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 Ullapool Harbour |
 Badentarbat |
 Isle Ristol and Jetty at Old Dornie |
Situated on Loch Broom and only 59 miles from Inverness, Ullapool is the largest settlement in Wester Ross. It was purpose built as a herring station to a Thomas Telford design in 1788.
It is also an excellent base from which to explore the Northwest Highlands. Most of the main roads north of here have been upgraded over the years, and staying in Ullapool and using it as a touring base is now a viable and attractive option.
On the A832, close to its junction with the A835 ten miles south east of Ullapool, is Corrieshalloch Gorge, a mile long, 200 foot deep ravine. Here the Falls of Measach plunge 150 feet down the hillside. These can be viewed from a Victorian suspension bridge strung across the gorge and they are now accessed from the more minor road for safety reasons.
Otherwise most of the focus from Ullapool is north, towards the glorious mountains and scenery of western Sutherland. Three miles north of Ullapool lies Ardmair Point, which offers a camp site and other accommodation as well as boat hire and a range of activities.
Twenty five miles north west of Ullapool on the Coigach Peninsula is the old crofting village of Achiltibuie with views to the Summer Isles and beyond. Visitor attractions include the Hydroponicum, a "garden for the future" where exotic plants are grown without soil.
Further west a loop of minor road takes in a number of tiny settlements including Altandhu, complete with its Smokehouse, where fish, meat and game are cured in the traditional Scottish way. Also nearby is the coastal community of Reiff. En route to the far end of Coigach you pass Stac Pollaidh, an amazingly knobbly little mountain.
Ullapool is also a great centre for walking and it has a golf club. A good low level walk takes the track beside the Ullapool River to Loch Achall. A more strenuous walk is the Ullapool Hill Walk (signposted in the town) taking in the summit of Meall Mor. Travelling out of town gives access to some excellent hillwalking including Beinn Dearg and the Fannichs.
Public transport is good. Regular buses run to Inverness, Durness and, in summer, to the railhead at Lairg.
