St. Kilda visit from Harris, anybody do this?

Hi, Linda,

I made the voyage to St Kilda about six years ago. It was a memorable trip, and well worth the money (it was 190 pounds then). I went with Kilda Cruises out of Leverburgh. Sea Harris also operates the same route. However, they don't go as frequently. I'd go with Kilda Cruises, if you have to choose. And definitely depart from Leverburgh. There are other companies which depart from Skye, but Leverburgh is the closest point of departure, giving you the most time on Hirta. The cruises depart from Leverburgh at 8:00 a.m., and return around 8:00 p.m.

I posted a review on TripAdvisor. It's on page 5. My advice is, if you have the opportunity, go!

Mike (Auchterless)

p.s.: For some reading prior to visiting St Kilda, I'd recommend The Life and Death of St Kilda, by Tom Steel, and Island on the Edge of the World, by Charles MacLean.

p.p.s.: I spoke with Angus, at Kilda Cruises, about non-landing cruises to Rockall. He said that they were considering doing that.

Thank you very much Mike. I appreciate your insight to St Kilda and surrounding area. I will have to see if there is enough time to do the excursion

Also, thanks for the book recommendations- I’ve been wanting another book about Scotland

For anyone else reading this I found out last week (from someone who was on Barra last autumn) that a company called Hebridean Sea Tours also do day trips on an infrequent schedule from Castlebay, Barra. Leave at 7am, back at 7pm.
Much the same price.

Hi again, Linda,

The companies who take visitors out to St Kilda normally recommend that you give them a two day window of availability, as they oftentimes have to cancel due to bad weather. Their boats are small, and of course you're out in the Atlantic! We were very fortunate in that we were able to sail on the one day we were available.

However, if they don't sail, you'd have the opportunity to visit the beautiful beaches of South Harris, visit St Clement's Church, and drive the "Golden Road".

I hope that you get to St Kilda. It's an amazing place!

Best wishes,

Mike (Auchterless)

Stuart and Mike and anyone else interested in using Kilda Cruises to visit St Kilda, apparently the company will not run trips to St Kilda (for the moment). Here is the owners response to my inquiry about a tour in July

“At the moment my plan is to retire from the St Kilda trips and concentrate on the shorter trips to the Shiant Isles with our other company www.isleofharrisseatours.co.uk Last year was our 20th season running the St Kilda trips and, much as I enjoy doing it, I feel it is time to try and pass it along to someone younger, hence the business has been advertised for sale and there is a new buyer looking to operate the trips. That may change but if we are unable to sell the vessel in the next couple of weeks then our plan is to open a few trips for this coming season and I have taken a note of your details. If we are running trips we will get in touch with you towards the end of this month.”

So, MAYBE, they won’t sell the boat and schedule some tours. Cross fingers.

As regards your own trip maybe look at Sea Harris if nothing comes through as they are running 3 x a week this year, weather permitting.
On the 2 day slot they have no availability before July, but have good availability on the 1 day slot schedule, which all feels a bit counter intuitive.

There is at least one cruise company, Hebrides Cruises, who do 10 day island hopping cruises including St Kilda - already sold out for 2025, and booking 2026.
They are at a certain price point shall we say.

I believe the Hebridean Princess (the late Queen's chartered Royal Yacht after the Britannia was retired) also sometimes go out there, at a very high end price.

By the way the Shiant Isles were owned by Compton MacKenzie from 1925 to 1937- the author of Whisky Galore and Monarch of the Glen. They were also almost the only UK home of the Black (or Ship's) rat - now eradicated from the Islands.

Mike’s advice about needing flexibility for a trip to St Kilda is key. You might well book but then the seas will be too rough to go. It’s not something you can ever guarantee so prepare for disappointment if the weather doesn’t cooperate. There used to be trips from Skye too, but it takes much longer and I believe the company who used to run them didn’t operate last season.

Thank you all for the input. I will continue to keep this St Kilda trip in the back of my mind and yes, I fully understand the requirement to be flexible with plans. The seas will do what they will.

