Visiting The Evacuated Scottish Island

Get 10% off your Manta Sleep Mask by using the code "RUTHAISLING” at checkout - tinyurl.com/es...
This time I am visiting the evacuated Scottish island of St. Kilda. St. Kilda, Scotland was inhabited for centuries, but in 1930, all that changed when the remaining 36 islanders asked to be evacuated and a unique way of life was lost forever.
Getting to St. Kilda can be a bit of a challenge as it's the most remote part of the British Isles and faces extreme weather conditions. St Kilda boat trips which run during the summer months from The Isle of Skye or the Outer Hebrides to Hirta are often cancelled or rescheduled.
The evacuation of St. Kilda is a fascinating story and these days the islands are managed by the National Trust for Scotland. St. Kilda is also a dual-staus UNESCO world heritage site.
🍿 WATCH NEXT:
ISLE OF FOULA: • Visiting The Scottish ...
UK'S MOST REMOTE INHABITED ISLAND: • I Visited The UK's Mos...
SCOTTISH ISLAND WITH DARK HISTORY: • Visiting The Scottish ...
LIVING ON A SCOTTISH ISLAND: • I Tried Tiny Scottish ...
SCOTLAND'S WHISKY ISLAND: • Visiting The World's W...
EXTRA CONTENT ON PATREON:
🎬 Get access to exclusive uncut and bonus videos, behind-the-scenes content and sneak peeks into future projects - / ruthaisling
🚌 My Scotland Group Trips: ruthaisling.co...
🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 My Scotland Google Map: geni.us/L7sek2P
💌 Free Scotland Travel Guide: ruthaisling.com
MY OTHER SOCIALS:
📸 INSTAGRAM - / ruthaisling
🎥 FACEBOOK - / ruthaisling
📱 TIKTOK - / ruth.aisling
🌍 WEBSITE - ruthaisling.com
MY FAVOURITE TOOLS & GEAR:
🚽 Trelino - The best van toilet (Use code RUTHAISLING for a discount or gift): geni.us/lC0UmdH
🔋 Bluetti - My favourite van portable batteries (Use code BLUETTIRA for 5% discount): geni.us/ewxrm1v
🎵 Epidemic Sound - Music in my videos: geni.us/a1Qq
WHO AM I?
If we haven't met before... Hi, I'm Ruth 👋 and I recently bought a campervan to travel my home country of Scotland after living overseas for 12 years. I’ve hardly seen anything or been anywhere in Scotland and now is the time to change that!
P.S. Some of the links in this description are affiliate links that I get a kickback from.

[@ruthaisling]

Let me know what you think of St. Kilda and would you visit this island? Don't forget you can get 10% off your Manta Sleep Mask by using the code "RUTHAISLING” at checkout - tinyurl.com/essxvnrh

[@monster21blog36]

Great job on your KZbin video 👏🍀🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

[@davidjones6470]

Yes,

[@levistubbs8949]

A tad expensive thou !

[@duncankilburn7612]

It's just not Sunday evening without Ruth's adventures. 😃

[@ruthaisling]

Hope you enjoy this one Duncan!

[@did-pf3xt]

Thank you for taking us on your adventures.

[@ruthaisling]

I appreciate you watching the videos, thank you!

[@andrewmaccallum2367]

Excellent video, as always! 👏👏👏 When i was a wee boy, one of our neighbours had been one of the last evacuees from St.Kilda as a wee girl. Her name was Katie Gillies .

[@ruthaisling]

Oh wow that is so interesting, where did you life in Scotland?

[@andrewmaccallum2367]

​@ruthaisling in Oban Ruth, there were several folks from St.Kilda relocated here. If I recall correctly, her name was carved into a wooden school desk on the island.. all the children did the same before they left, apparently. I only ever remember hearing her speak Gaelic. Most of my neighbours were fluent in it. Especially the elderly folk, they never spoke in English to each other. There's also a town called St.Kilda in Australia.. my daughter lived there for a few months, several years ago 💙

[@michaelarcher6278]

What a brilliant video, thank you for showing so much of the island. I was due to go there in May last year, but the trip was cancelled 😢 Can't wait for next weeks installment. Love the way you ended this one .

[@ruthaisling]

Sorry to hear your trip was cancelled!! Hope you can make it another time!

[@davidjones6470]

Congratulations Ruth over 116K,

[@ruthaisling]

Thanks David!

[@fraserthomson5766]

Oh well, there's a cozy tent and plenty of birds to eat. Tune in next week to see Ruth slide down the cliffs using horse hair rope to gather provisions until the boat returns..

