Sailing Adventure to St Kilda & the Outer Islands

Sailing to St Kilda: Setting Off from Ullapool

Ullapool → Shiant Islands → Lewis & Harris → St Kilda (Hirta, Boreray, Dun, Soay) → Outer Hebrides

Depart from Ullapool on the west coast of Scotland aboard expedition yacht Zuza, setting course for the Outer Hebrides and the far-flung archipelago of St Kilda. The main focus of this voyage is to reach St Kilda by the second day (weather permitting) with Zuza making the most of favourable conditions to sail out into the Atlantic. The exact route will be shaped entirely by wind and weather, and the crew will plan each day’s sailing with guests as the voyage unfolds.

Along the way, the Shiant Islands offer a natural stopping point with their towering basalt columns alive with nesting seabirds and their ancient ruins speaking quietly of a long human past. If conditions allow, Zuza may also call in at Lewis and Harris, where white sand beaches and stark rocky hills patched in purple heather frame a landscape that feels entirely removed from the modern world. Each island adds a chapter to a voyage that builds steadily in remoteness and drama as St Kilda draws closer on the horizon.

Guests are encouraged to get involved with sailing Zuza throughout the voyage, taking the helm, helping with the sails, and learning to read the weather. Although participation is never mandatory, the experienced crew are always on hand to guide guests.

St Kilda: The Islands at the Edge of the World

There is no place like St Kilda. Towering out of the waters of the Atlantic, its cliffs and sea stacks are home to nearly one million seabirds, including the UK’s largest colony of Atlantic puffins. It is the UK’s only dual UNESCO World Heritage Site recognised for both its extraordinary natural heritage and its remarkable human story. Arriving here by boat, after an open water sailing passage in Atlantic waters, is an experience that very few people ever have.

Originally settled by humans four to five thousand years ago, the last remaining islanders were evacuated in 1930 at their own request, having undergone years of hardship and isolation, which had seen life there become untenable. Walking among the abandoned stone houses, cleitean, and field systems of Village Bay on Hirta today, with the sound of thousands of seabirds as the only backdrop, makes the weight of that history very much alive. The National Trust for Scotland greets all visitors on arrival, and the small museum and restored church offer a window into what life here once looked like.

Zuza aims to spend two to three days at St Kilda, exploring the main island of Hirta with picnic lunches provided for day walks, and viewing the other islands and stacks in the group – Dun, Soay, Boreray, Stac Lee, and Stac an Armi. The cliffs here are the highest in Britain, and the marine environment surrounding them is largely intact, the plunging underwater rock faces alive with sea life, making the water around the stacks as extraordinary as the land above it.

Wildlife in the Outer Hebrides & St Kilda

For wildlife, sailing to St Kilda puts you in the finest position in Britain. The waters of the Outer Hebrides are rich with marine life throughout the summer season. Common, bottlenose, and white-beaked dolphins are frequently encountered alongside the boat, with Risso’s and white-sided dolphins making the occasional appearance. Minke whales are the most reliably sighted cetacean in these waters, with humpbacks passing through on occasion. 

The scale of the seabird colonies at St Kilda is simply extraordinary, with over a million breeding seabirds on around 300,000 nests across 20 species, with Boreray and the Stacks holding a quarter of all northern gannets in the North Atlantic. Walking beneath those cliffs, the noise and movement of that many birds is an experience unlike anything on the British mainland.

Please note that St Kilda cannot be guaranteed – the wind and weather will determine the route, and guests’ safety is always paramount. 

Zuza is a modern expedition yacht purpose-built for live-aboard comfort. With a double hull and simple rig, she is notably smooth and steady on the water, making her an excellent choice for guests who may be new to sailing or who simply want to enjoy the scenery without the motion of a more traditional vessel. Her undercover wheelhouse means sailing continues comfortably, whatever the Scottish weather brings.

Below decks, eight guests sleep in four private cabins: two double-ensuite cabins and two twin-berth cabins sharing a bathroom. The spacious saloon is the heart of the boat, a comfortable, welcoming space for getting to know fellow guests, swapping stories, and enjoying delicious food prepared by the onboard chef. Guest participation in sailing is entirely optional, though warmly encouraged for those who want to learn the ropes.

• Cabins: Two private double ensuite cabins, two private twin-berth cabins
• Meals: Full board – delicious food prepared daily by the onboard chef
• Sailing style: Fully crewed – participation optional but always welcome
• Wildlife: Quiet approach specifically suited to close wildlife encounters
• Suitability: Solo travellers, couples, small groups and private charters

Things to note

Sailing vs Shore time

Do I need to take part in night watches?

Are there midges in Scotland?

Travel insurance notes

As this is an active adventure holiday, we advise that everyone has the appropriate personal accident travel insurance whilst onboard in addition to standard travel insurance which would cover you in the time between making your booking and departing for your adventure. These policies can sometimes be combined so please check with your travel insurance provider.

Please read more information on our Insurance guidelines page.

This voyage will be more than 12 miles offshore.