National park · United Kingdom
St KildaHiort
Go only if you can accept a weather-dependent day: book a boat slot from Leverburgh or Stein, keep two spare days, expect a 3–4 h crossing and about 4 h ashore on Hirta, and pay no entry fee — there is no ticket gate.
Map to the park
Add your hotel to get directions from it. · stays in this browser; shared with the pocket card.
Area
9 km²3 sq mi
approximate
Established
1957
Best months
May–Jun
UNESCO
World Heritage
Rules in force · 12Non-EU visitors get 90 days in any rolling 180-day window…
- Europe ↗Non-EU visitors get 90 days in any rolling 180-day window, counted across all 29 Schengen states together — not per country; the Entry/Exit System now logs each crossing, so an overstay is detected automatically.
- Europe ↗On the first Schengen entry since EES began, non-EU travellers give four fingerprints and a face photo at the border instead of a passport stamp; there is nothing to apply for or pay in advance.
- Britain and Ireland ↗Neither the UK nor Ireland is part of Schengen: days spent here do not count towards the 90/180-day Schengen limit, and a Schengen visa does not admit you to either country.
- Britain and Ireland ↗The island of Ireland runs on two currencies: euro in the Republic, pound sterling in Northern Ireland and Great Britain. Carry a card that pays in both without fees.
- Britain and Ireland ↗Both islands drive on the left. Speed limits are in miles per hour in the UK (including Northern Ireland) and in kilometres per hour in the Republic of Ireland.
- United Kingdom ↗Most visitors who do not need a UK visa now need an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) before travelling; this includes EU nationals. Irish citizens are exempt. Check the UK government site for your passport.
- United Kingdom ↗The UK is outside the EU and the Schengen area; a Schengen visa is not valid for the UK.
- United Kingdom ↗Driving is on the left; London has congestion and emissions charges for most vehicles, so do not drive in the city.
- Outer Hebrides ↗Lewis and Harris are sabbatarian: almost everything closes on Sunday. Barra and South Uist are Catholic and some shops open Sunday afternoon.
- Outer Hebrides ↗CalMac car ferries on the main routes should be booked weeks ahead in summer; foot passengers can usually turn up.
- Outer Hebrides ↗Midges are worst June to August on still, damp days. Repellent and a head net change the trip.
- Outer Hebrides ↗Filling stations are sparse; fill up in Stornoway, Tarbert, Lochmaddy, Balivanich and Lochboisdale.
At a glance
- Country
- United Kingdom
- Area
- 9 km²3 sq mi
- Land area of the four main islands combined is roughly 8.5 km²; figures vary by source and by whether sea stacks are counted (check).
- Established
- 1957
- Best months
- May–Jun
- Permits
- For some areas
St Kilda is a small Atlantic archipelago about 64 km west of the Outer Hebrides, owned and managed by the National Trust for Scotland. Hirta is the main island; there is no island called St Kilda. The last 36 residents were evacuated on 26 August 1930, and the village, cleitean and the surrounding sea cliffs are now a dual World Heritage Site. There are no ferries, no airstrip, no cafe and no public accommodation beyond a six-person campsite. Visitors arrive by day boat, cruise ship or NTS work party, land by small dinghy at a tiny jetty, and walk.
Decide
Why go, which months, and what lives here when
At a glance
Status
- UNESCO World Heritage · 1986Inscribed for its natural features; extended in 2004 to cover the cultural landscape of the village and cleitean.
- Special national siteNational Nature Reserve and Site of Special Scientific Interest; owned by the National Trust for Scotland.
Size and age
9 km²3 sq mi · national park since 1957
Land area of the four main islands combined is roughly 8.5 km²; figures vary by source and by whether sea stacks are counted (check).
Why go
- The most complete abandoned village in the North Atlantic, with the 1860s Main Street houses, museum and cleitean still standing.
- Sea cliffs and stacks that hold one of Europe's biggest seabird colonies, including the St Kilda wren found nowhere else.
- A crossing that is genuinely weather-dependent, so a landing feels earned rather than booked.
- Soay sheep, Boreray sheep and the St Kilda fieldmouse, all isolated breeds or subspecies you will not see elsewhere.
