Gairloch Gathering and reservoir blocks?
Read to the end to watch a video showing the redevelopment of Kishorn Port.
Good day and welcome to another jam-packed Wester Ross Round-up. This week there are 1230 of you on the mailing list. If you are reading this online, and would like to get the newsletter in your inbox each week for free then tap the button below to sign up.
🟡 That was quite a thunder storm we had last week wasn't it? Applecross and Inveralligin were even named as the wettest spots in Scotland. During the storm, local photographer Ed Duncan captured an amazing photo of a lightning bolt over The Minch, and we're very grateful to him for letting us share it at the top of this newsletter. Ed is raising cash for local charities by taking part in the Great Wilderness Challenge this year. You can sponsor him online: Great Wilderness Challenge
🟡 Government agency NatureScot and the RSPB have both objected to a proposal on Gairloch Estate land that would divert water from the Talladale river catchment into the existing Loch Garbhaig hydro scheme. Both NatureScot and the RSPB are critical of the developer's failure to properly assess the impact that removing water from the Talladale river might have on protected habitats there. NatureScot say the plans could threaten a globally important site for oceanic bryophytes. It turns out that The Talladale Gorge Site of Special Scientific Interest is one of just two sites in the UK to host significant populations of the critically endangered liverwort Radula holtii. The RSPB raises concerns over the impact the plans could have on protected Golden Eagles, divers, and native pine and oak woodland habitats. Councillors on the Highland Council planning committee will determine what happens next. More: Highland Council
🟡 One of the founders of WhatsApp, Jan Koum, is apparently touring Wester Ross in the super yacht Mogambo. Mogambo is said to be worth $75m, and it is accompanied by a support vessel called Power Play, said to be worth another $20m. More: superyachtfan.com
🟡 Bualnaluib Primary Parent Council need to raise £2000 towards their trip to Loch Eil, a fantastic residential experience for pupils in Primary 6&7. Donate at: Gofundme.com
🟡 A rare opportunity to take on a tenanted croft on the Applecross Estate has come up. The croft extends to 9.04 hectares and includes one share in the local Common Grazings. More: Scottish Land Matching Service.
🟡 Long jump star Stephen Mackenzie from Ullapool is set to compete at the next Commonwealth Games. More: Andrew Henderson | Ross-shire Journal
Events
These are just some of the most recent events to be added to our people-powered Wester Ross events calendar. You can help your neighbourhood thrive by adding any local events you spot here. We'll do our best to promote any events you add in this newsletter as well as in the Gairloch and District Times.
🟡 It's the Gairloch Gathering this weekend. And at the moment, the weather forecast says it might not rain on Saturday afternoon. Organisers have released details of all the Saturday afternoon fun stuff that is happening in the flyer below. Tickets are still available for all the events online: Ticket Tailor
🟡 Ocean Youth Trust Scotland's Open Day
Step aboard our vessel, Alba Venturer, and see how we support young people through youth work on the waves! Come along for a tour of the boat, activities and refreshments.
Sat 04 Jul | 10.00am | Ullapool Harbour · Ullapool | More info
🟡 Coigach Gathering 2026
Our annual gathering. Music, food, games, stalls and dancing. Coigach Hall and the school field.
Sat 04 Jul | 12.30pm | Coigach Community Hall · Achiltibuie & Summer Isles | More info
🟡 Family Breakfast Morning
Breakfast and crafts for kids of any age and their adults too.
Tue 07 Jul | 9.00am | Gairloch Community Hall · Gairloch | More info
🟡 Film | The Oldest Munro Bagger
An inspiring story of resilience, hope and love for the mountains. Followed by a Q&A with Oldest Munro Bagger Nick Gardner. FREE
Tue 07 Jul | 6.30pm | Loch Torridon Community Centre · Kinlochewe & Torridon | More info
🟡 Sea Shanties | Community Singing
If you love to sing, we will be polishing up our pirate 'Arhhs!' and belting out some well-loved shanties, at this Sea Shanties Workshop.
