Conachair

Highest point of St Kilda at 430 m, ending abruptly in the tallest sea cliffs in Britain

Conachair ("the beacon") rises immediately north of the village to 430 metres, and on its far side drops straight into the Atlantic in the highest sea cliffs in the British Isles. From the top, Boreray and its stacks stand out to the northeast, white with gannets.

The summit is a stiff climb for a day-trip landing, so watch the time and stay well back from the edge — the cliffs are sheer and the grass is slippery. A rough track also climbs from the village to the radar station on Mullach Mòr.

things to do nature hiking viewpoint
A story
Before radio, St Kildans signalled the outside world by lighting a bonfire on Conachair, hoping it would be seen from Harris or Uist. The alternative was the 'St Kilda mailboat': a little wooden boat tied to a sheepskin bladder, with a message in a tin, launched when the wind blew from the northwest.