The Story of Ionad Hiort | St Kilda Centre

Ionad Hiort | St Kilda Centre began with a shared dream - to create a lasting tribute to St Kilda and its people and to tell their stories in a way that honours the past while inspiring the future. Rooted in the community of Uig, this vision has grown through collaboration, determination and a deep respect for culture and landscape

’S e seo an tir as gràdhaich’, ’s as àillidh leam fon ghrèin

This is the most beloved land, the most beautiful under the sun

How It All Began | Mar a thòisich e

In response to a shared ambition to create a centre that would honour and interpret the remarkable story of St Kilda, four public agencies - Highlands and Islands Enterprise, Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, VisitScotland and the National Gaelic Arts Agency - joined forces with the National Trust for Scotland, the owners of St Kilda, to launch a competition across the Outer Hebrides.

The aim was to identify the most fitting location for a St Kilda Centre. The proposal from Uig, on the Isle of Lewis, was unanimously chosen for its historic connections and, crucially, because of the line of sight from the site to St Kilda on the horizon. With that decision, the Ionad Hiort | St Kilda Centre Board was created and the project began to take shape.

Over the past decade, the project has achieved a series of important milestones. With support from funders, architects and cultural partners, Ionad Hiort | St Kilda Centre has moved from concept design to achieving full planning permission. Each stage has been guided by the same core principles - respect for heritage, sustainability and community benefit.

Mar fhreagairt do mhiann co-roinnte ionad a chruthachadh a bheireadh urram do sgeulachd iongantach Hiort agus a mhìnicheadh i, chaidh ceithir buidhnean poblach - Iomairt na Gàidhealtachd agus nan Eilean, Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, VisitScotland agus Buidheann Nàiseanta nan Ealan Gàidhlig - còmhla ri Urras Nàiseanta na h-Alba, sealbhadairean Hiort, gus farpais a chuir air bhog air feadh Innse Gall.

B’ e an t-amas an t-àite as freagarraiche a chomharrachadh airson Ionad Hiort. Chaidh moladh à Ùig a thaghadh gu h-aon-ghuthach air sgàth nan ceanglaichean eachdraidheil ris an eilean agus, gu deatamach, leis gun robh loidhne-sheallaidh bhon làraich gu Hiorta air fàire. Leis a’ cho-dhùnadh sin, chaidh Bòrd Ionad Hiort a chruthachadh agus thòisich am pròiseact a’ gabhail cruth.

Thar na deich bliadhna a dh’fhalbh, tha am pròiseact air sreath de chlachan-mìle cudromach a choileanadh. Le taic bho luchd-maoineachaidh, ailtirean agus com-pàirtichean cultarail, tha Ionad Hiort air gluasad bho dhealbhadh bun-bheachd gu làn chead dealbhaidh fhaighinn. Tha gach ìre air a bhith air a stiùireadh leis na h-aon phrionnsabalan bunaiteach - spèis do dhualchas, seasmhachd agus buannachd coimhearsnachd.

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A large rocky island with steep cliffs rises from the water, with a mountain in the background, covered in green vegetation, and a seagull flying overhead against a cloudy sky.

Clachan-mìle air an t-slighe

Milestones along the way

Key Milestones

  • 2013–2015: Uig’s proposal selected; Ionad Hiort Board formed.

  • 2015 - The St Kilda Centre, A World Class Idea Report by James Rebanks is published.

  • 2016–2019: Feasibility studies and design exploration. Masterplans published.

  • 2020–2021: Appointment of project managers (Gardiner & Theobald) and design team (Dualchas Architects and Reiulf Ramstad Arkitekter).

  • 2022–2023: Development of detailed design and visitor experience concepts.

  • 2024– Planning permission granted

  • Present: Strengthening partnerships, fundraising and preparing for delivery.

“St Kilda is the only World Heritage Site in the UK with Dual UNESCO status for both its cultural and natural landscape and it is internationally recognised as iconic of islands. The St Kilda Centre will open up new digital media approaches to heritage interpretation and pioneer new forms of remote-access to the benefit of visitors and other heritage sites worldwide. UNESCO Scotland welcomes this celebration of world heritage and a very special place.”

— Joanne Orr Chair. UNESCO Scotland

A black and white photo of a woman and a boy standing outdoors on the grass, both holding ducks by their necks. The woman has a headscarf and is accompanied by a dog. In the background, a young girl is carrying a display of many ducks.
Black and white photograph of a large rocky sea stack with a smaller rock formation in the background, surrounded by water and seagulls flying overhead.
Black and white photograph of two men in a small boat with oars navigating through rough waters near a large rock.
Three men and one woman standing on a wooden platform by a river, with two of the men holding large guns pointed downward, and the woman looking into a box or container, surrounded by boxes and bags.
A black and white photo of a woman and a boy holding fish on a shoreline, with children in the background by the water, and rocky formations in the distance.
Black-and-white photo of an elderly man with a beard, wearing a flat cap, dark jacket, and rolled-up pants, carrying a backpack and holding a rope, walking on a grassy field.

The Team Behind Ionad Hiort | St Kilda Centre | An Sgioba air cùl Ionad Hiort

The project brings together expertise from across Scotland and beyond - architects, engineers, designers, cultural specialists and community representatives all working in partnership. Guided by the St Kilda Centre | Ionad Hiort Board, the team shares a commitment to creating something exceptional: a centre that celebrates heritage, supports the community and inspires visitors from around the world.

Tha am pròiseact a’ toirt còmhla ealantais bho air feadh Alba agus nas fhaide air falbh - ailtirean, innleadairean, dealbhadairean, eòlaichean cultarail agus riochdairean coimhearsnachd uile ag obair ann an com-pàirteachas. Air a stiùireadh le Bòrd Ionad Hiort, tha an sgioba eudmhor gus rudeigin sònraichte a chruthachadh: ionad a bhios a’ comharrachadh dualchas, a’ toirt taic don choimhearsnachd agus a’ brosnachadh luchd-tadhail bho air feadh an t-saoghail.

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Looking Ahead | A’ coimhead air adhart

Ionad Hiort | St Kilda Centre now stands on the threshold of realisation. As design and fundraising progress, the vision remains clear: to create a world-class centre that tells the story of St Kilda, strengthens the community of Uig and connects people everywhere to this remarkable place at the edge of the Atlantic.

Tha Ionad Hiort a-nis a’ seasamh air starsaich buileachaidh. Mar a bhios dealbhadh is togail-airgid a’ dol air adhart, tha an lèirsinn fhathast soilleir: ionad ionmholta a chruthachadh a dh’innseas sgeulachd Hiort, a neartaicheas coimhearsnachd Ùig agus a cheanglas daoine ris an àite iongantach seo air oir a’ Chuain Shiar.