A British archipelago, abandoned by humans 90 years ago, has become a hiker’s paradise. Disease, lack of opportunity and starvation led to people leaving the Scottish islands. Currently, the archipelago is visited by tourists who love wild landscapes.
A Scottish archipelago has become a tourist attraction. It is about the St Kilda Archipelago that was abandoned by humans 90 years ago, according to the Express. Located 160 kilometers from inhabited areas, the archipelago has the highest sea cliffs in Great Britain, writes Mediafax.
The archipelago was inhabited for 2,000 years before 1930, when the last 36 inhabitants were evicted and moved to Scotland. In their wake are remnants of history scattered across the four islands, especially Hirta, the largest.
The St Kilda Archipelago was recently listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its exceptional fauna, spectacular sea cliffs and isolated ecosystem that supports approximately one million seabirds.
Over time, the area turned into a tourist attraction. The National Trust of Scotland oversees the Atlantic islands where tours are organized for visitors in April and September. Bad weather often leads to cancellations. Tourists arriving on the island spend the night camping.
An isolated but expensive archipelago
Ruth Aisling, who has a YouTube channel, traveled to St Kilda. She said the expedition required a three-hour boat crossing from the Isle of Skye, with the trip costing £280 per person. Adding the cost of the return journey comes to over £500.
“Although quite expensive, St Kilda is a place I’ve always wanted to see and this will probably be the only time I ever visit”Aisling explained.
On arrival, a representative from the National Trust informed her of the areas permitted for hiking. What immediately caught his attention was the deserted village in the distance.
“I’ve been on the island for an hour, an hour and a half now, and my first impression is that the island definitely looks inhabited. Before I came here, I had an image that this was an abandoned island, there wouldn’t be too many people here, but there’s quite a lot of activity. I think there’s around 30 or 40 people on the island tonight. Maybe they don’t live here all year, but I live here temporarily, so it’s a little different than what I expected based on my first impressions so far“, Aisling also reported.
Incredible landscapes and dangerous cliffs
During the hikes, the tourist was captivated by the landscape “incredible”, but issued a warning.
“If you’re a person who’s afraid of heights, I don’t recommend hiking up here. Even me, who’s not really afraid of heights, my legs are a little shaky. I’m standing pretty far from the edge. It probably looks like I’m pretty close, but I’m probably about seven or eight feet from the edge.” she explained.
Hirta Island includes a church, abandoned stone dwellings, warehouses and natural fresh water sources, alongside a contemporary museum. Toilets and showers are available, but there are no commercial establishments or restaurants. The archipelago is home to the largest colony of puffins (sea penguins) in the UK.
Numerous factors contributed to the disappearance of the population which reached a maximum level of 200 inhabitants. The increased connections with the mainland brought more diseases to the islands. Lack of opportunity and deaths from starvation led to the exodus of the post-1920s.
