ST KILDA, SCOTLAND.-St Kilda, owned and managed by The National Trust for Scotland, has become one of only two-dozen global locations to be awarded World Heritage Status for both natural and cultural significance. The remote Hebridean Islands share this honour with natural and cultural wonders such as the Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu in Peru, Mount Athos in Greece and the Ukhahlamba/Drakensberg Park in South Africa.

Following the preparation of an extended Comparative Analysis, the UNESCO World Heritage Committee, meeting in Durban, South Africa, has accepted the extension to the existing marine and terrestrial natural heritage World Heritage inscriptions. The inscription will now include the ‘cultural landscape’ left by thousands of years of human occupation. The Comparative Analysis was prepared on behalf of the UK Government by The National Trust for Scotland, with support from Historic Scotland.

Already acknowledged for its magnificent physical beauty and its biological character, St Kilda has now been inscribed as a cultural record of a lost crofting community that once lived on what has been described as “the edge of the world”. The remoteness of the islands - 64 kilometres west of the Outer Hebrides, off the west coast of Scotland - and the limited human interference over 5 millennia means it represents a highly authentic example of a way of life, now lost.

UK Culture Minister David Lammy said: “The human heritage of St Kilda makes it a unique and mysterious place. It is right that this cultural significance be recognised alongside its natural environment, and I am delighted that UNESCO have added this to its World Heritage inscription.”

Minister for Tourism, Culture and Sport in Scotland, Patricia Ferguson said:“I am delighted that the World Heritage Committee has recognised the cultural importance of St Kilda at its annual meeting in Durban. The extended inscription on the World Heritage list recognises the outstanding universal value of the cultural as well as the natural environment of St Kilda. The story of St. Kilda is unique. For more than 5000 years a community survived on these remote, inhospitable islands. Their achievement and the quality of evidence that remains are recognised in this important accolade.”

Robin Pellew, Chief Executive for the National Trust for Scotland said: “What makes St Kilda so significant in cultural terms is that it provides evidence of how people lived and evolved since prehistoric times. It helps us to understand how people survived in extremely difficult and remote conditions over thousands of years. It is truly a unique and fascinating place.”

“Evidence has been found which confirms people have lived on St Kilda for more than 2000 years and visited as many as 5000 years ago,” said Robin Turner, the Trust’s Head of Archaeology, commenting from Durban. “By investigating the many layers of undisturbed remains, we are constantly making important discoveries about how these people lived, worked and died.”

“In preparing the new Comparative Analysis for the World Heritage Committee we were able to show that the cultural heritage of these islands truly is unique. Some places share some of St Kilda’s outstanding characteristics, but nowhere comes close to matching them all: there is nowhere in the world like it.”

St Kilda also has an extraordinary wealth of documentary evidence, dating from the 15th century onwards, including literature, songs, poetry and folklore telling the stories of every day life on the islands.

The Convener of Comhairle nan Eilean Siar Mr. Alex MacDonald, said: "I am delighted that St Kilda in the Western Isles has been awarded this major accolade of mixed World Heritage inscription for both its cultural and natural qualities. St Kilda is a very special place for many reasons but it has a particular place in the hearts and minds of the people of the Western Isles. Descendants of those who lived and worked on these islands continue to live in other parts of the Western Isles and they retain that direct link to the important culture, heritage and history emanating from St Kilda. That history is a poignant one and one that still resonates as the islands continue to struggle with depopulation.

“The Council hopes that this important accolade will ensure that the St Kilda cultural and natural assets will be available for future generations to enjoy and benefit from. The Council wishes to take advantage of this auspicious occasion to thank all the agencies, who have worked towards this goal and especially the UNESCO World Heritage Committee for appreciating the unique world importance of the site. St Kilda offers much from the past to the people of the Western Isles. It also offers much for the future."