You are here: Visiting St Kilda Visiting St Kilda Advice for Visitors Cruise ships Charter Boats Visit by Yacht Work Parties
Getting to St Kilda is not easy, but those who are persistent can find a variety of ways to achieve their goal. Many visits to St Kilda begin in the Western Isles, you may wish to find out more about this fascinating area and plan your trip by visiting www.culturehebrides.com Usually visitors get to St Kilda by joining one of the following:	Boreray and the Stacs in heavy seas Photograph: Rohan Holt
Charter boats     (click for a list of charter boat operators) Charter boats operate from various ports, including Mallaig and Oban. For details of times and prices, you should contact the charter boat operators directly. The journey time is dependent on weather and tide conditions, as well as the type of boat chartered. A motor vessel from Oban, for example, will probably take around 14 hours minimum to travel to St Kilda. From the Western Isles it might be around 8 hours.
Visits by yachts Visitors are welcome to travel to St Kilda by sea using their own transport, such as a private boat or yacht. It is helpful if independent travellers contact the Trust with details of intended travel plans, particularly details of landing and departure times. National Trust for Scotland Balnain House 40 Huntly Street Inverness IV3 5HR Tel: 01463 232 034 PLEASE NOTE THE FOLLOWING POINTS: If firm arrangements are made to visit the island you must inform The National Trust for Scotland, Balnain House, 40 Huntly Street, Inverness, IV3 5HR who will in turn inform the seasonal ranger of any intended visits. The only accommodation on the island for visitors is a small campsite, which takes a maximum of 6 people. Campsite booking details and availability can be obtained from the above office. Dogs (and other domesticated animals) are not permitted on the islands. All visitors to the island should contact the Ranger on arrival. Please try to avoid visiting on Tuesdays and Fridays, as these are supply days.
Work Parties National Trust for Scotland work parties have been making the long sea journey to this island archipelago for fifty years. The work parties are a working holiday with members participating in essential conservation work; this may include repairing stone walls, turf roof repairs, clearing drains and repainting as well as helping with the day-to–day running of the island. The work parties normally take place between May and July. An experienced leader heads each party of ten members, directing their labour and providing instruction and guidance on the work to be undertaken; a cook prepares all meals during the party's stay on the island. Six cottages in the Village Street, originally built in the 1860s, have been restored to be used for accommodation, storage and a small museum.
St Kilda work parties attract people with many different interests – some are looking for a different kind of conservation holiday, others are enthusiastic about the history or bird life of St Kilda, and others just want to spend time on this isolated island. Over the years hundreds of people like you have enjoyed the unique experience of joining a National Trust for Scotland work party to St Kilda. No special skills are required, but you must be physically fit and a sense of humour is desirable! Parties are open to everyone aged 18 to 75 years old. For more information and feedback from work party members click here. If you are interested in volunteer and working holiday opportunities at other NTS properties please visit www.thistlecamps.org.uk or www.ntslocalgroups.org.uk	Work party members re-roofing house 6 in 1989 Photograph: Glasgow Museums
ST KILDA WORK PARTIES 2008 There will be three conservation work parties in 2008 running between the 16th May and 27th June. If you would like to apply then please send a SAE to: (A5 envelope will cost £0.34 or £0.24 any other size envelope will cost £0.48 or £0.40) St Kilda Work Party Co-ordinator National Trust for Scotland Balnain House 40 Huntly Street Inverness IV3 5HR Tel: 01463 232 034 Or download the form here and send it to the above address Need more information? - click here The closing date for applications is 1st February. Successful applicants will be notified by 1st March. Please ensure you have the correct postage on completed application forms. As a charity the National Trust for Scotland cannot accept post that requires additional postage and handling fee.