When to go
- JanAvoid
- FebAvoid
- MarAvoid
- AprCaution
- MayBest
- JunBest
- JulGo
- AugGo
- SepGo
- OctCaution
- NovAvoid
- DecAvoid
- JanNo boats; storms and short daylight
- FebNo boats; gales
- MarNo scheduled trips
- AprSeason starts; crossings often cancelled
- MayPuffins and seabirds at the cliffs; longest settled spell
- JunPeak seabird season; midge-free on the island
- JulWarmest; busiest boat slots
- AugEvacuation anniversary on 26 Aug; supply boat days busy
- SepFewer boats than midsummer; sea state varies (check)
- OctSeason tailing off; trips weather-dependent
- NovNo boats
- DecNo boats; storms
Wildlife and nature calendar
| What | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PuffinsApr–Jul · Best from the track above the village; they leave the burrows by late July. | no | no | no | yes | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no | no | no |
| St Kilda wrenApr–Sep · A larger, darker subspecies found only here; listen in the village walls. | no | no | no | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no |
| Fulmars, guillemots and bonxies (great skuas)May–Aug · Bonxies will dive at walkers near the cliffs; keep away from nesting areas. | no | no | no | no | yes | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no | no |
| Soay sheepAll year · Semi-wild and free-roaming on Hirta and Soay. | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| St Kilda fieldmouseAll year · Larger than mainland fieldmice; mostly seen around the buildings after dark. | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
Arrive & move
Getting in, how the park is divided, and where things are
How to get there
From Leverburgh, Harris
Day boat with a small operator; 3–4 h crossing, then a dinghy transfer to the jetty on Hirta.
3–4 h
Open the page →
From Stein, Skye
Day boat from the Skye coast; crossing time depends on sea state and route.
3–4 h
Open the page →
From Oban
Cruise ship on a 7–10 day Outer Hebrides itinerary; St Kilda is a possible call, not a guarantee.
Multi-day
Open the page →
From Outer Hebrides plan
Ferries, driving and where to base yourself before a St Kilda slot.
Open the page →
Zones and sectors
| Zone | What is there | Access |
|---|---|---|
| Village Bay and Main Street | The 1860s stone houses, the museum, the jetty and the trackhead. | Open to anyone who lands. |
| Mullach Mor and the radar station | The 361 m summit of the track, with the army base beside it. | Walk up the track; the base itself is off-limits. |
| Conachair and the north cliffs | The 430 m sea cliffs and the biggest seabird concentrations. | Open, but the cliff edge is unprotected. |
| Dùn, Soay and Boreray | The outlying islands, with Soay sheep and Boreray sheep. | Special permission only; normally seen from the boat. |
Sketch map
- 1Hirta jetty · Gate≈57.811, -8.572Landing point for dinghies; sheltered from the prevailing west winds.Map ↗
- 2Main Street village · Village≈57.813, -8.5691860s stone houses, museum and Lady Grange's cleit.Map ↗
- 3Mullach Mor · Summit≈57.819, -8.585361 m; radar station at the top.Map ↗
- 4Conachair · Viewpoint≈57.818, -8.557430 m sea cliffs; unfenced edge.Map ↗
- 5Dùn · Beach≈57.795, -8.553Mile-long island sheltering Village Bay; landing by permission only.Map ↗
- 6Soay · Dive site≈57.829, -8.633Westernmost point of the UK if Rockall is discounted; Soay sheep.Map ↗
- 7Boreray · Summit≈57.870, -8.491384 m crag with the Boreray sheep; seen from the boat.Map ↗
See & do
Caves, trails and wildlife, with how hard each is and whether it needs booking
Top experiences
Practical
Fees, permits, rules, where to sleep and what can go wrong
Entry fees and permits
| Item | Range | Per | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Landing on Hirta | Free | person | No entry fee or ticket gate; the island is free to land on. Your cost is the boat seat. |
| Day trip from Leverburgh or Stein | GBP 250–350 | person | 2026 estimate; check with the operator. Includes the crossing and about 4 h ashore. |
| NTS campsite | Free | person | Six-person site, usually booked out to NTS work parties; reservation months ahead. Price check. |
| Cruise ship call | Free | person | Included in the cruise fare; itineraries may skip St Kilda if the sea is up. |
Ranges, not quotes: fees change without notice. Check with the park or your operator · checked Sep 2026.
