Scotland's St Kilda

[@englishgoordie]

I loved my visit to Saint Kilda, I was there in the early 90s . The wildlife is spectacular especially the sea birds . When approaching the islands we were escorted by thousands of gannets flying all around our boat , they were so close you could almost reach out and touch them. Watching the Arctic skewers attacking returning Gannets and Puffins to steal the fish they were bringing back to feed their young was something else ! Walking along the “ street “ seeing the empty houses and little grave yard along with the little Cleits ( stone structures used to dry meat and fish) the sheep which are the descendent’s of the sheep left on the island when it was abandoned. Such a unique and amazing place . I feel extremely fortunate to have experienced St Kilda first hand .

[@didgerb72]

Just after the first Gulf war in 1991. I was a young 19yr old RCT Maritime - 'Soldier-Sailor' (Bluejob Deckhand), posted to the Royal Artillery Ranges Benbecula. A huge range that fired out to sea. We were a 7 person RCT Maritime Detachment. We operated out of a boat shed in Ardivacher on South Uist. We were range safety and lifeboat crew. Stopping lobster fisherman ftom entering the range during live firing. The SSgt boss and Cpl 2ic always stayed in Ardivacher, whilst the remaining 5 did 1 month tours on St Kilda, in the tiny RCT Boat shed. I was privileged enough to do two x 1month tours on St Kilda in June and Nov 91. It is the best place I have seen in my life. There were only 15 civilian and 18 military approx on the island. I use to get up at about 4 a.m to help the range warden free the Puffins that flew into the safety nets on the buildings. They would've hurt themselves overtime. terrible fliers, magnificent underwater hunters. I operated 2 Gemini rubber boats. I spent all day in the bay or helping ferry people around the archipelago. My first day. the BC (Battery Commander R.A) A Captain in Royal Artillery took me out in the boat, to show me around. I went straight over a feeding Basking Shark without realising it. He said I had, and when we stopped to look. I have never seen such a beautiful shark in my life. Massive and yet so mellow. Im sure if I had hit it, it wouldn't be best pleased lol. I use to sit on the stairway on the slip, and watch all the marine life in the bay. Although I use to run the Chimney challenge every day. So at the top you at a great view of the big Whales and sharks in the bay. I was taken to St Kilda on our big landing craft, and flew back by helicopter after last tour in Nov 91. As we arrived at sunrise in June on my first tour. One of my mates serving on the landing craft called me out on deck. If you have ever opened a ships door and go on deck, and think you are in paradise, then you've been to St Kilda. I was dumbstruck. The Sea was like the Caribbean, the view was indescribably beautiful. I just watched your video, and do glad it still showed the old accommodation and the PuffInn pub. As all gone now. Did you go in the pub. I have a crazy pic of me during a caveman night party lol. Im a disabled British Army Veteran now, and my bucket list is to return to the outer hebredes, and St Kilda. I still have vivid dreams about that magical place.

[@rayh1095]

Thanks for your memories at St Kilda! We were only there a short time, but we were really taken with the place. It was the highlight of our trip to Scotland!

[@steviedee8921]

I have numerous pictures from the Puff Inn. The best are from a fancy dress night in June 1995. I was crew on a dive charter boat (Jean de la Lune)

[@carolmeikleham7608]

Beautiful video trip thanks

[@rayh1095]

Thanks!

[@rlgenge]

Spent many months there in the late seventies, saw all seasons. Remarkable place. Thanks for the memories.

[@keepsafeandsound6722]

I suppose its the kind of place to be able to camp? Just to escape to for a short while?. Not sure if thsts allowed is it mate?

[@keepsafeandsound6722]

@Cash Abdullah,?? I'M LOST???

[@AJGeeTV]

My father was there in the mid-1950s with the Ministry of Defence's 'Operation Hard Rock'. His brigade built the jetty and the MOD buildings on the island, including the road up to the missile detection station. They tested its efficiency by guiding missiles from the RAF base on Benbecula to Stac Lee, one of the rocky islands of the St Kilda archipelago. Dad illegally brought back a number of finds from the old crofts, all of which I intend to return to the island in the coming years.

[@destinationunknown4959]

I see your post on every St Kildas video lol

[@AJGeeTV]

@@destinationunknown4959 Yes, of course. My dad told loads of stories. Sadly, he passed away a few months ago and I shall be going to St Kilda to scatter his ashed on the island he adored.

[@destinationunknown4959]

@AJGeeTV you do know the private skippers only take you there if healthy and under a certain age? I don't know how old you are, but it is a very strict criteria they dont want unfit people to be a burden on them. Also the prices vary between operators, so do the departure locations. If you find a good operator let me know, I want to go too!

