Campsite for sale and wildfire warning

It's that time of the week again, and there's a lot to share with you. This week the Round-up goes out to 882 people. Welcome aboard if this is your first one 👋 .

Each week we try to summarise all the new and useful things that people in Wester Ross ought to know, including links to the source wherever we can so you can find out more if you are interested. Hundreds of people now click on the links in every round-up we send out, so if you have something to share or promote, tell us about it here.

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🏊 As regular readers will know, the community-owned swimming pool at Poolewe is currently closed due to a mechanical failure. The project is currently fundraising to replace a key piece of equipment called a dehumidifier. The total cost is £35k. The group has £12k in the bank and a bid for £23k has been submitted to the Highland Council Community Regeneration Fund. The bid has made it through to the final submission, but a key consideration will be evidence of local support. According to the group: "It will be really really helpful if locals could send a supportive email to Robert Baxter at [email protected] who is putting together our final submission."

SPONSORED by Dave Downie

This newsletter is sponsored by Dave Downie. He can help you with ground works using a mini excavator and dumper, decking, sheds, paths, wooden garden fencing and building maintenance.

Call him on 07786 572130 to find out more.

🔥 A very high to extreme risk of wildfire is in place across much of Scotland until Monday, 12 May. The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) has urged people who live within or who may enter rural environments to exercise caution. FRS Wildfire Lead Michael Humphreys said: "We are asking the public to exercise extreme caution and think twice before using anything involving a naked flame. Many rural and remote communities are hugely impacted by wildfires, which can cause significant damage." SFRS have also published a guide to protecting your home from wildfires.

🕯️Due to "unforeseen circumstances" Gairloch Thursday Market is not running on May 8. It also currently has space for more stall holders, so if you'd like to sell there, here's how to get in touch with the organisers.

📽️ The Screen Machine is at Gairloch High School car park until Friday May 9. You can find out what's on, and book tickets here. After the Gairloch dates, the mobile cinema is also scheduled to visit Kyleakin on May 10 & 11, and then Lochcarron on May 21 & 22.

🐟 The Angry Seagull mobile chip van is in Gairloch on May 9 between 4.30pm and 7pm at the Farm and Garden shop. You can pre-order here if you're keen.

🐑 The Highland Guild of Weavers, Spinners and Dyers are holding a demonstration day in Poolewe Village hall between 11:00-15:00 on May 10.

🍲 The first booking of the newly refurbished Aultbea Hall will be for a celebratory VE Day lunch on Saturday May 10 with soup, sandwiches and bakes "in keeping with the wartime period." Entry is free. More here.

🍰 There's also a lot going on in Shieldaig Village Hall on May 10. The flyer below has all the details.

🌲 On May 27 local education charity Slattadale is holding its AGM at 6:30-7pm. After the meeting there will be chat and cookies. All members welcome.

🍛 On Saturday June 7 Crumbs takeaway in Gairloch will be hosting a charity takeaway curry night, raising funds for Macmillan. You can find the menu and details of how to pre-order from this Facebook post.

🎨 Crafters, community groups local businesses are being invited to participate in a new event being planned for September in Aultbea Community Hall. There's more on West Fest in the flyer below and at this Eventbrite link.

🎸 It may not be happening until October - but we've just spotted the 2025 programme for the Ullapool Guitar Festival. You can find it here.

🍻 The Badachro Inn is hiring. They're looking for two staff members for the summer season. Accomodation is provided. Details here.

🏕️ Do you have a spare £625,000 burning a hole in your pocket? If so, please give some of it to the Poolewe Swimming pool 😄. Failing that, Gruinard Bay campsite could be yours, as the current owners are reportedly retiring. Alternatively, if caravans aren't your thing, the P&J have put a list together of 12 hotels on the NC500 that are also for sale. Their list includes the Ocean View at Laide and the Rockvilla in Lochcarron.

🚆 Welcome news for users of the Kyle railway line - The Scottish Government has announced peak rail fares will be permanently scrapped starting September, a move aimed at making rail travel more affordable and environmentally friendly. More on the BBC website.

🥔 The Scottish Crofting Federation are running a series of online training events over the year on crofting horticulture. The first one is on May 12 and looks at the topic of spring planting. Book tickets here.

🚜 On May 13, The Crofting Commission are holding an online public meeting for all crofters. Details here.

❓There are over 8000 unpaid carers in the Highlands with a disability or long-
term health condition. Connecting Carers, which campaigns on behalf of unpaid Highland carers, is running a research project "exploring the impact of the caring role on unpaid Carers with disabilities and long-term health conditions of their own." To take part you can fill in the online survey or call the Carer Support Line on 01463 723560.

🕒 Highlands MSP Edward Mountain has criticised the Scottish Government for "unacceptable" waiting times for neurodevelopmental assessments, revealing that over 1900 children are currently on the NHS Highland waiting list. Some face waits of more than five years. There's more in The Inverness Courier.

🗳️ And with just twelve months to go before the 2026 Scottish Parliament elections, significant challenges such as healthcare, transport, and political discontent are shaping the electoral landscape in the Highlands. Scott MacLennan shares his analysis in The Ross Shire Journal.

⛴️ Calmac are looking for some new recruits to join its Communities Board. Volunteers are sought "who live across island and mainland communities and have a real interest in shaping the ferry network."

⚡ The Scottish Government has approved 51 major energy projects in the Highlands over the past three years, raising concerns about the industrialisation of rural landscapes, according to the Inverness Courier. Read more here.

🦠 Belford Hospital in Fort William has closed all its wards due to an outbreak of Norovirus, restricting patient visits and halting new admissions as a precautionary measure, according to Metro UK. Read more here.

🐑 And lastly, here's a video of a sheep being rescued in a rather dramatic fashion by Arrochar Mountain Rescue.

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