Ullapool

Ullapool is a village on the shores of Loch Broom in Ross and Cromarty in the Scottish Highlands. With a population of 1500 in 2020, it's a ferry port and most visitors are just passing through on the way to and from Stornoway on Lewis. Reasons to stay are for hill-walking and exploration of the wild mainland scenery.

Get in
Ullapool is 60 miles (100 km) northwest of Inverness, which has the nearest airport and railway station. Follow A835 and allow 75 min.

By bus: Scottish Citylink Bus 961 takes 80 min from Inverness. It's timed to meet the ferries, running twice M-Sa and once on Sunday. An adult single in 2022 is £16 and in summer you'd best book ahead. There are no through-buses from Edinburgh or Glasgow, but with connections to join the 961 it might take six hours and cost £35.

Stagecoach Bus 61 also runs twice M-F from Inverness via Dingwall, Strathpeffer, Contin and Braemore. This is mostly a school bus, so its times vary between term and holidays.

On schooldays only, Bus 890 runs to Ullapool from Kinlochbervie in the morning, taking 2 hours via Laxford Bridge, Kylesku and Elphin, and returning north in the afternoon. An earlier Bus 891 continues from Ullapool to Dingwall, starting back around 2:45PM.

By boat: Calmac ferries sail from Stornoway on Lewis, taking 2 hr 30 min. They sail year-round, with two sailings M-Sa, one on Sunday Nov-Mar and two Apr-Oct - see Stornoway for fares. These ferries often sell out in summer, so even foot passengers should book in advance. Be at the pier at least 45 min before sailing.

on Loch Broom is the bus and ferry terminus.

Get around
Ullapool is small and easily seen on foot, but you need your own wheels to get around the countryside.

Taxi operators are Ullapool Taxis (+44 7517 612619 or +44 1854 612619) and Ewen's (+44 1854 612966).

See

 * Town centre is attractive early Victorian low-rise. Any walk that gains height is quickly rewarded by great views over Loch Broom.
 * is a deep ravine, where the Abhainn Droma thunders over the 150 ft Falls of Measach. There a viewing bridge below the waterfall, accessible free 24 hours, and the area is a nature reserve maintained by the National Trust for Scotland. The gorge demonstrates how our idea of "beauty" was transformed in the 19th century: Coire Shalach is Gaelic for "unattractive gorge" and to anyone herdng cattle it was a confounded nuisance. It's 12 miles south of Ullapool on A835, by the junction with A832 to Gairloch.
 * is more correctly a beacon, marking the entrance to Loch Broom towards Ullapool. It's a short walk from the lane off A835 north of town.
 * is a nature reserve administered as part of the Summer Isles, but so far from the main group that it makes for a separate boat trip. A flour mill here worked until 1948, but from the 1960s the island was depopulated and turned into a reserve.
 * is the rubble of an Iron Age fort, maybe from 500 BC. You just come for the coast hike and views.
 * Clear night skies: you need to go a mile or so out of town to get clear of skyglow, then the Milky Way and other celestial objects swim into view. It's a lost cause May-July when the nights never get truly dark, just a brief "simmer dim".
 * Clear night skies: you need to go a mile or so out of town to get clear of skyglow, then the Milky Way and other celestial objects swim into view. It's a lost cause May-July when the nights never get truly dark, just a brief "simmer dim".

Do

 * What's on? Read Ullapool News or listen to Loch Broom FM on 102.2 and 96.8 FM.
 * McPhail Centre is a performing arts venue east side of town on the main road north, Mill St.
 * Ullapool Hill is a 258-m outcrop of Meall Mòr. There are clearly marked trails east side of town. See Ullapool Walks for this and other routes.
 * Golf: Ullapool GC is north side of town, white tees 5228 yards, par 70, visitor fee £30.
 * The Summer Isles are visited by boat trips on the sedate Summer Queen or on a bouncy RIB. Trips also sail from Achiltibuie, a shorter crossing.
 * The pipe band parade in town on Thursday evenings in summer.
 * Highland Games: Ullapool no longer holds its own, though they hope to restart. The closest are in Achiltibuie in late June or in Lochinver in August.
 * Ullapool Book Festival is held in mid-May.
 * The Guitar Festival is 3 days of acoustic guitar music in early October at the Macphail Centre.

Buy

 * Banks: Bank of Scotland is on West Argyle St, one block back from the ferry pier, open M W F 10AM-2PM. Royal Bank of Scotland is 100 yards east of it, open M-F 09:30-15:30. There's also an ATM in Tesco.
 * Saturday market is held along Quay Street Apr-Sep: Saturdays 9AM-5PM. Crafts and local produce, with organic vegetables, seafood, smoked cheese and fish, bakery.
 * Fuel: Lochbroom filling station, 400 yards east of the ferry pier, has 24-hour pumps. The shop is open M-Sa 7:30AM-8PM and Su 8:30AM-7PM.
 * Arts and crafts: there's half a dozen shops near the ferry pier, and see also Ceilidh Place bookshop.
 * Arts and crafts: there's half a dozen shops near the ferry pier, and see also Ceilidh Place bookshop.
 * Arts and crafts: there's half a dozen shops near the ferry pier, and see also Ceilidh Place bookshop.

Eat

 * West Coast Deli at 5 Argyle St is open daily 9AM-5PM and does takeaway but the cafe remains closed in 2022.

Drink

 * Others in town centre are Ferry Boat Inn and Waterfront Bar within Royal Hotel.
 * Distillery: Highland Liquor Company makes gin. The shop is at 26 West Argyle St a block back from the ferry pier, open daily 10AM-6PM.
 * Distillery: Highland Liquor Company makes gin. The shop is at 26 West Argyle St a block back from the ferry pier, open daily 10AM-6PM.

Sleep

 * Over a dozen small guesthouses and B&Bs in town, with various rules on dogs, children and minimum stays.
 * Over a dozen small guesthouses and B&Bs in town, with various rules on dogs, children and minimum stays.
 * Over a dozen small guesthouses and B&Bs in town, with various rules on dogs, children and minimum stays.

Connect
As of July 2022, Ullapool has 4G from EE, O2 and Vodafone, and a basic mobile signal from Three. The approach road A835 only has a signal from EE. 5G has not reached this area.

Go next

 * Ferries ply to Stornoway on Lewis: not the most attractive spot in the Western Isles, but the obvious base for exploring.
 * North to Achiltibuie, The Summer Isles and Lochinver.
 * South to Gairloch, via the Arctic Convoy Museum and Inverewe Gardens, then Torridon.
 * North West Highlands Geopark extends from Torridon through Ullapool up to Durness. The gneiss is nice.
 * North Coast 500 is a motoring itinerary that swings through Ullapool.