[@Beans999999]

I was there with the Royal Signals, providing radio communications to/from the islands. This continued until radio telephones were installed. I spent my 21st birthday on the island (Hirta) in 1959. I'm considering returning for a visit. Derek Hackett

[@Angie-fe8yd]

@Beans999999 For the past 2 years Kilda has been like a building site ( very well ordered) while old military buildings are removed and new buildings go up. We visited in 2018...The peace and tranquillity I expected was ruined by machinery,build materials Etc...hammering and loud music being played on the building site.There must've been between 50 to 60 people there...(including 2 small boat trip visitors).Wasn't the experience my partner had had years previously.The tour operators don't tell you about the on going work there...they just take your £ and these trips are not cheap. So before you go ask whether the works have been completed and the construction workers have left so your not disappointed.We were told by someone who'd been they were still there August this year.

[@annakateputter_littlered]

Mr. Hackett, I'm a Cold War historian living in Scotland and am ashamed to admit that St Kilda's significance eluded me until a couple of days ago. Thank you for sharing a little of your experiences there. The island must have left a very positive impression on you. I've now added St. Kilda to my Cold War pilgrimage locations list. I heard that there was a listening station on the island and that short range anti aircraft weapons were tested there, I wonder whether I will discover any more about this. Wish me luck in researching the island. - Anna

[@duncancallum]

Beans i spent my 21st Birthday on March 1960 , working night shift at 15 Signal Regt Episkopi garrison as a teleprinter operator , not one drop of booze did i have that day . Duncan.

[@Jillaroo1000]

This was lovely. Thank you

[@rayh1095]

And Thank You for your kind comment!

[@johnblanchard8627]

Lovely film brought back some very happy memories of my time there. I was the encumbant Battery Sergant Major over the 1987 winter. A truly wild and beautiful place.

[@riboid]

Interesting story. Tell us more, John.

[@mobilestrike5182]

Lovely. Was lucky to get a day there in mid 70’s. Happy memories

[@Sabhail_ar_Alba]

Great photography - I worked on the island for 3 years until recently and will never forget being dive bombed by dozens of Skua's as I innocently climbed Oseval on my fist day.

[@MrWiLDAPEMAN]

Angus Mac Haha my Dad visited when he was my age (24) He had to carry a big stick above his head so they would attack that instead of him. Who were you working for it you do not mind me asking? Would be an awesome place to live.

[@tjashton]

I'd love to visit St Kilda some day - great video thanks. nice basking shark footage! I imagine theres some good diving there

[@steviedee8921]

Might just go out on a limb and state...the best scenic diving in the UK. For the record, I've logged approx 50 dives at St Kilda over 7 visits.

[@englishgoordie]

I’ve not dived St Kilda but have done a lot of diving around the outer Hebrides, honestly it’s some of the best diving in the world . I’ve dived all over the world ( I worked on private and charter yachts for several years) with Mexico probably being my favourite closely followed by the outer Hebrides. I live in Australia now and have dived a lot up and down the east coast from Port Fairy on the Great ocean rd at the bottom of Victoria right up to Green island up on the northern coast of Queensland and lots of places In-between .

[@steadyrockscotland]

Lovely wee video - thanks for posting :)

[@rayh1095]

Thanks!

[@favernoogon]

Great video, and you had very good weather. It looks almost mystical, towering out the sea and alive with birds!

[@HazelAgnes48]

Great wee film. I visited St. Kilda last week. Great adventure.Hazel.

[@ferguscooper]

Thanks for sharing.

[@josephinebennington7247]

Just a correction, the skua at the close is an Arctic Skua. Note the tail shape. It is not a Great Skua, which is bigger, less streamlined and more mottled plumage. Both are aggressive at nesting time.

[@johnprentice9895]

Yeah I just dropped that comment too.😃

[@normanm69]

Great video thanks. Just a shame you didn't mention anything about its modern history. I was based there as a soldier in the Royal Artillery, in the winter of 1960. There's a radar station at the top of the highest peak.

[@rayh1095]

Thanks. I didn't find out much about the modern use for the military, only as some kind of tracking station.

[@franlooving4203]

I did hear it briefly mentioned in my previous video I watched. I like birds but maybe not that much. Pretty houses but I'd be scared being that isolated. I think I'm not too brave but thankful to watch. Thank you!

[@julianorth9748]

Beautiful, thank you. You’ve helped me decide I really am going to go!

[@Annur375]

Lovely place, thanks for sharing it.

[@johncranwell3783]

A nice film you put up there I really enjoyed it thank you

[@haplessdilettante]

Ray, do join us on FB St Kilda - Hebrides. We're all enjoying this thoroughly .

[@_christianlowe]

Loved this thanks!

