The Visitor Experience
A journey into the heart of St Kilda’s story
At Ionad Hiort | St Kilda Centre, the story of St Kilda will be brought to life through a world-class immersive exhibition. Blending cutting-edge technology with archival material, it will explore the ancient Hebridean way of life in all its depth: survival and hardship, joy and hope, faith and tradition. Designed for all ages, the exhibition will offer a compelling encounter with a community whose story continues to resonate around the world.
From this foundation, the exhibition unfolds room by room, guiding visitors through the textures, stories and landscapes that shaped St Kildan life.
Aig Ionad Hiort, thèid sgeulachd Hiort a thoirt beò tro thaisbeanadh nach fhacas a shamhail a-riamh. Le bhith a’ measgachadh teicneòlas ùr-nodha le stuth tasglainn, nì e sgrùdadh mionaideach air dòigh-beatha àrsaidh Innse Gall: mairsinn beò agus cruadal, gàirdeachas agus dòchas, creideamh agus traidisean. Air a dhealbhadh airson gach aois, bheir an taisbeanadh cothrom inntinneach dhut coinneachadh ri coimhearsnachd aig a bheil sgeulachd a tha a’ dùsgadh fhaireachdainnean is aignidhean làidir ann an daoine air feadh an t-saoghail.
Bhon bhunait seo, bidh an taisbeanadh ag innse an sgeòil seòmar às dèidh seòmar, a’ stiùireadh luchd-tadhail tro na h-innich, na sgeulachdan agus na cruthan-tìre a thug buaidh air beatha Hiort.
Walk through the Ionad Hiort | St Kilda Story
On the Cliffs | Air na Creagan
Visitors will begin by stepping into a space that feels as if the cliffs rise around them - birds overhead, waves below and the island’s history slowly appearing through sound and light.
Tòisichidh neach-tadhail le bhith a’ dol a-steach gu àite a tha a’ faireachdainn mar gum biodh na creagan ag èirigh mun cuairt orra - eòin os an cionn, tonnan gu h-ìosal agus eachdraidh an eilein a’ nochdadh mean air mhean tro fhuaim is solas.
Daily Life | Beatha Làitheil
The main exhibition space will draw visitors into the ebb and flow of island life. A large illuminated map of the islands will become the stage upon which the seasons unfold, from the return of spring birds to the busy summer work and the gathering of the autumn harvest.
Bidh am prìomh àite-taisbeanaidh a’ tarraing neach-tadhail a-steach do shruth is tràghadh beatha an eilein. Bidh clàr-dùthcha mòr de na h-eileanan soillsichte mar àrd-ùrlar air am bi na ràithean a’ sgaoileadh bho thilleadh nan eun as t-earrach gu obair thrang an t-samhraidh agus cruinneachadh an fhoghair.
Side Stories | Taobh-Sgeul
Smaller alcoves will invite visitors into personal moments, allowing for a more in-depth treatment of specific stories including - the St Kildan home, births, childhood games, boats and landing places, faith and the importance of religion in everyday life, school and education.
Bidh caibineatan nas lugha a’ toirt cuireadh do luchd-tadhail a dhol a-steach do mhòmaidean pearsanta a leigeas làimhseachadh nas doimhne a dhèanamh air sgeulachdan sònraichte, a’ gabhail a-steach - dachaigh Hiort, breith, geamannan leanabachd, bàtaichean agus àiteachan-tìr, creideamh agus cudromachd creideimh ann am beatha làitheil, sgoil agus foghlam.
Ocean Room | Seòmar a’ Chuain
A pathway of Gaelic words will lead into a breathtaking window opening onto the Atlantic ocean.
Bidh slighe de dh’fhaclan Gàidhlig a’ leantainn a-steach do dh’uinneig iongantach a’ fosgladh a-mach air a’ Chuan Shiar.
The Final Chapter | An Caibideil Deireannach
Visitors will explore the pressures that shaped the decline of the community: hardship, changing economies, war and emigration. A quiet room will recreate the final moments on Hirta: a peat fire, an open Bible and the voices of Evacuees. The journey ends by asking what became of the islanders - and what their story means for remote communities today.
