Over 40 miles west of the Outer Hebrides off Scotland’s north-west coast, there is a small island deserted since 1930
Scotland is known for its many offshore islands, most notably larger ones such as Skye, Bute, and Arran.
Hirta has an area of just over six km2 and approximately nine miles of coastline. It is one of Scotland's six World Heritage Sites, and visitors are encouraged. The presence of freshwater springs made living on Hirta possible, with the inhabitants surviving off of it and the meat and eggs of birds, as well as fish and what little crops could be grown, such as potatoes.
This week's top Scotland Now stories Life on Hirta was difficult due to its isolated location and harsh conditions. In the late seventeenth century there were reportedly 180 inhabitants, but this number declined in the following centuries due to disease and migration. Due to the diminished population, the islanders' lifestyle could not be sustained. This, combined with poor medical facilities, meant that living on Hirta was no longer possible.
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