands.

The wind was from east, which can be challenging with a lot of fetch over the Sea of Hebrides. However it makes the rugged west side accessible with usual Atlantic swell much reduced.

We wound our way through the isles & rocks, first stopping to check out the famous climbing arch on Pabbay. There was climbers already dotted over the routes and gave us a great perspective of the dimensions of the rock face.

Heading on towards Mingulay the sea conditions were superb and the full seabird welcoming committee was in attendance. We cruised our way down, eyeing up all the cliffs and caves. This area is one of the most spectacular we visit with full 360 panoramic views. Shane decided the sea was calm enough to take the boat through one of the long cliff passages between the isles. A highly tricky manoeuvre with the rocks within touching distance from the side of the boat. The chasm stretches 300m long with the 100m cliffs rising directly above the boat on both sides. A spectacular place!

The swell was so unexpectedly small that we carried on along the coast, passing the 250m high cliffs and onto King Kong Rock. Aptly named for the obvious – can you spot it in the picture below? Guillemots, puffins & razorbills were all around us. The sun was high and water clear. Bliss.

Shane told the group about the infamous arch which lies on the inside of the cliffs. Something that would strike fear into any skipper, only somewhere you would consider in perfect conditions. The conditions were perfect so there was no excuses. The cliffs form a complex of tunnels that is just big enough to take a RIB through, certainly tight enough for a 12m super RIB. It was one of those moments, sun shafts shining down through the cliffs, seabirds all around, calm blue Atlantic water, kelp gently swaying and slowly motoring through the rocky tunnel. An almost once in a lifetime experience! It was also a first and Shane looked suitably relived once we had gone through, however he just turned around and went through the other way!

With conditions so good, Shane then suggested a swim, and all of our guests bit his hand off at the chance. How many people had swam through the arch? Not many! The kitting up malarky start and everyone tugged and groaned at putting on wetsuits in the warm sun. Once in the water, visibility was excellent, guillemots, puffins & razorbills glided around us along with a curious male grey seal who accompanied our swim. A swim here was very special as you got to look up the cliffs then down below underwater.

Day 2 -Mingulay & Barra Head (Berneray)

Another cracking forecast as we headed back for Mingulay with our intention to head onto Berneray first (Barra Head) and then Mingulay. However after checking out the anchorages, which can be very exposed, we decided to opt for the reverse.

We tucked right into the north end of the bay where the quietest water lay and prepared everything for landing. Avian flu was still a risk so we avoided the puffin colony on land and elected to watch them from a distance. Afterwards we headed straight up the path towards the cliffs of the west. Passing the ruins of the manse & village as we ascended, eagles soared above us and the ground was bone dry from the long dry spell we were lucky to be visiting in.

Our trip gives us lots of flexibility and we had a good time ashore to explore. Some headed along the path to the cliffs/arch, other nearer the auk cliffs, to gain views of all the guilliemots and razorbills. Others headed nearer the bonxies, some explored the village and bay.

Back on board the RIB, the wind had changed allowing us to make our landing on Berneray. It had been a reasonably long walk around Mingulay and it’s a fair climb up towards the lighthouse of Barra Head. So we took it a bit easier to reach the top with us being reminded that the views are worth the effort.

For the way back, we decided to take the sheltered west side. Since it was so good we had a short detour through the arch for good measure. It would be rude not too.

Day 3 – Eriskay offshore & S.S Politician (Whisky Galore)

Our day started heading out to deeper water to see what bigger life we could find. On the way out to the drop off we scoped out some some caves on one of the smaller islands that we earmarked for later. The seals were out to play today as lots of them were interested in what we were doing. However we didn’t have that much time spare as we had to catch the tide later on.

We spent the morning surveying a 20mile stretch to the east of the islands and up to South Uist. Lots of seabirds, porpoises and a few common dolphins but no bigger things to see. It was cloudier than our previous days so it felt colder – more so as we’d been spoiled by the Mediterranean conditions.

By time we’d ate lunch, the sun was poking through and it was time to head in to find the wreck site. The shipwreck of the S.S. Politician inspired the Whisky Galore story and there is always the romantic notions of exploring a shipwreck and what treasure you might mind.

There’s a lot of sand banks and shallow water to navigate through till the familiar shadow of the shipwreck looms into view. We kitted up and started exploring around, finding lots of nooks & crannies. The folk with a bit more free diving experience were able to get down to see a bit more of the wreck structure, with a few swim throughs. Even one long section of wreckage which proved a little tricky to get out while holding your breath, the video sequence does look a little sketchy so we’ll save that footage for another day.

Back on board, we slowly de-kitted while we compared stories and ‘finds’ along with how stuck we really got inside the wreck!!!

Day 4 – Muldoanich & Sandray

First up today we decided to have a look around some promising looking caves on Muldoanaich. A nice snorkel in very calm conditions however nesting shags impeded our planned route as we couldn’t keep on track without disturbing them. So one for another time!

Gathering lunch and shore kit, we landed on the white sand beach. Everyone found a nice sunny spot on the rocks to enjoy some food before setting off for the hills and cliff. We always seems to find a lot of orchids here, a sign of the fertile ground which sustained the old islanders.

Wildlife always arrives at the most inconvenient time and as we arrived into Castlebay, a large pod of Risso’s dolphins were spotted close to where the previous Bottlenose were seen. Although they are more abundant around the outer islands it is unusual to have them around here so close in. They were very relaxed, some spy hopping, splashing and playing allowed us some nice pictures and they even lined themselves up well with the castle in the background! We did manage to eventually fill up the boat with fuel before we returned to the marina to prep the boat in anticipation of our early start tomorrow. A stop at the Co-op on the way back for all our own supplies and we were ready for the big mission!

Day 5 – St Kilda!

Today’s the day. There was a lot of anticipation this week with the weather and we had used lots of nice weather days up already. Shane had been stressing about the forecast and today was always the calmest day. We took the risk and hoped the forecast would stay and thankfully we got the most settled day we could have hoped for.