[@ruthaisling]

How did you guess!! 😂😂

[@mickandtrudie]

Great content Ruth loved this 🤠🙋‍♀️Mick and Trudie

[@ruthaisling]

Thanks! It was great to meet you at the Tread the Globe event last week. I hope you had a fun evening!

[@Earthstein]

Ruth, You are probably already familiar with the beautiful music that a young (22yo) Felix Mendelssohn wrote after a his visit to Scotland in 1829; Die Hebriden (The Hebrides). I fell under the spell of this music in the early 1960's. If you have not heard it, you are going to love love love it.

[@ruthaisling]

No, I don't know it! I will check it out, thanks for sharing!

[@iancomputerscomputerrepair8944]

Well worth the wait. Another well filmed video. Cannot wait for the next instalment I would definitely visit but only in the summer.

[@ruthaisling]

Thank you! Yes I think the trips only run during summer time

[@Kim-J312]

Yey 🎉 Sunday Funday with our Ruthie ❤

[@ruthaisling]

Thanks for watching!

[@louisewhite9152]

Hi Ruth, it’s only me. Just wanted to say a quick hello and I’m looking forward to setting down and watching your Vlog/video in a little while but as you know I always thoroughly love watching them ~ sending loads of love and hugs ~ Xxx

[@ruthaisling]

Hi Louise! Thank you and I hope you enjoy this one! ❤️

[@paolobianconi495]

Beautiful video. I remember an Ossian LP called St. Kilda wedding issued in 1977. It was the first time I heard the story of these places.

[@bosswardrop]

Great video Ruth - i'd love to be marooned on st Kilda - piece quiet and stunning views (as long as the weather is OK!)

[@ruthaisling]

The views are stunning!

[@MeTheRob]

That was lovely. Cheered me up no end. I've been so ill and I had my first food for over a week watching this. I think I might manage a glass of whisky later too. There was a mouse in my house yesterday ..... eeek ! I was thinking - pity she couldn't stay for longer .... oh dear.

[@Gunavati1]

Stuck on St. Kilda, wonderful!

[@ruthaisling]

Well..... I'm not so sure about that haha!

[@adrianmontelongo9707]

Absolutely fantastic ruth. It always been a dream to visit st. Kilda. Awesome video ruth 👍 💘

[@ruthaisling]

Hope you can visit sometime!

[@jurgensuss3624]

Absolutely fantastic Ruth! It has always been a dream for me to visit St. Kilda. Thanks a lot for taking us along!

[@ruthaisling]

Thank you! Hope you enjoyed the video!

[@celticlass8573]

Gorgeous and well-done video! I bet you're glad you packed extra provisions! It's shocking how many people don't think in terms of preparedness for bad weather. Even outside of remote locations, you can find yourself with no food or water, and you can't rely on someone helping you right away, even in a city. It's just prudent to have some supplies just in case. If it's the choice between being comfortable and not having food or water, I know which I'd choose.

[@ruthaisling]

Yes very glad and I was also glad I had downloaded many books on my kindle!!

[@terrytennyson67]

歴史に驚き‼️不思議な島ですね！

[@PeterJolly-e8b]

What a beauty of a place thank you for bringing us along

[@ruthaisling]

Thanks for watching!

[@johnraworth8019]

Great video. We watched it eating our Sunday Tea ! As we live in the Highlands, you are giving us lots of ideas to explore that would never have given us a thought otherwise. Keep these wonderful videos coming 👍

[@ruthaisling]

Thanks John! Hope you can visit sometime!

[@allancoghill8610]

Great video Ruth of such a beautiful and isolated (despite all the current activity) place. I hope you weren't stranded for 9 months like the 11 folks on Stac an Armin --what a story, I can't imagine!

[@ruthaisling]

Thank goodness it wasn’t 9 months! Those men must have almost given up hope, how awful!

[@curtvona4891]

Great vid. I love the cute mouse and the sheep. I would panic if my boat did not come in.❤

[@ruthaisling]

Haha I was a bit panicked!!

[@curtvona4891]

@@ruthaisling I could imagine, Ruth😊

[@desboast1948]

Hi Ruth, brilliant video as always. I'm well happy you have been to st kilda and shared it with us. I went there 2018, weather was great and I'm looking to go back again as i loved my day there. Hope you get home safely 🙏

[@ruthaisling]

Nice to hear you got great weather when you visited, it makes a difference!

[@TheFunkadelicFan]

The top of that cliff looks terrifying.

[@ruthaisling]

It was so high!!!