[@pipersson39]

Thanks for this vid. I have never been there, but I did see it once on the far horizon from the west coast of Harris on a very clear day. Kind regards.

[@Bulletguy07]

8:25 Known among locals as "Bonxies" they are lethal!! I got dive bombed by a couple when visiting an island off Barra. Whilst there a private yacht owner who had been to St Kilda a few days before told me one of his crew got attacked and ended up needing stitches in his scalp!

[@JimTLonW6]

I went there and was duly dive-bombed by skuas! The bird book I had with me at the time said they are a 'scavenger and a parasite'....

[@johngunning2123]

I've just added St. Kilda to my to do list. Great video.

[@loriscappelli2077]

Really stunning video!! Thanks a lot

[@rayh1095]

Thanks!

[@woolyimage]

While there are probably great skuas there, the ones shown appeared to be Arctic skuas which are a bit smaller, darker coloured and have the distinctive v on back of their tails

[@johnprentice9895]

I'm the third person to have informed him of this error 😂

[@marthagiza4884]

Beautiful ,informative video. Such a fascinating place, what a joy it would be to visit. Thank you.

[@rayh1095]

Thanks!

[@jerrycarr]

VERY GOOD..

[@rayh1095]

Thanks!

[@finnISHY]

I guess you could live out here pretty isolated place and a beautiful place too

[@brucelee-wo5ge]

Quite enjoyable....I've recently been most interested in the cultural history of St Kilda Island. KZbin has some wonderful posts so pertaining. Some of the historical vision, interviews and images are absolutely amazing. One aspect of past island life that has me fascinated, and which I wish this post had mentioned or explored more, was the fact the island men used to scale almost vertical cliffs to catch and kill many varieties of the seabirds which they used for food and many other resources. So I've got this vision of the men using locally made rigging/ropes and other basic equipment to scale down these very steep cliff faces to grab the birds.....fair enough ..........but now you're telling me that whilst performing this death defying feat they were being dive bombed by large angry forking "bonxies"!!??? One of the posts mentioned that the men used to go over to one of the stacks for two weeks every year to procure the birds. They had a signal that someone had unfortunately died during this rite...........from appendicitis!!!! Jeez they must have been confident, strong, skilled, fearless cliff climbers!!! Something akin to the indigenous American tribe who fearlessly assisted with the building of the Manhattan skyscrapers!! No medivac. no helicopter, no hospital, apparently for all known human malady...they used ...........a poultice!!!!!!!! More stories, info please

[@rayh1095]

Wow! Thanks for the information! This archipelago has some amazing history!

[@Angie-fe8yd]

@bruce lee you might enjoy this video here on KZbin... St Kilda, it's people and birds ,1908 extract... From this video you will possibly see other videos in your feed below when viewing the one above 🙂

[@markgoddard2560]

Really nice video. It is worth noting though, that the sheep are not ‘primitive’. They are in fact highly adapted to their surroundings and can survive where artificially bred sheep cannot. If you look at the sheep, you can see that there is nothing lacking physically and their powers of survival and adaptation are highly developed above those of more domesticated sheep. Likewise, there are no ‘sub-species’ of birds; these too are adaptations to their surroundings are are fully able to interbreed with their species across the range. Difference is not a ‘sub-species’ or primitive.

[@rayh1095]

Thanks for the clarification!

[@robokill387]

"these too are adaptations to their surroundings are are fully able to interbreed with their species across the range" that's what "sub-species" means.

[@AfricanFlightStar]

Great coverage of such a unique place, thanks for sharing that 👍🏻

[@rayh1095]

THANKS!

[@welshdragonflies6415]

Arctic Skuas shown, not Great Skuas

[@icepee9252]

Ah yes, Bonxies! I've had run ins with them while walking in Unst (Shetland Islands).

[@GeoPerspective]

Hey, I would like to make a short documentary on the island. Any chance I could use a few seconds of your magnificent video footage?

[@rayh1095]

Thanks for asking, and feel free to use the footage. Would appreciate credit to DORAY PRODUCTIONS.

[@GeoPerspective]

@@rayh1095 Sweet, thank you so much, will link and watermark for you :)

[@JohnComeOnMan]

Beautiful! 😍

Perhaps most interesting was how British Public Servants disposed of the human inhabitants when they ferried them to the mainland and fount the men (who'd never seen a tree before-hand) in the Forestry Commission....

[@stevenuibhist]

They didn't "dispose" of them. They pleaded with the government to help them be removed from the island, as many other inhabited islands around the outer hebrides did

[@macoooy]

Thank you for this great video. I'll go there in august and I'll stay for 2 nights. Can't wait :)

[@rayh1095]

Thanks! Have a great trip!

