|
 St. Kilda: The archipelago of St Kilda, the remotest and most westerly part of the British Isles was awarded UNESCO World Heritage status (one of only two in the world|) for both natural and cultural significance in July 2005 nearly 75 years after the island had been evacuated upon the request of the inhabitants. The photograph to the left (click to enlarge) was taken on a visit in September 2005 and shows the main street in recognisable black & white.
Described as "the edge of the world" St. Kilda made it's first impact upon me after watching a documentary when I was at primary school and appears to have a profound effect upon many. Faced with images of a utopian society, and the sad story of it's decline, few can fail to have their heart strings pulled.
 In 1982 I was given the opportunity to visit the Outer Hebrides, I jumped at the chance. I recalled the surreal images of the Hebridean folk from St. Kilda as they left their boat to start a new life on the mainland and the promise I had made myself that I would, one day, visit the island. For now a short stay on the Isle of Harris was as close as I would get. In 1991 fortune dictated that I needed to slow the pace of my life down so I decided to move, with my wife, to live in the Outer Hebrides. First settling on the Isle of Scalpay (where we stayed for the longest time I have ever stayed in one place, 10 years).
 I then moved, with my family, to Leverburgh on the Isle of Harris which is almost as close as you can get to St. Kilda. But it would be another 4 years before I decided to take the plunge and visit the famed isle. I was attending a charity auction in support of the Tsunami relief fund where I discovered one of the items on offer was a trip to St. Kilda on the Orca (pictured above and left- click to enlarge). I had considered visiting the island many times but the idea of the long, and often rough, journey had put me off. However, the Orca is a fast and stable boat and I was confident that, other than by helicopter, this would be the fastest and safest way to travel to St Kilda. Rather stupidly I left my trip until the end of the season. I say stupidly because it left me no choice as to the day I could travel. I would have preferred a calmer day but I was lucky to catch the (extra) last trip of the year the Orca was to make.
 Amazingly the weather was absolutely brilliant and I managed to get myself a little sun burnt, although it did make the photography a little difficult. Setting off at 8am from Leverburgh Pier I was expecting a smooth crossing but this illusion was to be shattered within only a few moments. As soon as we cleared the relative shelter of the harbour we started a pretty bumpy ride. Having taken my trusty Boots Travel Calm tablets I was confident I could last until we had cleared the turbulence that is common around the islands as tide fights current.
Next
St Kilda, A Modern Journey
| 