[@robertalan3214]

Hi Ruth, fantastic content my friend, I am fortunate enough to have visited St Kilda in 2014, I absolutely loved it, magical place for sure, I followed the story for years beforehand and just had to see it for myself, I tried to return in 2021 and was beaten by the weather 3 days running from Leverburgh, I'd love to return, thank you ❤

[@ruthaisling]

Ah what a shame about the weather on your most recent try!

[@caiotosp]

Love your videos! I’ve been to Scotland and it became my favorite country. Greetings from Brazil 🇧🇷

[@ruthaisling]

So nice to hear Scotland became your favourite country. Brazil is one of my favourite countries 🙃🇧🇷

[@davidjones6470]

Great Thumbnail there Ruth, And again fantastic upload,

[@TheTopG420]

Your videos are better than tv quality now lassie keep up the gid work 💙🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🙏

[@ruthaisling]

Aww thank you. That means so much! ❤️

[@jv7070ful]

WOW what an amazing experience.looking out for the next part.

[@ruthaisling]

Thanks, the next video is coming soon!

[@tadcastertory1087]

For anyone who doesn't know, the cultivateable soil in the then village had by the time of the evacuation become poisoned through over use. Evacuation had become inevitable.

[@ruthaisling]

Thanks for sharing more information. There is so much history, it’s hard to fit it all into this one video!

[@thehighlandlife2023]

St Kilda is on our list for one day 🤞 loved adventuring on the island with you. Loved seeing the Soay sheep as we used to own a flock on our homestead. They were so cool, but so mischievous 🤣😍

[@ruthaisling]

Oh wow, did you eat the sheep?

[@joyhayes5735]

Great video Ruth... I feel like I'm there.... beautiful stunning place ❤️

[@ruthaisling]

So happy to hear that, it’s always my aim with the videos!

[@HempsteadGaz]

I can truly think of worse places to be stuck. Just pray for you that your return crossing isn't as lumpy as Amsterdam- Newcastle!

[@ruthaisling]

Haha maybe being stuck on the island wasn’t all it’s cracked up to be 😂

[@steveforster9764]

My buddy spent time as the medic with the British army on the island back in the 70s he enjoyed the tour😮

[@ruthaisling]

That’s interesting!

[@levistubbs8949]

That was some trip, it looked fantastic, your a brave person .

[@ruthaisling]

It was fantastic to finally visit!

[@dartwary318]

Thanks for your videos Ruth

[@ruthaisling]

Thanks so much for watching from Switzerland!

[@neilford99]

You made it! I read the Tom Steel book last week, great suggestion. I'm fascinated with the place and will try and get there next year, time and luck permitting.

[@ruthaisling]

So glad you read it and enjoyed it! Hope you can visit sometime!

[@oobenoob]

Oh I’ve been hoping for this video for a long time.❤

[@ruthaisling]

Hope you enjoyed it!

[@tombrown8281]

Hi a fantastic island with a lot of history thanks again for your video and keep your good work going 😘👍

[@ruthaisling]

Thanks Tom, such a fascinating history!

[@alanbinks6106]

Lovely VBlog, I've been waiting for you to "do" St Kilda and you are stranded. Stay safe.

[@ruthaisling]

Thank you, yes definitely more time on the island than planned haha!

[@alanbinks6106]

@@ruthaisling Enjoy, I'd love to get stranded on St. Kilda.

[@nairnloon]

Was hoping you’d do a St Kilda video! I did the same trip a couple of years ago, a truly magical place

[@ruthaisling]

Nice to hear you’ve visited too!

[@Diamondog186]

Greetings from Cat Spring Texas. Really enjoyed the video!

[@ruthaisling]

So glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for watching

[@coasttocoast23]

Another amazing video Ruth - St Kilda has been on my bucket list for a long time. I’m often over in Uist visiting relatives and have been booked to go twice, both called of due to bad weather. Maybe 3rd time lucky next time? Fingers crossed 🤞🏻 😀

[@ruthaisling]

Oh no, so sorry to hear about the cancellations but it does seem to happen often. I hope you can get there soon!

[@williamclarke1946]

Awesome video Ruth thanks again

[@ruthaisling]

Thanks for watching.

[@carltonv1]

Great video as always. Ruth you are amazing ❤

[@ruthaisling]

Thank you for watching!

[@philparker97]

The tension is killing me!

[@DrBenWiles]

I believe that the RAF Vulcans practised bombing on these islands when preparing for the raid on Port Stanley during the Falklands War. They had lots of complaints about the effect on the bird life. The MOD property was an observation post for the practice.