[@macoooy]

Thank you :)

[@frezzalata]

I have goosebumps. When did you visit Village Bay? you had a good weather!!! I'm terribly afraid of the rough sea because I feel unwell. Can anybody give me some advice? when would you recommend going?

[@rayh1095]

We visited St Kilda the second week in July, 2015. We have heard that July or August are the best months to go to the islands, as the chances of getting there are very good. Earlier or later than this and the risk of bad weather is much greater, Hope this helps!

[@incrediblefelix4240]

frezzalata I went n the camping trip in May of this year and the weather was fantastic. Went with GotoStKilda. I put my name down last November and when they had the all clear for the camping from the heritage trust I paid my deposit. It wasn't cheap but was definitely worth it.

[@frezzalata]

I have leave in March but it's too risky. I'll consider going in august...

[@favernoogon]

For sea sickness I would recommend to stay well hydrated and take something ginger, or some ginger beer. Good luck.

[@winstonsmith9533]

frezzalata I don't know about when to go and I've never seasick but, I've heard if you eat something solid (bread or potato, oatmeal) and don't drink, you should stay well. Best wishes. I'd love to visit,myself.

[@jesusgarrido7466]

Are there shepherds living in the island?

[@alanbbrady8196]

Is that fella from England Tony Roper? Fair play to him.

[@johnprentice9895]

Those were actually Artic Skua although there are lots of Great Skuas there too. Notice the extended tail feathers of the Artic Skua.

[@MauiCliffDiver]

Loved the shots you got! What focal length on your lens did you use for the shots of the sea stacks? Thanks.

[@rayh1095]

Thanks! Most of the time I was around 25 to 35mm (35mm equivalent) and handheld to counter the movement of the boat. Most of my zooms were too bouncy to be used, but a few times I was able to keep it acceptable. Image stabilization was on!

[@MauiCliffDiver]

Thanks! Really cool that the boat got that close so you didnt need a telephoto lens!

[@ynajones1536]

It's a perfect Gods masterpiece

[@alexandercarder2281]

His ancient handy work

[@chrisfleming5109]

I bet there has been a lot of human hardship suffered out there over the years long ago.

[@l2e9aL]

The bird you're showing as Great Skua is actually an Arctic Skua, a dark phase one. Great vid though! I'm heading out there for a couple weeks in a couple weeks. Can't wait!

[@MrBoreray]

I'm not normally pedantic but the 'skua' featured is an Arctic skua not a Great skua.

[@davidowenjones5603]

and no such thing as a seagull

[@fojnica2226]

is it possible to live here-i m from croatia and look for place like this...where is best place to ask for.............thank you..greetings from croatia

[@annakateputter_littlered]

I hear that the only permanent inhabitants are MoD (Ministry of Defence) staff and a few Scottish Heritage people, there to take care of visitors, tours, tell people about the history etc. Wishing you luck finding a beautiful place to live, Fojnica. You should perhaps look at Orkney and the Hebrides, if you like the look of Scotland's highlands and islands. Good luck.

[@JohnSmith-ji6lu]

The people who used to live on St Kilda back in the 1920's before they were evacuated used to catch the sea birds and eat them.

[@Angie-fe8yd]

@ John Smith to this day people from the Isle of Lewis still go to St.Kilda archipelago and catch guga ( young skewers) to eat.

[@davidfrancis949]

HERE IS A NICE LITTLE FREE TRIP DAVID FRANCIS REFRESHINGLY BEAUTYFUL SIT BACK DAVID ENJOY THE FREE JOURNEY EACH DAY EACH JOURNEY IS UNIQUE DONT STOP PUTTING THEM ON SCENIC BEAUTY MAYBE SOME WILL TAKE TIME TO TAKE BOAT TRIP WHAT A PRETTY WILD PLACE

[@martinandreaskruse4446]

Seagulls, not eagles

[@CoherentChimp]

North Rona is Scotlands most remote island, not St Kilda.

[@dougiemcbriar1998]

No internet no mobile phones... Bliss

[@popeye9048]

Posted on the internet from a phone lol but, yes I know what you mean 😊. Glad they weren't about when I was growing up.

[@dougiemcbriar1998]

@@popeye9048 hahahaha, so true

[@jamesrivis620]

To us, a rock that juts out of the ocean. It is easy to see how early man, such as the Norse invaders, saw anything you could imagine from underworld kings to the devil's head and so on.The beginning of religion.

[@robertmcdonald2181]

I heard not ONE word about the fact that the PEOPLE of the islands of St. Kilda were ALL Gaelic speakers who had a unique and different culture from the English speaking one of the man who did most of the talking in this video. How could you make SUCH an egregious error??? Or was it, in fact, NO ERROR AT ALL??