We left the pontoon at 0730 just a small breeze as we rounded Vatersay and out into open Atlantic ocean. We had 3.5 hours of crossing to go and we settled into the journey ahead, pushing on at around 20-22knots, passing lots of seabirds along the way. After a few hours Kilda appeared on the horizon and grew steadily bigger with the jagged outline.

Entering village bay passing close to Dun, the hairs were standing up at the incredible view and elation of such a calm crossing and achieving our goal.

Once anchored up we called the rangers and ferried everyone ashore for our briefing on the island. We managed to catch up with archaeological ranger Clare, who had on our trips previously and on a previous episode of the podcast. First up we had a look around the village before heading up towards the gap passing numerous cleits.

Once there the tunnel was spectacular, a huge cavern with Boreray framed by the rock. The pink algae on the rocks, blue/green ocean gave some amazing colours and we took hundred of pictures trying to take it all in.

Back on board we were a little sad to be leaving, but elated our success and excited for the trip over to the stacks.

Boreray didn’t disappoint and the classic cliff was hugely impressive. Everyone clicking away with cameras with oohs and ahhs.

Day 6 – Vatersay Land Day

We have a land day planned for the trip and the almost guaranteed windy weather. This week there was unbelievably no bad weather so we still had lovely sunshine to explore the island.

We had such a long day yesterday at Kilda that we had a leisurely start, Evan met everyone at the Vatersay hall for some coffee & cake before exploring the machair and twin beaches. It gave us a chance to recover, enjoy a more chilled day before packing ready for the ferry the next day!

Next morning it was a early start for the 07:30 ferry departure. Again a pleasant crossing back to Oban with dolphins & minke showing on the crossing over. Thanks to everyone for joining such an incredible trip. A experience no-one will forget.

Ready to join us on an adventure?

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Basking sharks & marine wildlife migrate to our shores during spring for feeding & breeding. The Atlantic warms up, bringing an explosion of life which we can explore beneath the waves. Take a peek at what you can do with us!

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The island of Boreray in the St Kilda archipelago is home to the world largest northern gannet colony. Photo by Jim Richardson

St Kilda was populated for thousands of years before the evacuation in 1930 of the 36 remaining islanders. Photo courtesy of the National Trust of Scotland

Stac Lee, the second highest sea stack in the St Kilda archipelago. Photo by Arpat Ozgul

Journey to the islands on the edge

of the world in comfort and style

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“Bucket list trip!”

Trudy, Sydney. Reviewed on TripAdvisor

My sister in law and I hugely enjoyed our trip to St Kilda, courtesy of Kilda cruises. Our hosts on the boat were polite, courteous, informative and attentive. They looked after us with tea and cake and a dram. Being on St Kilda was just wonderful, enhanced by the boat trip round Boreray and the Stacks. The wildlife is amazing and the skipper was very knowledgeable about the islands. Highly recommend.

“... Unforgettable experience... ”

Alan, Edinburgh. Reviewed on TripAdvisor

Thanks for a great much anticipated trip out to St Kilda. The weather was great with favourable sea conditions and plenty sunshine. The crew Stuart and Donald were very good and focused on passengers welfare on the run out to St Kilda. Hirta is a beautiful island and it’s very interesting to see where the kildans lived and their way of life. On the run back we visited the sea stacks including the towering Boreray and the huge bird colonies where the kildans scaled the rock faces to hunt the sea birds and collect eggs!

As featured in National Geographic and Visit Outer Hebrides

• The Boat: The Enchanted Isle

Private Charters

St kilda trip.

Boat trips to St.Kilda can run up to 6 times times per week between April and September, departing from Leverburgh harbour at 8am and returning around 7.15pm with 4.5 - 5 hours ashore, journey time each way is approx 2.5 hours. For more details on how the trip runs please see our Booking Page and our Frequently Asked Questions page .

Read/see Bill Bailey’s St Kilda experience with Sea Harris

For the first half hour of the journey the boat heads west from Leverburgh through the Islands of the Sound of Harris. When clear of the Sound you can admire to the north the mountains of North Harris, Scarp, and the island of Taransay where the BBC filmed the reality television programme Castaway. To the south you can look back on the 3 mile long West Beach on Berneray and down to Griminish on North Uist, on a clear day you can see as far down as Beinn Mhor on South Uist . Further out we'll pass the rugged Hasgeir Islands to the south of us and from there on it’s the open waters of the Atlantic until the boat arrives at St.Kilda. At the halfway point we cross the West of Hebrides Deep Water Tanker Lane where we occasionally have to dodge huge 50,000 tonne tankers.

On the Island

Upon arrival at Village Bay we then have to transfer to a 5m tender for going ashore, for biosecurity reasons we are not allowed to moor up alongside the pier and only small open boats are allowed in, Echanted Isle was built specifically with this in mind and we have a boarding platform at the stern to make getting in and out of the tender as simple and safe as possible, once ashore passengers are free to explore the main island at their leisure. You will be issued with a map and guide before you go ashore, and greeted by the National Trust Ranger who is resident on St Kilda for the summer. The boat crew and the National Trust Ranger are both available for any questions you may have about the island. 

The St.Kilda museum, school and church provide a fascinating insight into the St Kildans’ way of life prior to their evacuation. The remains of the village, the graveyard and Second World War gun are all must see attractions.

The more ambitious traveller can embark upon scaling the slopes of Conachair & Oisebhal, to witness the breathtaking views from the top of the highest sea cliffs in the UK. The beach and village bay are perfect places to relax and soak up the atmosphere after a day's sightseeing. 

There are toilet facilities for visitors on the island (and on the boat). The National Trust souvenir shop opens for visitors just prior to our scheduled departure. 

On your return to the boat in the afternoon we provide refreshments and a slice of Eleanor's homemade gingerbread . Note that lunch is not provided and there are no catering facilities on the island, so you must remember to bring a packed lunch! If you wish a packed lunch made for you we can recomend Lunchbox Hebrides .

