The Boat: Enchanted Isle
Our purpose-built Redbay Stormforce 1650.
St Kilda Trip
Boat trips to St.Kilda can run up to 6 times times per week if weather is favourable, they generally run from April to September, but if weather allows they can also run into early October. Trips depart from Leverburgh harbour at 8am and returning around 7.15pm with 4.5 - 5 hours ashore, journey time each way is approx 2.5 hours. For more details on how the trip runs please see our Booking Page and our Frequently Asked Questions page.
Read/see Bill Bailey’s St Kilda experience with Sea Harris
For the first half hour of the journey the boat heads west from Leverburgh through the Islands of the Sound of Harris. When clear of the Sound you can admire to the north the mountains of North Harris, Scarp, and the island of Taransay where the BBC filmed the reality television programme Castaway. To the south you can look back on the 3 mile long West Beach on Berneray and down to Griminish on North Uist, on a clear day you can see as far down as Beinn Mhor on South Uist . Further out we'll pass the rugged Hasgeir Islands to the south of us and from there on it’s the open waters of the Atlantic until the boat arrives at St.Kilda. At the halfway point we cross the West of Hebrides Deep Water Tanker Lane where we occasionally have to dodge huge 50,000 tonne tankers.
On the Island
Upon arrival at Village Bay we then have to transfer to a 5m tender for going ashore, for biosecurity reasons we are not allowed to moor up alongside the pier and only small open boats are allowed in, Echanted Isle was built specifically with this in mind and we have a boarding platform at the stern to make getting in and out of the tender as simple and safe as possible, once ashore passengers are free to explore the main island at their leisure. You will be issued with a map and guide before you go ashore, and greeted by the National Trust Ranger who is resident on St Kilda for the summer. The boat crew and the National Trust Ranger are both available for any questions you may have about the island.
The St.Kilda museum, school and church provide a fascinating insight into the St Kildans’ way of life prior to their evacuation. The remains of the village, the graveyard and Second World War gun are all must see attractions.
The more ambitious traveller can embark upon scaling the slopes of Conachair & Oisebhal, to witness the breathtaking views from the top of the highest sea cliffs in the UK. The beach and village bay are perfect places to relax and soak up the atmosphere after a day's sightseeing.
There are toilet facilities for visitors on the island (and on the boat). The National Trust souvenir shop opens for visitors just prior to our scheduled departure.
On your return to the boat in the afternoon we provide refreshments and a slice of Eleanor's homemade gingerbread. Note that lunch is not provided and there are no catering facilities on the island, so you must remember to bring a packed lunch! If you wish a packed lunch made for you we can recomend Lunchbox Hebrides.
Once the tea, coffee and cake have been served, we take you for a further tour around Boreray before returning home to Leverburgh. No visit to St.Kilda is complete without the breathtaking tour of Boreray and it's Stacs. This is the highlight of the St.Kilda trip and Sea Harris excel at ensuring this is a once in a lifetime passenger experience.
Private Charters
Whole boat charters for up to 12 passengers