St Kilda Viewpoint

As you drive along the western coast of North Uist, you may spot two larger islands in the distance - these are Hirta and Boreray, which make up the St Kilda archipelago. It may not look like it, but the islands are really far away, about 40 miles out from the shore.

While you can actually see the islands from the main road, there is a really nice viewpoint just 2 miles east from the A865, near the summit of Clettraval Hill. The viewpoint itself is not very high, but it’s a great view nonetheless, not only of the St Kilda archipelago, but the western coastline of North Uist as well. The view can be particularly impressive around sunset time, as the sun setting in the west really brings out the iconic contours of Hirta and Boreray.

St Kilda is probably the most remote location you can visit in Scotland. The archipelago is a rare double UNESCO World Heritage Site (both natural and cultural). It’s home to an abandoned settlement, as well as the tallest sea cliffs in the UK, and it’s a seabird paradise. You can visit St Kilda on boat tours departing from either Stein (on Isle of Skye) or Leverburgh (South Harris). These tours don’t come cheap (around £240-£260 per person), but it’s not something you do everyday. We did book a tour when we travelled around Skye and the Outer Hebrides in late September 2020, however the trip got cancelled due to covid restrictions at the time. Hopefully one day I will be able to write an entire post on St Kilda. For now, this view is all I’ve got.