Once the tea, coffee and cake have been served, we take you for a further tour around Boreray before returning home to Leverburgh. No visit to St.Kilda is complete without the breathtaking tour of Boreray and it's Stacs. This is the highlight of the St.Kilda trip and Sea Harris excel at ensuring this is a once in a lifetime passenger experience.

The Boat: Enchanted Isle

Our purpose-built Redbay Stormforce 1650.

Whole boat charters for up to 12 passengers

"St.Kilda - a dream come true! I loved this trip – it was a dream come true and I would highly recommend Seumas and Sea Harris." Tripadvisor review May 2018 Read Full Review

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"A trip to St.Kilda was definitely one of the best trips in my life. I must reccommend Sea Harris - my experience is they are reliable, friendly, safe." Tripadvisor review September 2018 Read Full Review

Boat trips to St Kilda run three times per week between April and September, departing from Leverburgh harbour at 8am and returning around 7pm.

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VISIT ST KILDA

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HOW TO VISIT ST KILDA

An isolated Scottish archipelago and the westernmost islands of the Outer Hebrides, St Kilda possesses fascinating social history and visual spectacle in equal measure. Indeed, this is demonstrated by it being one of the few places in the world to hold dual UNESCO World Heritage status, inscribed for both natural and cultural criteria.

For most who brave the North Atlantic’s rough seas to reach its shores, a trip to St Kilda is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. If it is a journey that you hope to make, this guide covers all the essential details and will help you plan your visit to these distant and ruggedly beautiful isles.

WATCH OUR ST KILDA FILM MAP OF ST KILDA INTRODUCTION TO ST KILDA WHAT TO EXPECT ON A DAY TRIP WHAT TO DO ON ST KILDA CAMPING ON ST KILDA WHAT TO PACK FOR YOUR TRIP HOW TO GET TO ST KILDA RESOURCES & EXTRA READING

*Some of the links in this post are affiliate links – if you purchase a product or service via these links, we may earn a small commission  at no extra cost to you . This helps offset the cost of running this blog and keeps us travelling so that we can continue to produce great content for you. We greatly appreciate your support!*

OUR ST KILDA FILM

Watch our instagram stories from st kilda, watch instagram stories from our st kilda trip.

St Kilda Stories

ST KILDA MAP

This map shows the main sites on the islands of St Kilda, along with the various ports of departure.

AN INTRODUCTION TO ST KILDA

AN INTRODUCTION

From the remarkable geography of this archipelago and what life was like for those who lived there, to the arrival of modernity, the community’s eventual evacuation, and the circumstances of the islands today, the following introduction to St Kilda will hopefully pique your interest and get you excited for the trip to come.

ABOUT ST KILDA

More than 40 miles west of North Uist, St Kilda rises dramatically from the North Atlantic Ocean, a small archipelago formed by the remains of an ancient volcano. St Kilda, or Hiort as it’s known in Gaelic, consists of the main island of Hirta, the smaller islands of Dun, Soay, and Boreray, and the prominent sea stacks Stac Lee and Stac an Armin.

Dramatic Coastline

Over millennia, St Kilda’s dramatic coastline has been carved and worn by ice, rain, and sea. The sheer cliffs of Conachair on Hirta are the highest in the British Isles at 430 metres, and Stac an Armin is the highest sea stack at 190 metres. Impressive in their own right, the cliffs and stacks of St Kilda become an otherworldly sight during breeding season, when the islands support an estimated 1 million seabirds. It is the largest seabird colony in the north-east Atlantic, and includes puffins, gannets, fulmars, guillemots, razorbills, shearwaters, petrels, and shags.

The impressive Stac an Armin, rising 190 metres out of the water and covered in countless seabirds

Unique Wildlife

St Kilda is also home to unique wildlife species, including the endemic St Kilda Field Mouse, St Kilda Wren, and two types of primitive sheep, Soay and Boreray. A number of Soay sheep were transferred from Soay to Hirta following the evacuation in 1930, and their descendants roam freely around the island to this day. The Boreray sheep can be spotted on the steep slopes and rocky ledges of Boreray as you circle the island by boat.

Inhabited for at least 4000 years, the last permanent residents of St Kilda were voluntarily evacuated in 1930. Life on these isolated islands had always been challenging, but with only a handful of able-bodied men left in the remaining community of 36, the St Kildans’ way of life was simply no longer sustainable.

LIFE ON ST KILDA

Life on the remote and isolated St Kilda revolved around the weather and seasons, and was highly dependent on the community working closely together for the survival of all.

Self-sufficient Crofters

For centuries St Kildans were self-sufficient crofters. They raised cattle and sheep for wool, milk, and meat, grew crops of barley, oats, and potatoes, and harvested seabirds and their eggs – especially gannets and fulmars – for food, feathers, and oil. Rough seas and the difficulty of landing boats meant fishing opportunities were rare. Supplies would be stored through winter in a cleit (plural cleitean ), a dry-stone storage hut with a turf roof. These cleitean can be seen dotted all over the hillsides of Hirta today.

Cleitean – drystone storage huts with turf roofs – on the hillside of Hirta, St Kilda’s main island

Cleitean (drystone storage huts with turf roofs) on the hillside of Hirta, St Kilda’s main island

Skilled Cragsmen

St Kildan men were highly skilled cragsmen. In order to hunt seabirds, they would scale sheer cliffs and sea stacks, and lower themselves over daunting precipices with only a rope tied around them for safety. Fowling expeditions to the outlying islands of Borerary, Soay, and Dun, and to the gannet breeding sites of Stac an Armin and Stac Lee, would take place in spring and summer. Men would row to the islands and stay in basic stone bothies or shelters during the harvest.

In August 1727, three men and eight boys were stranded for nine months on Stac an Armin when a smallpox epidemic swept through the village on Hirta, killing 94 people. Amazingly, all of the marooned St Kildans survived, making it through the winter by living off fresh water, birds, eggs, and fish caught with a bent nail.