Hi again, Linda,

I'm sorry to hear that Angus is retiring and selling up. I hope that, for your sake, he's able to go out again this summer. I was clearing out old email a couple of days ago, and found that I had retained a long chain of back and forth correspondence with Angus and Christina at Kilda Cruises. I realize now how lucky we were to be able to sail on the one day that we had available.

We spoke with one couple on our voyage out to Hirta who told us that they had tried three times previously without success to make the voyage, and that their attempts had been thwarted by the weather.

I'm assuming that you will still be visiting Harris and Lewis, regardless of whether you get to St Kilda. South Harris is quite possibly my favorite place in all of Scotland. The beaches are world class, and there is a great low level hike from Northton out to the ruins of a chapel which dates from 1528.

Best wishes, and Happy Valentine's Day!

Mike

Mike,
Oh my, yes, I really would enjoy making the trek to St Kilda but will definitely spend time on Harris Lewis. Thanks so much for sharing your experience.

Just my tuppence worth and an excuse to talk about the amazing St Kilda trip!

We did the trip a few years back from Harris (Leverburgh), our second attempt as our first go, the trip was cancelled due to weather.Both times we booked with Sea Harris (with a slightly faster, newer boat) and they and the boat itself were first class.Super comfortable.

It’s a LONG , never to be forgotten day but you need 4days on Harris - the first day to actually be on the island as the next day, your first potential sailing day, leaves at 8am or thereabouts so you need to be on Harris (or Lewis) the night before. They will offer the next day as an alternative if the first day doesn’t run because of weather(mainly wind strength and direction.) Then as you return around 7pm you will most likely be on Harris/Lewis or one of the Outer Hebrides until the next day too.

It’s about 2.5 hrs out to St Kilda via a fairly fast boat.

My own experience with photos written up here, if of interest though there is tons online these days too.

https://annestravelsandhikes.com/2017/08/03/st-kilda-day-trip/

Just when you think you’ve seen some very dramatic (and of course fascinating) landscapes on Hirta the boat takes you out to Boreray and the sea stacks which offer the most astonishing coastal scenery I’ve yet witnessed, to me the highlight of the whole trip for wow factor.

It’s almost a Stone Age landscape out on Hirta in many ways with the surprisingly large stone cleats, used for storage, dotting the landscape above the bay in their hundreds.The finest book I’ve read on St Kilda is Charles Maclean’s -well worth doing some research before you go, as already suggested.

It is also a hostile living environment out on St Kilda, so remote too etc.There is a Gaelic saying, explained to me by my mother-in-law which translated into English as ‘I’d rather be on Hirta’ - said when anyone was faced with a particularly unpleasant task!

Wow what a brilliant blog post scotlandmac! I now have your blog bookmarked and ready to recommend to anyone wanting in depth information on pretty much any aspect of Scotland travel.

Good news. Kilda Cruises are booking trips to St Kilda. I’ve jumped the gun and signed me up for the day trip (probably of a lifetime). Now I’m getting a reality check on availability of accommodations. Yikes!

Good,

Maybe look at the Hebrides Hotel in Tarbert- right beside the ferry Terminal from Uig (Skye), and drive down for the boat- should be about 30 minutes but allow 45 minutes to be on the safe side.

Based on personal experience, I'd give it at least an hour. If you're taking a taxi, the local drivers would drive a little faster than we visitors would. The crew live in Tarbert, so they may be willing to give you a lift if you're staying there. The Hotel Hebrides has very good evening meals, and not overpriced. We had all of our evening meals there during our times on Harris.

Good luck!

Mike (Auchterless)

At least an hour for a 20 mile journey is unbelievably slow, especially early morning and mid evening. AA route planner gives 32 minutes, and even the service bus (which by definition is stopping for passengers en route) is timetabled for 40 minutes, and that has the ferry to connect into at Leverburgh.

As I said, based on personal experience! :( Plus, the earlier you arrive in Leverburgh, the better your seat will be on the boat.

Mike (Auchterless)

Mike, maybe I will inquire of the boat crew whether it’s possible to get transport from Tarbert. Thanks for the suggestion