This map is from 'A Late Voyage to St Kilda, the Remotest of all the Hebrides, or Western Isles of Scotland', by Martin Martin, one of the first tourists to publish an account of his travels in Scotland. St Kilda is made up of the four islands of Hirta (the main island), Dun, Soay and Boreray. They lie about 41 miles west of Benbecula in the Western Isles. The main centre of population is located at Village Bay. The St Kildan men were skilled rock climbers (they climbed barefoot) and much of their food was collected from the stupendous cliffs that rise a thousand feet sheer out of the ocean. Gulls eggs and young gannets or gugas were a vital part of their food supply along with fulmars for their oil used for lighting and cooking.
The islands hold much archaeological evidence of Viking settlement and even of early Bronze Age settlers. During the 19th century, more visitors came to St Kilda and people became less self-sufficient. In 1930 the St Kildans requested that they be evacuated to the mainland.
The islands were left to the National Trust for Scotland on the death of the Marquis of Bute in 1956. They are now managed by Scottish Natural Heritage. St Kilda is home to the world's largest gannet population, Britain's largest fulmar population and half of Britain's puffins. The island's human population now consists of military personnel, a warden, scientists and visitors.
Click to enlarge the image, read the text then answer the following questions.
Questions
- When did Martin Martin visit St. Kilda and how long ago is that?
- What do you think makes St. Kilda such a tourist attraction even today (there are at least three tourist attractions)?
- See what you can find out about another of these early travellers : choose from Thomas Pennant or Boswell & Johnson (use the Search option)