Living on Hirta

Hirta was the only inhabited island, with everyone living along one street of houses in sheltered Village Bay. Each family kept a croft, consisting of a house, a strip of land, and a share in the common grazings for cattle and sheep. The cliffs for harvesting seabirds were also divided among the crofts, allotted annually. Borerary, Soay, Dun, and the stacs were considered common property, with fowling expeditions undertaken as a community and the gannet harvest being divided equally. Rent was paid to MacLeod of Dunvegan on Skye, usually in the form of seabird feathers and oil, plus tweed, barley, milk, cheese, and wool.

In the early 19th century, blackhouse dwellings were the norm. These were traditional hebridean houses built using double-skinned walls with rounded external corners and a thatched roof. They had no chimney, so the peat fires would smoke out the interior and blacken the roof, hence the name. Humans and animals shared the space over winter, with one end of the house being transformed into a byre.

Following a bad storm in the 1860s, housing improvements were made on the island. New homes were built with chimneys in the gable ends and windows to let in natural light, and the blackhouses were turned over to the cattle. The ruined houses lining the street today are from this era, with the thick, crumbling walls of the blackhouses still lying tucked between them.

Main Street, with the remains of the blackhouses in between the more modern houses (the ones with repaired roofs are used by the NTS today)

The Street, with the remains of the blackhouses in between the more modern houses (the ones with repaired roofs are used by the NTS today)

TOURISM, EMIGRATION, AND EVACUATION

Throughout the hundred years prior to the evacuation of St Kilda, life for the islanders had started to change.

The first tourists visited St Kilda on a steamship in the 1830s, and there was a steady growth in tourism to the island throughout the 19th and early 20th centuries. Islanders sold souvenirs like knitwear and cheese, and the men demonstrated their skills on the crags to amazed tourists. With this new stream of income, St Kildans could import goods from the mainland such as flour, sugar, tea, coal, and paraffin. While easing some immediate hardships, the increased dependence on supplies from elsewhere made life particularly harsh during the long winters, when boat services would stop and months would pass without contact from the outside world.

Increased tourism brought economic advantages, but it also increased susceptibility to illness and disease, as the isolated community had very little immunity. The regular summer steamship services improved communication and allowed for the import and export of goods, but also brought a growing awareness of the possibility of an easier life beyond St Kilda’s shores. In 1851, 36 St Kildans emigrated to Australia, reducing the population to around 70.

Emigration and Evacuation

Between 1915 and 1919 a naval wireless station operated from St Kilda, providing employment opportunities, ease of communication with the mainland, and direct contact with servicemen. Following the departure of the navy at the end of the Great War, a large number of St Kildans emigrated to seek an easier life for themselves and their families. As the St Kildan way of life was so heavily reliant on community, the exodus put a serious strain on those who remained. Essential tasks such as handling the boat, cultivating the fields, and harvesting the cliffs became more difficult with fewer able-bodied people. The islanders became ever more reliant on passing trawlers for supplies.

By the year 1930, the population of St Kilda had dwindled to just 36, and a future on the island seemed impossible. The community formally petitioned the government for evacuation to the mainland in May, with the last residents leaving on August 29th, 1930.

ST KILDA TODAY

Following the evacuation and until the outbreak of WWII in 1939, tourists and St Kildans alike continued to visit throughout the summer months. In 1957 the Marquis of Bute bequeathed St Kilda to the National Trust for Scotland (NTS), and it was designated a National Nature Reserve. Some of the land was leased to the military, and in the same year, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) started building infrastructure to support a radar station, including accommodation, roads, and technical facilities.

To this day the MoD maintains a year-round presence on St Kilda (now largely a civilian workforce), while NTS staff are resident between April and September. NTS work party volunteers and scientists visit throughout the summer months, living in a few restored homes of former residents.

St Kilda is one of only thirty-nine dual UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the world, inscribed for both natural and cultural criteria. It is still owned by NTS, and is managed in partnership with Historic Environment Scotland, NatureScot, Comhairle nan Eilean Siar (the Western Isles Council), and the Ministry of Defence.

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What to expect on a day trip to st kilda.

The only way to visit St Kilda is by boat, with most people embarking on a day trip from Harris, Barra, Uist, or Skye. We cover the various tour options in more detail in the How To Get To St Kilda section below, but first let’s outline what a typical day trip to St Kilda involves.

DAY TRIP OVERVIEW

A day trip to St Kilda lasts between 11 and 13.5 hours in total , departing between 7 and 8am, and returning between 7 and 8:30pm. The travel time is between 2.5 and 4 hours in each direction , and can vary considerably depending on the conditions that day. On reaching St Kilda, you usually have about 4.5 hours on Hirta , and approximately 1 hour circling the outlying islands and sea stacks on the boat. The trip costs between £205 and £285 per person .

There is no phone reception or wifi on St Kilda itself, while during the boat trip, your signal and data connection will likely come and go.

The crossing can be rough due to big swells, and it’s not uncommon for passengers to get seasick. Indeed, trips to St Kilda are often cancelled because of bad weather . As such, most tour operators offer a 2 day window. This means that if your trip is cancelled on the first day, it will run on the second day instead (if the weather allows).

All of the boats operating day trips to St Kilda have covered seating, an outdoor area, and a toilet onboard.

When you reach St Kilda you will anchor in Village Bay, where you’ll transfer to a dinghy/zodiac boat to take you to the jetty. Flotation aids are provided.

After landing on Hirta you’ll be met for a briefing by the National Trust for Scotland Warden (who is resident on St Kilda between April and September). This lasts around 15 minutes. The warden will cover what to see and do on the island, and provide practical information for your visit. You can pick up a map and info leaflet here, if you haven’t already been given one on the boat. You’re then free to go wherever you like on the island (other than inside the MoD buildings or the renovated volunteer houses).