Sat 11 Jul | 11.00am | Coigach Community Hall · Achiltibuie & Summer Isles | More info
🟡 Breakfast for men
Attention men of Coigach! Come along for a bacon roll, tea/coffee and blether from 9.30am - 11am, Tuesday 14th July. FREE
Tue 14 Jul | 9.30am | Coigach Community Hall · Achiltibuie & Summer Isles | More info
🟡 Gairloch Sea Shore Safari
Discover the wonders of the shore this summer with our fun, family-friendly rockpooling event! Bring the kids along and explore a fascinating world just beneath the surface — tiny crabs, colourful anemones, darting fish and more are waiting to be discovered. To book search for SOS003777 at
https://booking.highlifehighland.com
Thu 16 Jul | 1.00pm | Gairloch Community Library · Gairloch | More info
🟡 Lochcarron Highland Games
Highland Games are traditional Scottish events that celebrate the country's rich cultural heritage through athletic competitions, music, and dance. Rooted in ancient clan gatherings, these games feature iconic events like caber tossing, hammer throwing, and tug-of-war, alongside Highland dancing, bagpipe performances, and local festivities.
Sat 18 Jul | 10.00am | Attadale Estate · Lochcarron & Strathcarron | More info
🟡 Maerl Seabed Superhome Community Day
Free entry for local residents to Maerl - an immersive art installation by Julia Barton at the Sawyer Gallery in Inverewe Garden | Open 11:00 to 12:30 and 14:00 to 15:30. Free entry available to residents of the Wester Loch Ewe Community Council area. Proof of address required.
Sat 18 Jul | 11.00am | Inverewe Garden (National Trust for Scotland) · Poolewe | More info
🟡 The Ceilidh Trail
The Ceilidh Trail is open to young traditional musicians aged between 16 and 25, who will spend the summer playing music, travelling throughout Scotland and beyond, and gain experience playing for just about every kind of gig you may encounter as a professional musician!
Wed 22 Jul | 9.00pm | The Old Inn Gairloch · Gairloch | More info
You can find even more events online here, and don't forget our What's On guide in the latest issue the Gairloch and District Times.
Jobs
Do you have a job vacancy to fill? We can help you find the right person. Book your job advert here.
🟡 Deli-ca-sea Fish and Chip Shop in Ullapool are looking for another member of staff to join their team. More: Facebook
🟡 The mobile Fire and Steam Sauna, based in Gairloch, are looking for part-time sauna hosts. More: Facebook
🟡 Highland Council are looking for a Community Works Operative based in Ullapool. More: Hijobs
More News
🟡 Ullapool Forest Runs have revealed that their recent Heartbreak Hill event raised a total of £1300 for Highland Hospice. More: Facebook
🟡 The RTS signal that was used to control some domestic electricity meters has now been turned off, even though there were said to be some 33,000 households in Scotland still reliant on it. More: STV News
🟡 Want to help rescue seals, dolphins and whales? There are still some places left on the BDMLR marine mammal rescue course in Ullapool on July 11. More: BDMLR
🟡 Shieldaig Lodge have announced that they've been shortlisted in the Scottish Food Awards 2026. To help them win the hotel now wants you to vote for them. More: Scottish Food Awards
🟡 Local author Annie O'Garra Worsley has published a lovely blog post about the solstice and all the orchids that have bloomed on her croft this year. More: Notes From A Small Croft By The Sea
🟡 The Highland-wide Blas Festival is set to make a return in September. The line-up includes events in Ullapool, Torridon, Lochcarron, Glenelg and Contin. More: Blas Festival
The most clicked links from last week:
🟡 Botanists have announced they've discovered a new population of Alpine Lady-fern, "high on the north face of Beinn Lair, Wester Ross." The plant only grows between 455m and 1230m above sea level. More: Bluesky
🟡 If you are involved in a local community group you can help the North Highland Initiative with the design of a new fund by taking this short survey. More: NHI
🟡 The British Hen Welfare Trust is hoping to find people to adopt 250 hens from Inverness on July 17. More: Rachel Smart | Inverness Courier
🟡 And lastly, here's a video showing the latest progress update from all the work to expand Kishorn Dock. More: Facebook
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