I sailed out to St kilda is 1998 and always want to come back, not enough time was spent there .hope to see you next year!

I've just spent a wonderful week in St Kilda, and it was so different from anything I had expected. We went all over the island, and have never seen anything like it. The cliffs were spectacular, and although some of the climbing was a bit difficult sometimes, it was worth every bit of it. I also took a few hours of film, which I will edit and add to YouTube when I have more time, so keep on the lookout. Thanks to Bill, the ranger and all the 'sheepies' for being so kind and helpful. I'll be back.

I have been fotunate to vist on a few occasions - last visit in the mid eighties having looked around the island on each visit
Have post cards that have been posted from there & stamped with the St Kilda frank
Get your hands on the book life & death of St Kilda you will read it over & over
Truly an aweinspiring beautifull Island
If any place u must see in your life this is it
Pete

FINALLY ACHIEVED A LIFE LONG AMBITION TO VISIT ST KILDA AND IT DIDN'T DISAPPOINT! THANKS TO SEAMUS AND KENNETH ON SEA HARRIS IT WAS TRULY AWESOME.
A MAGNIFICENT DAY ONE WE WILL NEVER FORGET.
THE GANNET COLONIES HAVE TO BE SEEN TO BE BELIEVED. THANKS ALSO TO THE NTS RANGER - A MAN FULFILLED!

Final part of message started 15/08/08 (honest). The probability is that the midwives assisting at the birth or even the mother were causing the umbilical cord to be infected by dust from their clothing or person. However by the late 1800’s this problem was identified and a district nurse trained the midwives in proper practice and the number of tetanus deaths in infant birth reduced to nil.
Trust this has not bored you all.

Travelled to St Kilda this week with my son, Kyle. We went with Beyond the Blue Horizan on the yacht Elinca - a brilliant and highly recommended journey with excellent facilities and crew.
St Kilda exceeded all expectations - both from an historical and natural perspective. We were fotunate with fine weather and from the summit of Conachair had a magnificant 360 degree panorama of the horizon. The sea stacks and birdlife were awe inspiring and the village reflected the inevitablity of change and the incrediably harsh life endured by the St Kildans.
A real privilege to visit such a special place.

Continuation from message 15/08/08. Soil from these areas showed a different result. Every sample showed high levels of Clostridium Tetani. Where did this come from? The sea birds!! For generations the St Kildans dug the carcasses of countless sea birds into the fields around the village and enclosures. The birds had absorbed trace elements (zinc, lead, cadmium, mercury) from the natural environment of the sea and fish. When their carcasses were interred and dug over these elements went into the earth. Before 1860 people lived in old black houses with the livestock at one end and people at the other. The floor consisted of bird bone, soot, ash and animal dung. The ash came from peat full of chlorine. When the peat burnt it gave of dioxins – very toxic. Every year this flooring went to the arable ground. The St Kildans were living on an environmental time bomb.

The probability is that the midwives assisting at the birth or even the mother were causing the umbilical cord to be infected by dust from their

I have just read 'The life and death of St Kilda' by Tom Steele and I find these tiny islands facinating, trying to imagine what life must of been like for the St Kildans, a life so different to the mainland and so unique. Shame that they survived for so long then their existance was over, they coped with adversity and everything life put them through until MONEY came into their lives.

Further to earlier comments about midwives and Fulmar oil causing infant death the following summary may be of interest. In 1928 a theory was put forward by Dr George Gibson that the main suspect was the fulmar oil and that this oil was being used to seal the umbilical cord at birth. No outsider had witnessed a birth and the sealing of the umbilical cord by fulmar oil was speculative. There was no scientific evidence for this theory.

2-3 years ago scientific investigations were undertaken by Dr Ian Poxton of Edinburgh UMS. Fulmar oil was sent for analysis and a surprising answer came back. There was no tetanus in the oil. There has been a lot of discussion as to the prevalence of tetanus on St Kilda and its place in its downfall. Where did it come from and how did it get such a hold on the community?
Soil samples were then studied. The first tests showed that the soil was of poor quality – few nutrients. However St Kilda has large enclosures where the arable crops were grown and each crofter had his own

Have been interested in this farthest island for a while, especially after hearing about how the villagers had finally to leave for ever in 1930. Also interested in the sea bird populations.I hope some day to go out there on a tourist boat.

I had never heard about St Kilda until I saw the BBC's 'Lost World', since then I've been fascinated with the history and culture of the island, when I first saw the show, I didn't realise this was a Scottish Island because the scenery was so much more stunning than I'm used to! I think's it's a shame that there are none of the orginal inhabitants left onthe island and hope in the future the island will be re-opulated

i liked my tour round st. kilda with the fisheries protection agency boats when thay called into villagebay. i got excited when the skipper said that we could lounch our small boat to go shore side we would spend a few hours looking round the sites and the shop so we can buy st.kilda jumpers and small gifts to take home. i always enjoyed my we visits to st.kilda and would love to go bk and see see some time. yours james.

I don’t remember how i found your website (i must have been looking up something else) but i’ve been coming for awhile and reading your entries.  Its always entertaining and i enjoy reading your thoughts.

Just tried (and failed) for the second time to get to St. Kilda. Spent most of my time inshore at Harris before the big push 1 week ago today. V.V. choppy, so 21 miles out abandoned it. You might think that was disappointing, but had just seen Killer Whale and now have a reason (although my wife says an excuse) to go back next year. I'll get there.

Alan

ever since watching THE LOST WORLD i have wanted to vist but this site helped me with history and i wonder if there is any people still living they must have interesting storys to tell

Yes, I would like to know if there are any St Kildans alive today, what stories do they have to tell?

Must be fascinating!

If anyone would like a photo of a close up of one of the gravestones on the island please get in touch.

There seems to be a slight ambiguity in the text between the answers to:
Are there any original St Kildans left?
Are any of the evacuees still alive?
(unless the latter refers to incomers).

There is a graveyard on St. Kilda. I have a slide showing it and a close up of one of the gravestones. I was there for 3 months with the R.A.F. in the Summer of 1959.

Having recently seen the very good bbc prog. im wondering what is it like to work in st kilda? thank you
EDITOR: Have a look at the Ranger's Diary - click on the box on the lower right of the home page.