Village Bay on Hirta, with the summit of Conachair hidden in the clouds above

There is a toilet, water tap, and small souvenir shop, but nowhere to buy food or drinks so be sure to bring your own.

Note that flying drones is not permitted on the islands.

BORERAY, STAC LEE AND STAC AN ARMIN

At the agreed time, return to the jetty on Hirta for your transfer back to the boat by dinghy/zodiac. You’ll be offered tea, coffee, and snacks onboard.

After 15 minutes or so, your boat will depart Village Bay for a trip around the outlying islands and sea stacks of St Kilda. Your route will depend on the weather and your specific tour, but may include getting close to Dun, where the largest puffin colony can be found, and heading around the northeastern side of Hirta to see the towering cliffs of Conachair.

From Hirta, it’s around 5 miles (15 minutes or so by boat) to Boreray, Stac an Armin and Stac Lee, where the highest concentration of gannets can be seen. Your boat will likely circle around Boreray, where you’ll have fantastic views of the cliffs, seabirds, and stacks before starting the return journey to your port of departure.

WHAT TO DO ON A TRIP TO ST KILDA

Your first view of St Kilda is bound to send tingles down your spine, a mass of land rising from the ocean with nothing but sea for miles around. As you get closer, the distinction between the islands of this small archipelago becomes more clear, with Boreray and the enormous sea stacks (Stac Lee and Stac an Armin) clustered together to the northeast, and the main island of Hirta looming ahead. From most angles the small island of Dun appears to be an extension of Hirta, a long arm protruding from the southern side of Village Bay, and Soay remains hidden from sight beyond hilly Hirta.

The view of Dun from Village Bay

As you enter the curved, sheltered bay on the southern side of Hirta and get your first glimpse of The Village, there’s every chance your eye will be drawn not to the historic stone structures lining the main street, or to those scattered up the hillsides, but to the numerous MoD buildings and related infrastructure: a few shipping containers lining the shore, a road winding up the mountain to a large radar installation, and a cluster of modern buildings set back from the pier.

Your heart might sink a little, these incongruous structures at odds with the image of St Kilda in your mind. Just know that the feeling should fade as you set off towards the Main Street and up the hillside beyond, and if not, make peace with the fact that the presence of the MoD and associated infrastructure is invaluable to the continued work of the NTS, providing electricity, water, bulk fuel storage, drainage, medical facilities, and regular supply drops by helicopter.

VILLAGE WALK

Approximately 1 Hour

Following the introductory talk by the warden, you’re perfectly positioned to start exploring the village. The manse and school/church are behind the jetty (to the right of the MoD buildings), along with the toilets, water tap, and small souvenir shop. To the right of the jetty, you’ll find the old storehouse and a WWI era gun emplacement (installed after a German U-boat bombardment of the naval wireless station in May 1918).

The Factor’s House sits behind the MoD buildings, today providing accommodation for the resident NTS staff. Curving around to the left is Main Street, lined with houses. A few of them have been restored and act as accommodation for volunteers and scientists who stay over the summer. The rest are lying in ruin, with no roofs but walls still standing. Sitting in between are the remains of the old blackhouses, pre-dating the more modern gable end homes. The names of the former residents are written on slate and propped up outside each house, with the date referring to when the house was last occupied.

House No.3 has been renovated and turned into a museum. It is full of interesting photos and information related to the natural and cultural significance of St Kilda, and is well worth a look.

A slate displaying the names of the former residents of No. 1, evacuated with the rest of the remaining community in 1930

When St Kilda was home to a crofting community, the large wall surrounding the village, or head dyke, kept sheep and cattle out of the cultivated strips of land extending from each house. These days, Soay sheep roam freely around the island of Hirta, a primitive breed of wild sheep that are smaller than domesticated mainland sheep. Those around Village Bay are all tagged and monitored, part of a 30+ year research project by the University of Edinburgh and Imperial College of London. The lambs are especially cute in spring, with the elders looking particularly bedraggled when their coat starts moulting in early summer.

Young Soay sheep on the grassy shores of Village Bay, with Ruaival seen in the distance

Cleit (Cleitean)

Surrounding the village and dotted up the hillsides are the cold storage chambers made of rock and turf roofs called cleitean (singular cleit ). With more than 1,300 recorded on Hirta, they are an impressive sight. Cleitean were used to store food and supplies, as well as to dry peat and turf. These days you’ll often spot fulmars nesting on top of them and Soay sheep hanging about inside.

Rows of cleitean line the hill below The Gap

CLIMB TO THE GAP

1 – 1.5 Hours Return

This is a highly rewarding but not too long walk on Hirta. Known as The Gap, the saddle between Conachair and Oiseval lies to the northeast of the village. It’s a pretty steep climb up the grassy hillside, passing drystone sheep enclosures and numerous cleitean . A couple of bonxies (great skuas) live around here and take delight in swooping down and whooshing past your head, purposefully just missing you. As you climb, the view back over the village and bay is wonderful.

Looking back down to Village Bay from The Gap

As you reach the top, Boreray, Stac an Armin, and Stac Lee reveal themselves in the distance, and you’re met with a sheer drop at the clifftop. Take great care with your footing and avoid getting too close to the edge – it can be very windy up here, with strong gusts. The view is spectacular, the perfect spot for a picnic and a bit of birdwatching, with fulmars flying around as they make their way to and from their cliffside nests.

Allow 1 – 1.5 hours to walk up to The Gap and back, including time up top to enjoy the views. It’s also possible to carry on up to the left, continuing on the circular route to Conachair (outlined below).

An amazing view of Boreray, Stac an Armin, and Stac Lee, seen from The Gap

An amazing view of Boreray, Stac an Armin, and Stac Lee

SUMMIT CONACHAIR

Approx. 3 Hours Rtn via The Gap

Conachair (430 m) is the highest summit on Hirta, rising to the north of the village. From The Gap, you can continue up the increasingly steep grassy slopes to reach the trig point at the summit. The highest sea cliffs in the British Isles plunge straight down to the ocean from here, and the westernmost St Kildan island, Soay, becomes visible. The views are of course magnificent, given the right weather.

