St. Kilda is arguably Scotland’s most storied island destination. The archipelago, inhabited for 4,000 years and evacuated of its last 36 inhabitants in 1930, is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the home of nearly one million seabirds, including the UK’s largest colony of Atlantic Puffin. While intriguing, the westernmost island in Scotland is, unsurprisingly, a hard place to reach. But it’s not impossible. St. Hilda Sea Adventures is one of a handful of Scottish small-ship cruise lines that can take you there.
Island of Canna in the Inner Hebrides, as seen from a St. Hilda Sea Adventure ship. Photo: St. Hilda Sea Adventures
How to See Scotland’s Most Inaccessible Islands on a Small-Ship Cruise
Every year from April to October, St. Hilda Sea Adventures, a family-run business that started in 2006, takes travelers on cruises past the many islands of the Hebrides archipelago. The Hebrides, located off the west coast of Scotland, consist of the Inner Hebrides (the islands that are closest to the mainland), and the Outer Hebrides (farther from the mainland). Kilda belongs to the latter.
“St Kilda is on the bucket list for many of our guests,” says Julie, a director and manager of St Hilda Sea Adventures. “Its remoteness, its history, and its wildlife are a tremendous draw. That is why we have over 10 cruises to the archipelago every season.”
The cruise line’s most popular sailing, and the one that is best suited for first-timers in Scotland, is the Mull Odyssey Cruise that travels around the Inner Hebrides, including the islands of Staffa, Iona, and the Isle of Mull in six or eight nights.
Photo: St. Hilda Sea Adventures
“The cruise is incredibly varied. For example, we visit the puffin colony on Lunga, Iona Abbey, Fingal’s cave on Staffa, and the colorful town of Tobermory,” Julie explains. But the St Kilda and the Shiants voyage is a close second. The 10-night cruise is an island and wildlife-packed trip to isolated islands and bays where its easy to spot sea and golden eagles, many species of seabirds, basking sharks, orca and minke whales, porpoises, dolphins and seals. For a deeper dive into local wildlife, St. Hilda Sea Adventures also organize guided wildlife cruises with wildlife experts on board.
Atlantic puffin and dolphins are some of the wildlife you can see during a Hebridean island cruises. Photo: St. Hilda Sea Adventures
St. Hilda Sea Adventures has four small ships. There’s the St. Hilda, a traditional, wooden ex-tall ship (a rigged sailing vessel) that can hold six passengers. There’s also the 11-passenger Seahorse II (an ex-Norwegian ferry), eight-passenger Gemini Explorer (an ex-cruising lifeboat), and the eight-passenger Spiederen (an ex-Norwegian rescue ship). “All four ships have been converted to cruise the western islands of Scotland in comfort and style,” Julie says.
Cruises to the Inner Hebrides vary from five to eight nights, while the 10-night longer cruises go to St. Kilda and the Outer Hebrides. Prices depend on whether you opt for a basic cabin or a full en-suite, ranging from about $246 per night on the St. Hilda to about $506 per night on the Speideren. Included in that are all meals (locally sourced food and specialty produce are the highlights), fruit, morning coffee, afternoon tea, and a pre-dinner aperitif and wine with dinner.
“The plan is for our guests to go ashore every day,” Julie says. “Aboard our vessels there is a folder with a list of things to do and places to visit. The crew are always very happy to help guests organize their time ashore, booking, for example, the visit of a garden or a whisky distillery. Also onboard are specialist books on local walks and Ordnance Survey maps to help guests plan their time ashore. The crew are able to suggest walks of various difficulty and length at every stop. On some cruises we include a tour. For example on The Outer Hebrides Wildlife Explorer: Lewis and Harris cruise, we include in the cost of the cruise a tour to the ancient Callanish Standing Stones, a traditional crofters’ Blackhouse and a spectacular white sandy beach and turquoise ocean.”