[@ruthaisling]

Oh that’s interesting 😮

[@debbierennox931]

I would love to visit st kilda ruth thank you for sharing ❤️

[@ruthaisling]

Hope you do sometime!

[@auntlynnonline6206]

Great video, Ruth. What an exquisite place! As for the Mousey, I think he was just looking to make a cameo appearance in a KZbin video. Or, perhaps, hoping you had a shot of whiskey to share? 😉

[@ruthaisling]

Hehe I think you are right!! 😂😂

[@rayg4360]

Did you tell the roofers to keep the noise down. That was a close shave,, nearly being savaged by that mouse .

[@ruthaisling]

Haha maybe 😂

[@itsmephil2255]

Not gonna lie Ruth, I thought those drying huts were little shelters, if people got caught in bad weather 😂😂😂 Love how you find these places we would never see 🫶🏼

[@ruthaisling]

Haha they would be so useful for that! Maybe to shelter in also if it’s raining too much!

[@itsmephil2255]

@@ruthaisling but not if they are going to fall on your head 😂 They look wide enough for 1 or 2 people

[@joannasliwa8147]

Hi ! I 'm planning on visiting this island . Love Scotland ( my partner is from Edinburgh) ❤ Greetings from Paris

[@ruthaisling]

Hope you can visit soon. It’s worth the effort!

[@yarrowsalmon]

Fair enjoyed that , very informative !

[@ruthaisling]

Glad to hear!

[@bertkelly7650]

Oh no! You're stuck on the island for days. Good thing you brought extra coffee.

[@ruthaisling]

Yes coffee is always needed haha!

[@pauljohn9911]

Love what upu do. History of where yo go very interesting. Please take care❤

[@ruthaisling]

Thank you Paul!

[@harley8680]

Ruth, what a fantastic video this was! I (as usual) learned so much! I feel a bit ignorant that I didn't know the main island was called Herta. Now, I have to think of St. Kilda totally different. So sorry about the wee (hahahaha) moose that got in your tent. YIKES! that is bigger then most rats! I was just about to say you were lucky there were no bronxies on the island and then BAM their they were...now I gotta sit and wait to make sure you made it off the island ok...thanks for the great video!! 😀😀😀

[@harley8680]

P.S. I checked where my Great Grandfather was born on my paternal grandmother side. He was born in Girvan (Murray surname) and married a girl from Saltcoats. they settled there...but I bet he knew who "Sawny Bean" was!!! LOL LOL😂

[@ruthaisling]

I thought it was a rat at first but there are no rats on the island!! They work really hard to make sure they don’t get on. Maybe you remember in the curling stone video I explained about what happened with the rats on Alisa Craig!

[@ruthaisling]

I’m sure they definitely knew of Sawney Bean 😂😂😂

[@declanconway2903]

Great video again Ruth when I was in Scotland I visited the grotto in Motherwell have you ever been

[@ruthaisling]

No never been there…. Do you recommend it? 😂

[@davidjones6470]

Ruth you and them bloody birds, you don't have much luck with them 🤣🤣🤣

[@ruthaisling]

Haha I know, they always seem to be after me! 😂

[@davidperrott5743]

Interesting that one of the residents in the cemetery was from Bray. On Irish islands the tradition was that women left the island to marry while men married women from the mainland so maybe the same applied in Scotland. This avoided inbreeding and had the side effect that surnames died out.

[@ruthaisling]

I spotted that as I have family who live in Bray and thought what?!? That’s interesting to hear about that tradition

[@pjdoyler1]

Love the videos, great views!

[@ruthaisling]

Glad you like them! Thanks so much for watching!

[@agnoopinni]

I have discovered both your channel and Scottish Summiteer lately and I've really been enjoying the Scottish adventures and scenery!!! Thank you for sharing and brightening up the internet with your lovely personality and adventures, really would love to visit the Emerald Isles one day 💚

[@ruthaisling]

Thanks so much for watching! Hope you do visit sometime!

[@jake_aerodrome_leather]

We really enjoy watching your travels. We also really really hope you carry a Personal Locator Beacon (PLB) for an added measure of safety.

[@ruthaisling]

Thanks Jake, I'm glad you enjoy the videos!

[@StrudlePie]

Ruth.... You deserve the best back rubs and snuggles. Love all yer videos and please keep at it lass! 💖🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿💪🤘

[@ruthaisling]

Haha thanks for watching!

[@pauljohn9911]

You're welcome sorry I misspelled certain words. If you don't mind me saying you're lovely and a great person .I wish you well and future adventures are good 👍

[@ruthaisling]

Thanks so much Paul!

