Village Bay, Hirta (Etching)

My deceptively peaceful view of Sapphire at anchor in the middle of Village Bay, the only sheltered anchorage on Hirta, the main island of St Kilda. Sheltered is a relative term. From the shore, and high up on the steep slopes, we could see the water constantly ruffled by gusts of wind from all directions. Hirta is an old, old extinct volcano, hence the circular bay surrounded by steep hills. The wild Soay sheep were much in evidence, they do their thing untroubled by humans now. There were a surprising number of people on this uninhabited island, with a National Trust for Scotland Warden greeting our dinghy as we arrived at the jetty, then shortly afterwards a group of tourists from the Hebridean Princess. Infectious diseases from visiting cruise ships had a lot to do with the original St Kildans eventually being evacuated in the 1930's. It's a sad place, but very beautiful. Historic relic of a (much) simpler way of life and a different view of the world, here on the very western edge of the British islands.