A Humpback in Loch Broom and Co-op opens

It's the last Wester Ross Round-up of the year. We end 2025 with 1094 subscribers, of which 273 of you are paying subscribers. Thank you to everyone who has opened, clicked, shared and supported the newsletter in some way this year. We really do appreciate it. We'll be back in 2026 with more weekly doses of spam-free local news. In the meantime, if you've just found us, you can get on the mailing list by tapping the button below.

🟡 Aultbea Stores is to re-open on Friday following the death of Michelle, one of the shop owners. Locals have been posting messages of support to the shop's Facebook page in response. More: Facebook

🟡 A humpback whale in Loch Broom has been entertaining folk at Ullapool for several days now. There have been lots of excellent whale videos and photos posted to social media, but this drone footage shared by William Bird is really quite something. More: Facebook & STV News.

🟡 SSEN emailed some locals this week with details of two further "stakeholder engagement events" in early January. At the events the firm will share details of revised plans for controversial road works on the A832 south of Dundonnell through to Fain Bridge. The events will be held on:

• Wednesday 7 January, 6–8pm, Aultbea Hall, Aultbea
• Thursday 8 January, 6–8pm, Badcaul Church, Dundonnell

🟡 It's been years in the planning and likely one of the biggest investments in the area in recent times. The Gairloch Co-op store finally opened this week. We've got a feature on the first impressions from locals who were lucky enough to get invited to the preview event before it opened in the next issue of the paper, out on Friday 19. But what difference will the new store make to you? And the wider area? Let us know your thoughts and we may print them in a future paper. More: Submissions

🟡 It's not too late to vote for Wester Ross Radio DJ Joshua Taylor in a global competition dubbed the X-factor for broadcasting talent. Vote at the bottom of this page before December 21 to help him win the top prize: OnAirCoach.com

🟡 We've got details of some more events that appeared on our radar after the paper went to print. A pub quiz is taking place at the Millcroft Hotel in Gairloch this Friday December 19. The Milly Bar's festive opening dates and times have also been shared on their Facebook page. More: Facebook

🟡 A Christmas Eve Quiz is planned at Applecross Community Hall with a mystery prize on offer for the winners. There's also a Hogmanay ceilidh happening at the hall too. More: Facebook

🟡 In Ullapool, you can enjoy a Christmas Day dinner with a difference, as locals are laying on a fundraising community buffet lunch. More details in the flyer below.

🟡 Hardy locals at Kishorn are planning a New Years Day Dook in the sea. More: Facebook

🟡 Zumba is coming to Aultbea Hall in the New Year. On January 16 to be precise. More: Facebook

🟡 Some schools news. Bualnaluib Nursery are having an open day this very afternoon for local parents with kids under 5. Meanwhile Gairloch High School are inviting community group representatives to join an online meeting in the new year to explore how better links can be made with the school. Details of both events in the flyers below.

🟡 It's not too late to get a raffle ticket where you could win a huge looking Kinlochewe Village Hall Christmas Hamper. More: Facebook

🟡 In Gairloch, the local development trust, GALE, are looking to hire a Housing Project Officer. More: GALE

🟡 The Wester Loch Ewe Trust (WLET) are seeking a Development Manager. More: WLET

🟡 WLET has also published an update on their plans to purchase and develop land at Poolewe. More: WLET

🟡 With flexibility about where you could be based, UHI NWH are looking to round up a Horse Care Flexi Coordinator. More: HiJobs.net

🟡 Kishorn Port has a vacancy for an Accommodation and Office Manager. More: Facebook

🟡 And Bakkafrost are hiring for a Freshwater Operative, based at Tornapress. More: HiJobs.net

🟡 Speaking of Bakkafrost and Kishorn Port, due to a housing shortage hindering the recruitment of workers, Highland Council has approved the construction of 32 temporary accommodation units at Bakkafrost Scotland's Applecross Hatchery near Kishorn Port. More: Philip Murray | Inverness Courier (£)

🟡 High Life Highland have launched a new online booking system along with new dedicated mobile apps. More: High Life Highland

🟡 More new tech. The Crofting Commission has revamped its website and launched a new alert service to help people stay abreast of new applications made to the regulator. More: Crofting Commission

🟡 The Scottish government has abandoned plans to lower the national speed limit on single carriageway roads from 60mph to 50mph following public consultation feedback. It looks likely speed limits for HGVs will be raised to "improve road safety and journey times." More: BBC

🟡 Five major Scottish tourism groups warn that proposed rate increases of up to 300% could threaten the survival of thousands of rural self-catering businesses. More: Alasdair Fraser | Inverness Courier (£)

🟡 Although it has been fairly mild recently, it is nevertheless the season for The Torridon Avalanche Information Service to start daily reporting. More: Torridon Blog

🟡 This week it emerged that STV has watered down controversial proposals that would have seen its STV North news team (which covers the Highlands) completely scrapped. The regulator Ofcom is supportive of the revised proposal from the Glasgow-based broadcaster which could see just 30% of news programs at peak times being tailored to the North broadcast region. The NUJ, which threatened strike action over the cuts, remain unimpressed. They point out there is still a chance for people to influence Ofcom as a public consultation has just opened. More: Ofcom

🟡 The council has published details of planned festive bin collections and other boring but important arrangements for the holidays. More: Highland Council

🟡 The Shop at The Pier have helpfully gathered together all the last posting dates, if you want to get something to a friend or relative before Christmas Day. More: Facebook

🟡 And finally... to play us out here's the Applecross Walled Garden house band with their rendition of I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas. More: Facebook

Everyone at the Gairloch and District Times wishes you a merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. See you in 2026!