[@pauljohn9911]

@@ruthaisling stay safe

[@micky1311]

another lovely video. doing great

[@ruthaisling]

Thanks so much!

[@RuebenNomura]

Morning from that was a good video good job

[@ruthaisling]

Thank you!

[@69spook]

I'm quite partial to Puffin pie & chips .... 😂

[@ruthaisling]

Sounds lovely 😂😂

[@sirkitchalott]

🏍️ Facinating, ty!

[@ruthaisling]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@alimitchell5346]

its a good book...by the you will understand why st kildans had no choice.. good video.🙏

[@ruthaisling]

Very good book! I finished it the other day!

[@whoflungdung1046]

That's my idea of paradise... Wish I was there with you.

[@ruthaisling]

To be honest it would have been nice if you were there. It got a bit lonely haha

[@terencephillips6833]

Oh dear Ruth it looks like you and the little mouse are going to get better aquainted

[@ruthaisling]

Yes for sure. 😂😂

[@Colin32269]

Cheers from Canada Ruth,will be headed to St.Kildas island next year for afew days❤

[@ruthaisling]

Oh lovely! Hope you have a good time there!

[@Colin32269]

£500.00!! Maaaaybe I'm not going now lol,am still moving to Scotland in February though.Cheers love your program❤

[@edelweissquiltingembroider1761]

Lovely video. How did you cook on the island?

[@ruthaisling]

I brought a camp stove!

[@agnoopinni]

I 🤎 the St Kilda huge mouse so cute

[@ruthaisling]

The mouse grew on me to be honest. At first I wasn’t a fan but it was nice to have a little pet for a few days. I named him Mousey.

[@iohann.bab.7042]

Πολύ όμορφη περιοχή.

[@davidfinney-gm3ij]

I love this video. Thank you?

[@ruthaisling]

Thank you too!

[@davidfinney-gm3ij]

@@ruthaisling What is the weather like in Scotland darling?

[@caw25sha]

I hope these people were able to make something of their lives. I wonder whether their descendants have any feel for their heritage and ancestory.

[@ruthaisling]

The book goes into detail about the lives of the people who left. It’s very interesting and I recommend reading the book!

[@Vanu-i4o]

I always wonder why no one planted trees.

[@ruthaisling]

I think the weather is way too wild there!! In the book I read that the winds are so strong they have destroyed so many buildings, military equipment and even pulled boats off their moorings into the rocks

[@EgoChip]

I wanted to live there, until you pointed out the military base. Why do they have to spoil everything?

[@davidcole8268]

Could the islanders make use of any vegetation, dig they dig peat to burn, could the land support them indefinitely and sustainably, what effects do the sheep population have on the ecology?

[@ruthaisling]

Yes they dug peat and stored it in the cleats, I think I shared that in the video. It was my first time visiting the island so I’m not an expert. I suggest reading that book, there is so much information in there and maybe there is more information about the sheep studies online and the results of their findings.

[@Taterniac]

what did they burn in the fireplaces ?

[@ruthaisling]

Military things…

[@caw25sha]

Do the helicopters run a passenger service anyone can use as an alternative to the boat?

[@ruthaisling]

The helicopters are only for military I believe, not sure if you could bring your own?

[@FourwheelsMarvels]

❤

[@parttime9070]

Home of the dread lock 🐑.. Nice place to camp..

[@ruthaisling]

Hahah oh yes, those sheep were very dreadlocky

[@davidjones6470]

Bloody mouse as well, oooo 🤣🤣

[@ruthaisling]

That mouse 😂😂😂

[@Vanu-i4o]

Be careful before Keir Starmer gives it away to Pakistan lmao.

[@ruthaisling]

😂😂

[@kayjay9516]

This is really really interesting to see all the history - but £280 per person for a day trip or £500 for a one night stay 😮 Really National Trust?!

[@ruthaisling]

The national trust only charge £10 for camping. The boat trips are not operated by the national trust.

[@kayjay9516]

@@ruthaisling Ah ok, so it’s the boat people who need the 😮😮😮 😅. Although the National Trust must get money from somewhere? Really enjoyed the video tho, love the old photos and history.

[@mrfairsthename7470]

Stuck on St Kilda , no WIFI , no phone great , bet you were really doing back flips ! . Hang on why you not replied ?, oh wait your stuck ha ha , just kidding I am sure all eventuality's are covered , enjoy it .

[@ruthaisling]

Haha I was surprised to get stuck to be honest! But glad I had enough food…!

[@69spook]

The look on your face when there was no boat in the bay ...... 😮