Robbie scales ‘The Thumb’ in St Kilda

Speaking about his trip to St Kilda, Robbie Phillips said, ‘Climbing The Thumb was like walking in the footsteps, or climbing in the fingerprints, of the St Kildans. It’s a testament to their bravery and mental fortitude; to climb onto that sea stack 70m above the raging Atlantic without even shoes is wild to imagine. The St Kildans didn’t just survive out here, they thrived with the skills they honed and the traditions they upheld.’

The location of the infamous climb remained a mystery until 1890 when Richard Manliffe Barrington completed it. With no resident St Kildans remaining after the island’s evacuation in 1930, the legend of The Thumb threatened to disappear into history, until this recent ascent brought it back to prominence.

Robbie continued: ‘This is hugely significant, as it is an example of highly technical rock climbing in a time well before the Victorian era, which is when most climbing historians say that technical rock climbing began. They didn’t just climb for survival, but it was an important part of their culture, where they climbed for enjoyment as well as status amongst their peers.’

To celebrate Robbie’s amazing climb, we’d like to praise the care that he and his team took to minimise their impacts on St Kilda, and we’re sharing tips with visitors on how they too can ensure their visit is responsible and sustainable.

St Kilda is a dual-status UNESCO World Heritage Site, one of only 39 mixed-status sites in the world, and it boasts an incredible amount of natural and cultural significance. The archipelago came into the National Trust for Scotland’s care in 1957, since which time we have worked hard to conserve and sustain the islands’ heritage. Robbie added: ‘As climbers, it’s so important that we don’t disturb or cause damage to the areas we visit. I’m incredibly grateful for the guidance and support from the National Trust for Scotland. The work it does is invaluable to conserving such amazing places and heritage in Scotland.’

Susan Bain, the National Trust for Scotland’s Property Manager for St Kilda, said: ‘As a conservation charity, we are focused on protecting the wildlife and culture of St Kilda and we were very happy to work with Robbie and his team to make sure that the climb didn’t disturb any nesting seabirds or impact the landscape in any way.’

Susan continued: ‘St Kilda has some of Scotland’s – or the world’s – most breathtaking scenery and wildlife. These, together with St Kilda’s stories, draw an increasing number of visitors. While we are delighted to share this natural and cultural heritage, we also have to be careful to make sure that visits are sustainably managed. It’s important that visitors don’t inadvertently harm the nature, beauty and heritage they have come to enjoy.

‘This includes avoiding damage and disturbance to the internationally important seabird breeding colonies under our care on St Kilda. Recent seabird counts on St Kilda and further afield show that the numbers of too many species are declining, probably due to factors such as food shortages and storms caused by climate change, as well as pollution and predation. It’s vital that visitors to St Kilda understand what they themselves can do to minimise their own impact on under-pressure species such as puffins, fulmars and kittiwakes.’

Susan suggests five things that visitors to St Kilda, and other remote island places, can do to reduce their impact and support responsible tourism:

1. Follow the ‘check, clean, close’ rule
   Predators like rats or stoats can wreak havoc among eggs and chicks if they arrive on key seabird colonies like St Kilda, Canna or other islands. The best way to keep chicks and eggs safe is to stop predators reaching their shores. When planning a boat trip to St Kilda or other islands, please check your bag and clothes for pests; clean your boots or shoes with disinfectant; and close any food containers tight shut (since they can attract stowaways onto boats or into bags).
2. Scrub other equipment too
   St Kilda has a unique but restricted flora, and it’s important to avoid introducing seeds from the mainland or even pests and plant diseases. These are often spread in mud or dead leaves, so make sure your boots and equipment are clean of mud before landing on St Kilda.
3. Give wildlife space
   Please maintain a good distance from seabirds that are nesting or feeding. And if you want to watch seals or other animals, just sit still and let them come closer to you, rather than chasing them or trying to feed them.
4. Be prepared for the weather and environment
   Please bring extra clothing and sturdy boots/shoes as well as snacks and water (drinking water supplies can sometimes dwindle as we only have the island spring to depend on). We want visitors to enjoy their visit and not be cold, uncomfortable or need medical help.
5. Take your litter home
   As with all our places, we ask visitors to St Kilda take all their waste home with them, however small, leaving no trace of your presence on the archipelago.

Robbie Phillips and his team have documented their adventures and will publish films of their ascents on Robbie’s YouTube channel and website.