Continue west from the summit to the radar station on Mullach Mor (357 m), where a road leads back down to the village.

Allow about 3 hours to make a loop from the village via The Gap, Conachair, and Mullach Mor. It is not advisable to attempt a summit of Conachair in poor visibility as it can be dangerous close to the sheer cliffs. You can download a GPX of the route here .

Approx. 1.5 Hours Rtn

Ruaival (135 m) rises to the southern side of Village Bay, with the elongated island of Dun stretching out before it. A walk up here provides an alternative perspective over the bay and Dun, and the chance to see the fabled Mistress Stone. Tradition has it that before St Kildan men could marry, they had to prove their ability to provide for a family by balancing on this natural rock arch on one foot. Who knows whether it’s true or not, but for a community that was heavily reliant on skilled cragsmen hunting seabirds, it’s certainly possible!

Allow around 1.5 hours to walk from the village to Ruaival and back.

BOAT TRIP AROUND BORERAY, STAC LEE AND STAC AN ARMIN

The boat trip around Borerary and the sea stacks is a real highlight of the trip to St Kilda. Having already looked from afar, down over the cliffs of Hirta’s northeastern side from The Gap, or from the summit of Conachair, viewing them up close and from below provides a whole new impressive perspective. Tens of thousands of gannets nest on Boreray, Stac an Armin, and Stac Lee, and witnessing them flying overhead as you work your way around these outlying St Kildan isles is truly breathtaking. You’ll have the chance to see guillemots, puffins, shags, razorbills, and more, as well as Boreray sheep clinging implausibly to steep grassy slopes and rocky precipices.

A gannet in flight

The peak of Stac an Armin, 190 metres high

Birds swarm around Boreray’s rocky pinnacles

Look carefully at Stac an Armin and you might spot one of the small stone bothies used for shelter by St Kildan men on their summer fowling expeditions. Here, the skill and bravery required to sustain a community in such an inhospitable and isolated place really hits home.

CAMPING ON ST KILDA

There is no accommodation on St Kilda, however there is a small, basic campsite where you can stay for up to 5 nights. You must book in advance through the NTS, then book a confirmed seat (not standby) with a boat tour company for your outbound and inbound dates, paying double the fare.

You’ll have access to shared shower and toilet facilities and a fresh water tap. There is nowhere to buy supplies on St Kilda, so you must bring everything you need with you. This includes food, camping and cooking equipment, and enough extra supplies to cover double your intended period of stay, in case your return boat trip is cancelled due to bad weather.

Camping on St Kilda costs £20 per person, per night, with the fee payable in cash direct to the warden on your arrival. The NTS limits the number of people camping to 6, with a maximum 5 night stay permitted. You can check availability and make a booking by emailing [email protected] .

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WHAT TO PACK FOR A TRIP TO ST KILDA

Clothing and footwear.

The weather on St Kilda, much like anywhere in Scotland, can be unpredictable and change quickly. It can be fiercely windy, rainy, misty, sunny, warm, and cold all in one trip. It’s best to dress in comfortable ‘outdoor clothing’ , and pack warm layers like a fleece and down jacket, plus a waterproof jacket and trousers. A hat, gloves, and sunglasses are also recommended. Sturdy walking shoes are a must. You’ll need to climb in and out of the dinghy/zodiac boat, and will spend your time on Hirta walking around the island on uneven terrain. During the trip around the outlying islands and sea stacks, you’ll be moving around on the rocky boat deck and can get wet from sea spray.

FOOD AND DRINKS

A trip to St Kilda lasts all day, with no possibility of buying food or drinks , so be sure to pack your own . You can refill your water bottle at the tap on Hirta. There’s no better place to enjoy a picnic than at The Gap, looking down over the village on one side and out to Borerary and the stacks on the other. Remember to take all your rubbish off the island.

CAMERA, BINOCULARS, AND SPARE BATTERIES

Binoculars are handy for bird watching, and there’s every chance you may deplete a fully charged camera or phone battery, so it’s best to pack a power bank , phone charging cable , and extra camera batteries just in case.

SEA SICKNESS TABLETS

The crossing can sometimes be rough, so you may wish to take travel sickness tablets, or whatever motion sickness remedy works for you.

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HOW TO GET TO ST KILDA

The only way to get to St Kilda is by boat. Most people visit on a day trip from Skye, Harris, Eriskay, or Barra, although some companies offer multi-day sailing itineraries that include a visit to St Kilda.

DAY TRIPS TO ST KILDA

There are four companies offering scheduled day trips to St Kilda between April and September . These trips usually operate 3 times per week, and can be up to 6 times per week if the weather allows.

Each boat can carry a maximum of 12 passengers , and trips often book out well in advance, especially during the peak months of July and August. Pre-booking is essential , with many people booking up to a year in advance. Last minute bookings are possible though, especially from April to June, and in September.

Each of the day trip operators offer a 2 day booking window . This means that if your trip is cancelled due to bad weather on the first day, the trip will run on the second day instead (if the weather allows). Standby reservations are possible for the second day, but you will only be able to go if the boat goes on the first day with the confirmed passengers, and the weather on the second day allows the trip to operate with the standby passengers.

All of the boats operating day trips to St Kilda have covered seating, an outdoor area, and a toilet onboard . Be sure to arrive at the departure point at least 15 minutes before the scheduled departure time.

Boats in Village Bay operated by Hebridean Sea Tours, Sea Harris, and Kilda Cruises

DAY TRIPS TO ST KILDA FROM SKYE

Go St Kilda runs day trips to St Kilda from Skye, departing from Stein in Waternish. The boat departs at 7am and returns at 8 – 8:30pm. The journey is around 4 hours in each direction, the longest travel time of any of the four day trips.

 Go St Kilda day trips cost £280 per person , and they offer an optional guided walk on Hirta for £5 per person.