Bidh luchd-tadhail a’ sgrùdadh nan cuideaman a thug buaidh air crìonadh a’ choimhearsnachd: cruadalachd, an eaconomaidh ag atharrachadh, cogadh agus eilthireachd. Seòmar sàmhach a bhios ag ath-chruthachadh na mionaidean mu dheireadh air Hirta: teine mòna, Bìoball fosgailte agus guthan nan daoine a chaidh fhalmhachadh Tha an turas a’ tighinn gu crìch le bhith a’ faighneachd dè thachair do mhuinntir an eilein - agus dè tha an sgeulachd aca a’ ciallachadh do choimhearsnachdan iomallach an-diugh.
DISCOVERY ZONE
The Discovery Zone will be a hands on space where curiosity leads the way. It will invite visitors, especially younger visitors, to explore St Kilda through play, imagination and shared experience. Here, stories, wildlife, materials and traditional skills will come to life through touch, movement and creative experimentation.
Anns an Sòn seo bithidh iongantas a’ stiùireadh na slighe. Gheibh luchd-tadhail, gu h-àraidh an fheadhainn as òige againn, Hiort a rannsachadh tro chluich, mac-meanmna agus eòlas co-roinnte. Ann a seo, thig sgeulachdan, fiadh-bheatha, stuthan agus sgilean traidiseanta beò tro suathadh, gluasad agus deuchainnean cruthachail.
This is a place to build, to make, to ask questions and to try things for yourself. Children can discover how the island’s geography and wildlife shaped everyday life, learn how people navigated by the stars, examine rocks and natural materials and engage in open-ended play inspired by St Kilda’s remarkable landscape.
‘S e àite airson a bhith a’cruthachadh agus airson ceistean fhaighneachd agus airson rudan dha clann fheuchainn dhaibh fhèin. Faodaidh clann faighinn a-mach mar a thug cruinn-eòlas agus fiadh-bheatha Hiort buaidh air beatha làitheil. Gheibh iad cothrom ionnsachadh mu mar a bha daoine a’ sheòladh leis na reultan, gheibh iad sgrùdadh a dhèanamh air creagan agus stuthan nàdarra agus a dhol an sàs ann an cluich fosgailte air a bhrosnachadh le cruth-tìre iongantach Hiort.
Alongside drop-in play, the Discovery Zone will also host activity sessions for all ages. These sessions shine a light on cultural heritage skills: the practical knowledge and techniques that helped generations survive and thrive in one of the world’s most remote communities. These skills range from stone masonry, boatbuilding and basketry to spinning, weaving, ropemaking and the oral traditions of storytelling, poetry, song and dance. Visitors will be encouraged to try, make, handle materials and connect with traditions that were once essential for daily life.
An lùib sin bidh seiseanan gnìomhachd anns an Sòn airson gach aois. Soillsichidh seo sgilean tradaiseanta cultarail: an t-eòlas agus na dòighean practaigeach a chuidich ginealaichean a bhith beo agus soirbheachadh ann an aon de na coimhearsnachdan as iomallaiche san t-saoghal. Tha na sgilean sin a’ dol bho clachairach, togail bhàtaichean agus basgaidean gu snìomh, fighe, dèanamh ròpa agus traidiseanan de sgeulachdan, bàrdachd, ceòl agus dannsa. Thèid brosnachadh a thoirt do luchd-tadhail feuchainn ri stuthan a dhèanamh, a làimhseachadh agus ceangal a dhèanamh ri traidiseanan a bha uaireigin riatanach airson beatha làitheil.
Visitors will not only learn what life on St Kilda required, but why these skills matter today and how preserving this knowledge helps keep culture and identity alive.
Chan e a-mhàin gun ionnsaich luchd-tadhail dè a bha feumail do bith-beò na Hiortich, ach carson a tha na sgilean seo cudromach an-diugh, agus mar a chuidicheas gleidheadh an eòlais seo le bhith a’ cumail cultar agus dearbh-aithne beò.
