95 new homes planned in Wester Ross town

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🏘️ Highland Council have announced early stage plans to build 95 new homes on a site on the edge of Ullapool. There are two public consultation events planned. Both will take place in the MacPhail Centre between 16:00-19:00 on August the 7 and 28. More: Lochbroom and Ullapool Community Trust

⌛ Senior school pupils throughout Wester Ross are due to get their exam results on August 5. Highland Council have highlighted that young people can contact the Skills Development Scotland Results Helpline to discuss their options on 0808 100 8000. More: Highland Council

💼 Meanwhile, Developing the Young Workforce, West Highland are encouraging employers and professionals to back the #NoWrongPath initiative between August 4-8. More: DYW West Highlands

🐑 Speaking of leaving school and entering the world of work, the Next Generation Practical Training Fund is open for people new to the agricultural sector. Anyone who has entered the agricultural industry within the last five years or recently completed formal sector-related education can apply for 100% funding for up to £500 per course. More: Farm Advisory Service.

🚜 The Crofting Commission have begun sending out warning letters to 3500 crofters who did not send in their annual returns this year. The Chair of the Commission, Andrew Thin has again warned crofters they face a £200 fine if they don't take action. More: Crofting Commission

🎼 A new website that shares the songs of local Hector Mackenzie has gone live. His songs, which often draw inspiration from the Wester Ross landscape, were previously published in two booklets. More: From Inversadale to Poolewe

💊 It's a bank holiday on Monday August 4. The Gairloch Pharmacy will be closed.

🍦On Friday August 8, there'll be a picnic on Poolewe Green. Details in the flyer below.

🍵 GALE say they have seen an uptick in the number of people seeking support from their befriending service. If you can spare some time volunteering to combat local loneliness you may want to join the befriending team. More: GALE

🍰 And if you need more cake in your life, the GALE community bakery stall will be in The Shieling on Friday August 1.

☕ The Wee Whistle Stop Cafe in the Loch Torridon Community Centre is to open Sunday afternoons 14:00 - 18:00 throughout August. More: Facebook.

👥 Wester Loch Ewe Community Council have changed the venue for their August 6 meeting after we went to press with the next issue of the paper. It had been advertised as taking place in Poolewe Village Hall. It will now take place in the Old Schoolhouse Inverasdale at 7.30pm.

💷 Have you got stuff you'd like to sell at a table top sale in Gairloch Community Hall on August 9? Organisers are still looking for some more sellers, otherwise the event might not go ahead. More: Facebook.

🛒 Builders seem to be making rapid progress with the new co-op building in Gairloch. Alex Gray shared this drone footage of the building site this week. More: YouTube

🎸 With Belladrum music festival taking place this weekend, NHS Highland has urged people to remember their suncream, and to have fun, but safely. More: NHS Highland. If you are travelling east over the next few days, these festival-related road restrictions are worth bearing in mind. And if you are more inclined to watch the Belladrum acts from the comfort of your own home, BBC Alba are covering the event. Watch it on iPlayer.

⚡Concerns over the impact of a planned sub-sea electricity cable that is set run the length of Little Loch Broom and come ashore at Dundonnell are highlighted in an opinion piece on the Democratic Left Scotland website, by Cathie Lloyd.

🍽️ A recent study claims that food outlets in the Highlands have the lowest food hygiene pass rates in Scotland. Mike Merrit | Inverness Courier (£)

🚨 It has been over four years since NHS Highland met its A&E waiting time target resulting in nearly 60,000 patients experiencing delays, according to research by the Liberal Democrats. More: Scott Maclennan | Inverness Courier (£)

🏡 The Scottish Greens have proposed a new tax on holiday homes and short-term lets to address the housing crisis in Gaelic-speaking communities, aiming to support local residents and preserve the Gaelic language. The proposal is set for a vote in Holyrood this autumn. More: Fiona Brown | The National

💷 An Age Scotland grant scheme that supports small dementia friendly projects is open for 2026 projects. More: Age Scotland.

💃 And last, but not least, it looks like there was a good turn out for this week's Poolewe Ceilidh. Here's a short video of the dancing.

PS – Thanks to Sitooterie Paul for sharing so many great photos of the Sitooterie. You can see more of his photos from the award-winning community garden in the next issue of the Gairloch and District Times - It'll be in the shops this Friday.