The Isle of Skye is connected to mainland Scotland by a bridge, making this the most accessible departure point for anyone not already in the Outer Hebrides .

DAY TRIPS TO ST KILDA FROM HARRIS

Two companies operate day trips to St Kilda from Harris. Both depart from Leverburgh at the southern end of the island.

Sea Harris departs at 8am and returns around 7pm. The journey lasts about  2.5 hours in each direction, the shortest travel time of any of the four day trips.

Sea Harris day trips cost £220 per person .

Kilda Cruises also depart at 8am and return around 7:30pm. The journey takes about 2h45m in each direction.

Kilda Cruises day trips cost £285 per person .

Harris and Lewis share the same landmass, so a day trip with either of these companies is ideal for anyone already visiting Lewis or Harris.

You can get to Lewis or Harris by CalMac Ferry . These operate from Ullapool (mainland) to Stornoway (Lewis) and Uig (Skye) to Tarbert (Harris). A CalMac ferry also connects North Uist (Berneray) to Leverburgh (Harris). Alternatively, you can fly to Stornoway (Lewis) direct from Glasgow, Edinburgh, or Inverness with Loganair.

DAY TRIPS TO ST KILDA FROM BARRA OR ERISKAY

Hebridean Sea Tours operate day trips to St Kilda from Barra, with an optional pick up on Eriskay. Their trips operate only once a week, on Mondays (standby day Tuesdays). They depart from Ardmhor on Barra at 7am, picking up at Eriskay ferry terminal around 7:10am. The boat returns to Eriskay around 7:30pm, and to Barra around 7:40pm. The journey is about 3 hours in each direction. Note that the Eriskay pick up/drop off option is not mentioned on the main booking page, but you can select this option at the confirmation stage.

Hebridean Sea Tours cost £205 per person , the cheapest St Kilda day trip available.

Taking in the views of Boreray from the catamaran operated by Hebridean Sea Tours

Barra is at the southern end of the chain of islands that make up the Outer Hebrides. Eriskay is connected to South Uist, Benbecula, and North Uist by causeways, making this day trip the ideal option for anyone already visiting Barra, Eriskay, the Uists, or Benbecula .

You can get to Barra, South Uist, and North Uist from mainland Scotland/Skye by CalMac ferry . The routes are Oban to Barra (Castlebay ferry terminal), Mallaig to South Uist (Lochboisdale ferry terminal), and Skye (Uig) to North Uist (Lochmaddy ferry terminal). There is an inter-island CalMac ferry service between Barra (Ardmhor ferry terminal) and Eriskay. You can also fly direct from Glasgow with Loganair, to Barra (landing on the beach!) and Benbecula.

MULTI-DAY ST KILDA BOAT TRIPS

There are a number of companies offering multi-day boat trip itineraries to St Kilda and elsewhere in the Outer Hebrides. You live onboard, and have meals included. These usually run just a few times throughout the season, so booking well in advance is recommended. A few options are listed below.

Island Cruising (MV Cuma)

Based out of Lewis, Island Cruising runs weekly 6 day trips to St Kilda and around between May and August. You can see the MV Cuma in action towards the end of our St Kilda film, the green boat surrounded by sea kayakers at Stac an Armin.

The MV Cuma offloading kayakers near the towering Stac Lee

The MV Cuma offloading kayakers near the towering form of Stac Lee

Clearwater Paddling St Kilda Kayaking Trip (Lady of Avenel)

What a fantastic experience it must be, sailing to St Kilda on the magnificent tall ship, The Lady of Avenel . Clearwater Paddling runs a couple of different sea kayaking St Kilda itineraries from Barra, with limited departures each season.

Northern Light Cruising Co (Hjalmar Bjorge)

Departing from Oban on the west coast of the Scottish mainland, Northern Light Cruising Co. runs a few trips each season to St Kilda, on the ex-Norwegian ice-class rescue vessel, Hjalmar Bjorge .

Bessie-Ellen

Another beauty of a tall ship, the Bessie-Ellen sails from Oban to St Kilda a couple of times each season.

Go West Sailing

Go West Sailing runs a few yacht sailing trips each season to St Kilda from Oban/Largs.

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ST KILDA RESOURCES AND FURTHER READING

For those interested in reading more about St Kilda, the National Trust for Scotland St Kilda articles archive is a great place to start. You can also read more about the cultural and natural significance of St Kilda on the UNESCO St Kilda page .

Some excellent books written about St Kilda include the coffee table publication by Historic Environment Scotland, ‘ St Kilda: The Last and Outmost Isle ’, and Charles MacLean’s, ‘ Island on the Edge of the World: The Story of St Kilda ’. Other notable books include the first-hand account of life on St Kilda in the early 1900s by Rev. Donald John Gillies, ‘ The Truth About St. Kilda: An Islander’s Memoir ’, and Tom Steel’s, ‘ The Life and Death of St. Kilda: The moving story of a vanished island community ’.

THANKS FOR READING!

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Kim and Del Hogg

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Your support is greatly appreciated and helps cover the costs of running this blog.

We hope you enjoyed our guide to visiting St Kilda and found it useful. If you have any questions, drop them in the comments below, and if you’ve been to St Kilda, we’d love to hear about your own experience on the islands.