Boat seat permit or guide
Landing on Dùn, Soay or Boreray permit or guide
Campsite permit or guide
NTS work party permit or guide
Park rules
- No rats, no pets
- Landing by dinghy is partly to stop rats reaching the island; no dogs or other pets are allowed ashore.
- Army base
- The radar station and the Puff Inn inside the base are off-limits to visitors.
- Camping
- The only campsite takes six people and needs an NTS reservation; whether wild camping is allowed elsewhere is check.
- Leave the structures alone
- Do not move stones in cleitean or enter derelict houses; the cultural landscape is part of the World Heritage listing.
- Cliff edges
- Stay back from unfenced edges on Conachair and the north cliffs; the ground is wet and the drop is over 400 m.
- Weather watch
- Keep an eye on the sky and stay within reach of the jetty; your boat may need to sail at short notice.
Where to stay
In the park
NTS campsite on Hirta
Six-person site, usually booked out to work parties; reserve months ahead.
In the park
Your own boat
If you sail yourself, sleeping aboard is the practical option; there is no mooring.
Near the park
Leverburgh or Tarbert, Harris
The usual base before a day-trip slot, with guesthouses and a hostel.
Near the park
Stein or Portree, Skye
Base for boats sailing from the Skye coast.
Safety
Cancelled or delayed boat high
Landing transfer medium
Cliff falls high
No mobile signal medium
Weather turning medium
Accessibility
- The jetty-to-village ground is rough and uneven, and the dinghy transfer is not step-free.
- The Main Street houses and museum involve short walks on grass and stone; the Mullach Mor track and the cliffs are steep and not suitable for limited mobility.
Visiting lightly
- Stay on the track and keep off nesting slopes; bonxies and fulmars are easily disturbed.
- Carry out everything you bring, including food wrappers; there are no bins on the island.
- Book with operators that land by dinghy and follow the biosecurity rules, which exist to keep rats off the island.
- Buy nothing from anyone offering a shortcut or a private landing on the outlying islands; those landings need permission.
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to enter St Kilda?
Nothing. There is no entry fee, ticket gate or visitor centre charge on Hirta. Your cost is the boat seat, roughly £250–350 per person for a day trip from Leverburgh or Stein in 2026, or the cruise fare if you arrive by ship.
What are the best hikes in St Kilda?
The Mullach Mor track (about 1.6 km to a 361 m summit, 2–2.5 h return) fits most four-hour landings. The Conachair cliffs at 430 m take 2–3 h return and are the best seabird viewpoint, but the edge is unfenced. The full Mullach Bi and Conachair circuit needs 4–5 h and only works if your boat gives you a long landing.
When is the best time to visit St Kilda?
May, June and September. Boats run roughly April to October, and May–June has the seabird season while September often has calmer seas and fewer boats. There are no scheduled trips from November to March.
Can I stay overnight on St Kilda?
Only at the National Trust for Scotland campsite, which takes six people and is usually booked out to work parties. You must reserve months in advance. If you sail your own boat, sleeping aboard is the practical option.
How do I get to St Kilda?
There are no ferries and no flights. Day boats sail from Leverburgh on Harris and Stein on Skye, giving you a two-day slot and sailing on the first suitable day. Cruise ships on Outer Hebrides itineraries may call, but the itinerary can change for sea conditions.
Why is landing on St Kilda so awkward?
The jetty is tiny, so you transfer to a small open dinghy, and the transfer also prevents rats reaching the island and devastating the bird colonies. Landing is impractical when wind or swell comes from the east or south-east.
Is there food, drink or mobile signal on St Kilda?
No. There is no cafe, shop or public bar, and the Puff Inn inside the army base is off-limits. There is also no mobile signal on the island or on the crossing, so bring your own food and water.
Deep dive
Every source; fees and rules change, so check before you go