Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
ACCOMMODATION
POOLEWE TO ULLAPOOL
Badrallach
Croft 9, Badrallach
T
01854 633281,
W
badrallach.com.
Views, space and pure escapism
literally at the end of the road. Alongside the campsite
are beds in a superb bothy, a 1960s caravan, B&B in an
Airstream caravan and a sweet two-bedroom
cottage (week minimum). With fi
shin
g rod and ka
yak
hire, too
, thi
s deserves a few days.
£13
/pitch; bothy
£6
;
caravan
£45
Ullapool
ULLAPOOL
, the northwest's principal town, was founded by the British Fisheries
Society at the height of the herring boom in 1788. Spread across a sheltered arm of
land in Loch Broom, the grid-plan town remains an important fishing centre, which
gives it a salty authenticity despite the hundreds of visitors who pass through in high
season, bound north or to catch the
ferry
to Stornoway on Lewis (see p.505). And even
when holiday-makers throng its streets, Ullapool remains an appealing place - a good
base for exploring the northwest Highlands with all the cultural life of the only town
worth the name in the region.
Ullapool Museum
7-8 West Argyle St • Easter-Oct Mon-Sat 10am-5pm; by prior arrangement in winter • £3 •
T
01854 612987,
W
ullapoolmuseum.co.uk
he only conventional attraction in town, the
Ullapool
Museum
, in the old parish
church, uses photographs, audiovisual and touch-screen displays to provide an insight
into crofting, fishing, local religion and emigration. During the Clearances, Ullapool
was one of the ports through which evicted crofters left to start new lives abroad - the
musem also has some genealogy resources.
12
Isle Martin
Isle Martin Trust, 26 Argyle St
T
01854 612937,
W
islemartin.co.uk • Ferries May-Sept, dependant on weather (£6; contact Ullapool
tourist o
ce for times)
hree miles from Ullapool in Loch Broom,
Isle Martin
was inhabited on and off for a
few thousand years - they say it was named after a follower of St Colomba, who may
be under a fifth-century gravestone in the old graveyard - until the last crofting
families called it a day in 1949. Gifted to the RSPB in 1999, the four-hundred-acre
island is a romantic spot to be a temporary castaway, with beaches, walks and views to
the cliffs of Beinn Mhor Coigach and the Summer Isles. Accommodation overnight is
available in two bothies (£35).
Summer Isles
During summer, the
Summer Queen
steamer (May-early Sept Mon-Sat;
from £20;
T
01854 612472,
W
summerqueen.co.uk) and the
Centaur
(Easter-Sept depending on
weather; £28;
T
01854 633708,
W
sea-scape.co.uk), a fast speedboat, run wildlife cruises
and trips to the
Summer Isles
, twelve miles west of Ullapool, to view sea-bird colonies,
grey seals, dolphins, porpoises and the occasional whale. Whether slow and stately or
fast and full-on inside caves, it's a superb trip in good weather.
ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE
ULLAPOOL
By bus
Buses stop at the pier, near the ferry dock.
Destinations
Durness (May-Sept Mon-Sat 1 daily, plus
Sun 1 daily in July & Aug; 3hr); Inverness (Mon-Sat 3 daily,
Sun 1 daily; 1hr 30min).
By ferry
CalMac (
T
01854 612358,
W
calmac.co.uk) sails to
Stornaway, Lewis (Mon-Sat 2 daily, Sun 1 daily; 2hr 45min);
an extra sailing runs on Sun during summer school holidays.
INFORMATION
Tourist o
ce
Argyle St (Easter-May & Sept Mon-Sat
9.30am-5pm, Sun 10am-3pm; June-Aug Mon-Sat
9am-6pm, Sun 9.30am-4.30pm;
T
01854 612486,
W
ullapool.co.uk). This well-run tourist o
ce also offers an
accommodation booking service.
