Map of St Kilda

St Kilda is a small group of islands about 40 miles west of Benbecula in the Western Isles. The four islands which make up the group are Hirta (the main island), Soay, Dun and Boreray.<br /> St Kilda has been more or less continuously occupied for the last 2000 years but the last native St Kildans were evacuated from the island at their own request in 1930. A gradual loss of self-sufficiency had begun in the 19th century. During the First World War there were regular deliveries of mail and food for the naval detachment on Hirta, but the islanders were demoralised when these supplies were cut off after the war.<br /> In 1957 St Kilda was left to the National Trust for Scotland by the 5th Marquis of Bute, to be managed by Scottish Natural Heritage. There is also a Ministry of Defence radar station on Hirta to monitor the Benbecula missile range. The islands now have a small population of military personnel, a ranger and visiting scientists. They are home to the world's largest gannet population, Britain's largest fulmar population and half of Britain's puffins.<br /> <br /> This map shows the main island and its settlements at around 1764. It is from 'The History of St Kilda', by Rev Kenneth MacAulay (1764)