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Honest guide to Scotland & N. England

St Kilda boat trips

📌 Various departure points, Isle of Skye / Western Isles ★★★★★

Isolated in the North Atlantic Ocean 40 miles west of the main spine of the Western Isles, St Kilda’s half-dozen islands and sea stacks form Scotland’s most isolated outpost: the remains of an ancient supervolcano eroded by waves and storms over millennia. A trip to this remotest of archipelagos is a cultural, historical and natural spectacle to rival any, and truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience for many visitors. Look at just some of the records this place holds: Britain’s remotest islands, the UK’s highest sea cliffs, its only dual World Heritage Site (natural and cultural), the world’s biggest colony of northern gannets, the Atlantic’s biggest colony of Leach’s Petrels, along with unique bird and animals species. A fragile community called the largest island, Hirta , home for centuries until evacuation at their own request in 1930 – see our separate feature page for more info. Hirta is the only island safe enough for scheduled sailings to land on, but you also get a tour of the immensely impressive sea stacks to the north (together with their colossal seabird colonies) as part of the trip. We were looked after by the excellent Sea Harris outfit; they and several other operators are listed below, all allowing at least a couple hours on the main island as part of a long day trip in return for a large wadge of cash. Don’t bet on good weather – sailings do get cancelled at short notice – and remember this is the Atlantic Ocean you’re crossing. With only a small passenger ferry to rise the waves, be prepared for a rough ride and, well, we hope you have a strong stomach.

📌 See below for trip departure points. Boreray sea stack, one of the highlights of the trips, is at: 🧭 O.S. Grid Reference: NA 154052 🛰️ GPS coordinates: 57.869700,-8.490992

💬 Trips depart from several locations including the Isle of Skye (Go to St Kilda | 🔗 gotostkilda.co.uk ), Isle of Barra (Hebridean Sea Tours | 🔗 hebrideanseatours.co.uk ) & Isle of Harris (Kilda Cruises | 🔗 kildacruises.co.uk or Sea Harris | 🔗 seaharris.com )

🚢🚌 Buses serve most of the boat trip departure points but timetables may not fit early / late sailing times 🚗 Parking available at all departure points

⌚🎫 Check dates, times & prices with individual providers. Trips do not run in winter, are subject to weather conditions at any time of year, and should be booked well in advance to get a space

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© Marcus McAdam

Day Trip to St Kilda

Go to St Kilda takes you to the UK's only Dual UNESCO Heritage Site. Home to north west Europe's largest seabird colony including the UK's largest colony of Atlantic puffin, northern Fulmar and one of the World's largest Gannetaries.

  6.50am:  Meet at Stein Jetty, Skye for a briefing prior to 7.00am departure.

Our fast and comfortable boat, Infinity will take you across the Minch and through the Western Isles, arriving at St Kilda after 85 miles and around 4 hours later (3 hours 30 mins on good days).

On arrival in Village Bay, we will make the short transfer by Zodiac dinghy to the main St Kilda island of Hirta. We will have approximately 4 hours free to explore the Island. The St Kilda museum, school and Church provide a fascinating insight into the way of life of the St Kildans prior to their evacuation in 1930. The remains of the village, the graves and 2nd World War gun are all open to view.

A guided walk may be arranged at a cost of £5 per person. Please add this when booking your trip.

Upon leaving Hirta, we will cruise to Boreray and its Sea Stacs with their impressive cliffs and bird life.

The return journey will take approximately four hours.

8.30pm:  Return to Stein Jetty, Skye.

The itinerary for all trips may be altered at skippers discretion

From £260 per adult

Departure days.

• W Wednesday

April — October

Contact details

• +44 (077899) 14144
• View tour details
• [email protected]

Key facilities

Tour information.

• Small Group (1-16)
• Island Hopping
• Outdoor Activities
• Photography

Tour prices

From £260 Per Adult

Prices are subject to change depending on season

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Tour company information

Go to st kilda.

Day trips by boat from Skye to St Kilda - the last outpost of north-west Europe lying 85 miles west of Skye. St Kilda is a dual UNESCO world heritage site and national nature reserve. It’s home to the world’s largest colony of Gannets & Fulmars. Also the biggest colony of puffins in Britain with highest sea cliffs and sea stacks in Britain. Visit St Kilda to experience dramatic scenery, spectacular seabirds and unique isolation to ponder their poignant history.

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Visit Go to St Kilda

Opening times

April - October Other dates by arangment

The content of many of our web listings is provided by third party operators and not VisitScotland. VisitScotland accepts no responsibility for (1) any error or misrepresentation contained in third party listings, and (2) the contents of any external links within web listings ((1) and (2) together hereinafter referred to as the "Content"). VisitScotland excludes all liability for loss or damage caused by any reliance placed on the Content. The Content is provided for your information only and is not endorsed by VisitScotland.

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You are here: Home > See and Do > Uist Sea Tours

Uist Sea Tours

Type: boat trips.

Call direct on:

Tel: 07833690693

Book Tickets Online

Come aboard our boat and let your Hebridean  adventure begin. If you like rugged coast lines, beautiful white sandy beaches,  remote uninhabited  islands and  spectacular wildlife such as orcas, whales, dolphins, otters, puffins and eagles then we’re what you’re looking for. 

We also offer sea angling trips.  You can hire the boat for your very own special tailor made trips, all of  which we are more than happy to discuss with you to help let your adventure begin.

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What's nearby.

15th April 1923, the SS Marloch left Lochboisdale with 500 islanders from Benbecula,…

Uist Gifts and Info is a friendly Information centre for visitors to the islands. …

Photograph © David Wilson

In the book, The Lewis Man, two teenage brothers, Johnny,…

6th September 1746 . Two French ships anchor in Lochboisdale. Two hundred troops come…

The Listening Place Scuplture, forms part of the Uist sculpture Trail

20th June 1746. News arrives that the notorious Capt Scott has landed on Barra and is on…

15th June 1746 The Prince and his small band of supporters continue on their way south to…

A week long event of Gaelic song, dance and music.

A good area to see this species during the spring and summer.

Designed in 1965 by architect Richard McCarron, this Catholic church has been described…

The Common Twayblade is an orchid which can be found around Loch Thallan.

A well-preserved aisled wheelhouse was excavated in 1952 in the machair at Kilpheder…

Tigh na Mara Art and Antiques Gallery is by the sea at East Kilbride on the south coast…

A range of Outer Hebrides fine arts and handmade crafts in South Uist available at Tigh…

The machair runs parralell to the beach and a great place to walk.

Along the west coast of South UIst lies around 20 miles of stunning white beach and…

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