St. Kilda & the Hebrides – cruising to the Edge of the World
In a world where long-haul travel is now so accessible, it can be all too easy to overlook the treasures in our own backyard. St Kilda is a very special place, and one of only 35 sites in the world to hold joint UNESCO World Heritage status for both cultural and natural heritage. This exciting talk will take you on a journey to St Kilda from Oban, as Sara details the excitement of sailing to this remote archipelago through the beautiful Inner and Outer Hebrides. She also gives insight into the life of the hardy St. Kildan people, which was one of remarkable self-sufficiency. Having lived in the Hebrides for 3 years working as a Wildlife Guide, Sara recounts the wonderful wildlife which inhabits these islands and surrounding waters – from otters, eagles and seabirds to dolphins, sharks and whales.
Sara Frost
Sara works full time in Naturetrek’s busy office as the Website and Marketing Manager. However, by training, she is a Zoologist, graduating from Newcastle University where she was also the president of the university’s Zoological Society. Prior to working at Naturetrek she lived and worked in British Columbia, Canada, as a wildlife rehabilitator caring for Black Bears, Coyotes, River Otters and Raccoons on a daily basis. When she wasn’t providing medical care to injured wildlife she could be found hiking in the mountains, photographing wildlife, howling with wolves and avoiding bears (usually successfully). On her return to the UK she moved to the Scottish Hebrides, where she spent three years working at sea as a wildlife guide, finding Minke Whales, Otters, dolphins and eagles for her guests on a daily basis! She also spent her summers as the Senior Wildlife Officer on a ship in the North Sea, collecting sightings data on whales and dolphins, and delivering marine biology lectures to guests.
Always keen to be involved with media, Sara has presented on both live radio and TV, has had her writing and photos published in multiple wildlife and travel magazines and has worked as a guide for Ray Mears and TV film crews for several natural history documentaries. A keen cetacean spotter, Sara specialises in leading Naturetrek’s cruises in the Hebrides, Indonesia, the Maldives, Baja California and Arctic, as well as our holidays in the Azores.