Gairloch blood donors needed and dog owners warned

Hello and welcome to the latest Wester Ross Round-up from the Gairloch and District Times 👋. We're tantalisingly close to hitting 800 weekly subscribers to this newsletter - can you help us reach this milestone by sharing the word with someone who might like it? If you've been forwarded this newsletter by email – or you've found it on the internet – hit the button below to sign-up for free.

🩸 The Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service truck is coming to Gairloch on April 9, giving local people a convenient way to donate blood. You can find out more about whether you are elibile to donate and how to book a place on their website. A blood donation can be a life saving act for the recipient, but intriguingly, there's new research that suggests it might also be good for the donor too.

🐑 It's lambing season and Police Scotland have issued a warning to dog owners to make sure they keep their pets well away from sheep and lambs. If owners allow their dogs to cause distress to sheep then their dog could be shot, and the owner could be fined or sent to prison.

⛰️ Another warning! There may still be a little snow on the hills, but the ground is also very dry. Both the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service and Beinn Eighe Nature Reserve officials are urging people to avoid lighting fires outdoors as the wildfire risk is currently deemed to be high - at least until March 21.

🚐 A voluntary £40 charge scheme for campervan visitors in the Highlands has significantly underperformed, raising only £20,000 against a target of £500,000, prompting discussions on sustainable tourism and visitor facilities, according to the Inverness Courier. Read more here.

🐴 Painted Horse Antiques and Prickly Fish have announced that they're teaming up to run a shop together at Achtercairn for the 2025 season. They plan to open on March 31.

🧑‍🍳 The Gille Brigdhe has also posted on social media to confirm their 2025 season opening hours.

🐟 Local oyster farmer Ailsa McLellan is quoted in this Daily Record story revealing that some of the large fish-farming firms operating in Wester Ross have received millions more in tax-payer subsidies than they have paid out in tax - at least in some years.

🦅 The Scottish Government is set to allocate nearly £1 million to support farmers and crofters affected by sea eagles preying on livestock, with increased funding aimed at mitigating the emotional and financial impacts of these attacks. Read more in the Ross-Shire Journal.

👕 There's a new community swap shop and recycling hub launching at the Loch Torridon Community Centre on March 27, 1pm-5pm. More details in this social media flyer.

💼 Also on March 27, The West Highland Chamber of Commerce are holding a networking breakfast for local businesses at the Myrtlebank Hotel. Book a place here.

🌷If you live in any of the Iv21, 22, 23 or 26 postcodes then you are invited to a free community open weekend at Inverewe Gardens on March 29 and 30. There's a range of free talks and activities on and discounted food and goods in the shops. To get in for free you must take proof of address with you. Details and how to book events in Issue 5 of the paper.

🏖️ Also, some of the lowest tides of the year will take place in the afternoons of March 29-31. This means it's likely that you may be able to walk between Gairloch’s two big beaches (Gaineamh Achadh Deisteil aka the ‘hotel beach’ and Gaineamh Mhòr aka the big beach). You may even be able to walk right around from Strath. You can check tide times on our website here - with longer range details in the paper too.

🎻 There's a one-off music night planned at the Old Inverasdale School House on April 4. If it's a success, it may become more regular. Details below.

🍲 On Monday April 7 12pm-2pm, there will be a "special soup" event at the Gairloch Community Hall, to raise money for the community car scheme. £8 will get you soup, bread, dessert, and tea or coffee.

🪗 The Islands Ceilidh Band will be getting everyone dancing at the Loch Torridon Community Centre on April 19.

🎸 Also, tickets are now on sale for the Budapest Cafe Orchestra gig organised by West Coast Arts for May 31 in Poolewe Village Hall. Here's the link for tickets.

🏫 Highland Council is looking to hire someone to work at Gairloch High School as a Facilities Assistant. More details here.

⚡The Lochbroom and Ullapool Community Trust are recruiting a Community Energy Officer to cover Ullapool and Wester Ross. More details on how to apply are on their website.

🏃 The Loch Torridon Community Centre is looking for local volunteers to help out at the centre when they host the Celtman events on 13-15 and 21-21 June. More details here.

🤕 And if you need to update your Emergency First-Aid at Work certificate, UHI Gairloch are running a course on May 15. Sign-up here.

🧗 The Council for the Northern Caving Community have just added a series of caves in Applecross to their website, including "The Cave of the Liar," and the "The Cave of Wonders," along with a guide to accessing them. Sadly, to visit you almost certainly need to be an expert spelunker, of have one with you, as they all seem to require ropes, climbing skills and safety kit to access.

📸 And lastly, who's the joker? This sign was spotted on the hill into Achtercairn recently...

We're always on the look-out for interesting updates to share with our readers. If you have something to share - whether it's a photo, an event, or an update from a local organisation please tell us about it here. Posting to Facebook isn't enough to reach everyone!

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PPS - Thanks to Chloe Hall for letting us share her photo of Liathach at the top of this page.