St Kilda

29 May - I achieved a long-held ambition today when I finally set foot on St Kilda, 40 miles west of the Outer Hebrides - the islands have always fascinated me, having dramatic scenery, vast numbers of seabirds - and also the history of habitation by the islanders until 1936. The crossing from Skye was 3.5h each way on calm seas, and the islands appeared mysterious, wrapped in mist - we spent 4h on the main island Hirta, plenty of time to see the ruined village where the inhabitants subsisted largely on seabirds, in days when communication and travel must have been very difficult. I saw the distinctive St Kilda Wren, much larger than the mainland bird......we then cruised the massive cliffs of Boreray, Stac Lee and Stac an Armin (5-7), that hold between them a quarter of a million pairs of seabirds, including 140,000 pairs of Puffins (10).....an awesome sight. 60,000 pairs of Gannets (11) were also very impressive.....alongside Kittiwakes, all the Auks, And large numbers of Fulmars (8).....with Bonxies (9) and 2 Arctic Skuas cruising over. Other birds on the crossing included Red-throated and Great Northern Divers, Storm Petrel and Manx Shearwater. A long bit worthwhile day with stunning views of Skye and the Cuillin from the boat.