The Monks of Old St. Kilda

The Monks of Old St. Kilda were a unique group of hermits who lived on the remote Scottish archipelago of St. Kilda, primarily during the 19th and early 20th centuries. They are often called "monks" due to their secluded, ascetic lifestyle, but they were not monks in the religious sense; rather, they were fishermen and hermits who chose solitude to escape modern society. They relied on local resources for sustenance and maintained a subsistence existence amid challenging conditions. Their story highlights a rare, remote way of life rooted in isolation, self-sufficiency, and connection with nature.