Minke magic and Lochcarron campsite plan

Hello and welcome to another Wester Ross Round-up. As ever, it's packed with wholesome tasty news morsels for you to digest at your leisure. If you know of something that should be in our next newsletter, you can tell us about it here. If you know someone who would enjoy this newsletter, please do forward it to them and encourage them to sign up. And if you are new here you can do that by tapping the button below.

🟡 This week First Minister John Swinney announced that he would "de-clutter" the number of public bodies in Scotland. This includes plans to merge 14 regional health boards into two. As we understand it this means NHS Highland, NHS Grampian, NHS Orkney, NHS Shetland and NHS Western Isles will all be merged. More: Lee Peart | Healthcare Management

🟡 A planning application has been lodged to develop a campsite with space for 30 camper vans on land at Kishorn that was once home to a now defunct fish farm and agricultural college. You have until September 18 to let planners know what you think of the proposals. More: Highland Council ref:26/03502/FUL

🟡 In other planning news, the Torridon Hotel are looking for permission to put a sauna in the woods. More: Highland Council ref:26/03542/FUL

🟡 After some Applecross locals were left somewhat nonplussed by news that the Bealach na Ba would be closed for 46 hours to allow the "filming of cars with a drone" on September 12 and 13, Highland Council has now said the road will be open – but with a "stop and go" system in place. More: Rachel Smart | Ross-shire Journal.

Note: The same road will also be closed on September 5 from 10:00 – 13:00 for a cycle race and duathlon. More: Applecross Community Council

🟡 There is a new honesty box in Aultbea. The Little Green Hut honesty box beside the Highland Woodturner in Aultbea is selling Wild Blackberry and Apple Jam, Plum Jam and a Chilli Jam. More: Facebook

🟡 Wester Ross Fisheries Trust have a new Instagram account. Follow them here: Instagram

🟡 Whatever the Weather Wednesdays are back for another season at Gairloch Museum. Details of the first few weeks of session have been published online. More: Gairloch Museum (pdf)

Events

This is just a selection from all the events that have been posted to our people-powered Wester Ross events calendar. There are many more events to check out here. If you know of an event that is not listed on the calendar yet you can help by adding it using this form. It's the best way to get something listed in this newsletter and in the What's On section of the Gairloch and District Times.

🟡 Babies to Bairns [Monthly]
A get-together for parents, babies, toddlers and their big brothers/sisters.
Fri 04 Sep | 2.30pm | Aultbea Village Hall · Aultbea & Laide | More info

🟡 CLAE Ceramics Open Studio Week [Until 13 Sept]
Open studio week as part of An Talla Solais Art Trail (Venue 21) showcasing my handmade ceramic sculptures, botanical illustration cards and prints! Feel free to pop in and have a look at what I get up to in the studio! Hope to see you soon!
Sat 05 Sep | 10.00am | CLAE Ceramics · Gairloch | More info

🟡 The Tailor of Inverness
Matthew Zajac's stunning show about his Polish-Ukrainian father has entranced over 40,000 people, playing in a huge variety of venues. This is a rare chance to see this unforgettable and moving story of displacement and survival in war-torn Europe, a powerful allegory for all victims of war.
Sat 05 Sep | 3.30pm | Macphail Centre · Ullapool | More info

🟡 ART WEEK 2026: Drop-in, Insect Survey and Draw
Come and discover some of the mini beasties living in amongst the flowers in the An Talla Solais garden. Highlife Highland Ranger Jenny Grant will be leading a survey of the species we find. Artists Rhiannon Van Mysen and Charlotte Watters will on hand leading a drawing workshop to further investigate and study the creatures.
Sun 06 Sep | 2.00pm | An Talla Solais · Ullapool | More info

🟡 Blas Festival | Kim Carnie with Mairearad Green joined by Mike Vass
Kim Carnie blends traditional Gaelic roots with cinematic, contemporary soundscapes, she has worked with a diverse range of celebrated artists across the globe. And to celebrate the launch of her new album, Tìm, Mairearad will be joined by multi-instrumentalist, Mike Vass for a special live performance at Blas.
Wed 09 Sep | 7.30pm | Lochcarron Village Hall · Lochcarron & Strathcarron | More info

🟡 Free! Sea Shanties Singing Workshops [Every Thursday]
Join our FREE singing workshops & be part of the Travelling Imaginarium's brilliant, fun community sessions, this Sept!
Thu 10 Sep | 6.00pm | Macphail Centre · Ullapool | More info

🟡 Gary Innes & Ewen Henderson + Special Guest Allan Henderson with 'Na Cataich'
Gary Innes and Ewen Henderson have become two of Scotland's most respected traditional musicians. They are joined by Na Cataich (Carol-Anne MacKay, Catriona MacLeod, Rhona Sutherland & Zoë Livings). Four women with a shared love of Sutherland's musical heritage.
Thu 10 Sep | 7.30pm | Macphail Centre · Ullapool | More info

🟡 In conversation with Peter White, with poetry from Jon Miller and Cáit O'Neill McCullagh
In conversation with Peter White, with poetry from Jon Miller and Cáit O'Neill McCullagh. Join us at Braemore Space, where artist Peter White is sharing three new drawings. An engaging evening of conversation with poetry from Jon Miller and Cáit O'Neill McCullagh.
Fri 11 Sep | 7.00pm | Braemore Space · Ullapool | More info

🟡 Faoinsgeul Loch Maruibhe - The Loch Maree Legend with Brian Ó hEadhra | Fionnag NicChoinnich
Faoinsgeul Loch Maruibhe, The Legend of Loch Maree, is the Blas 2026 commission by leading Highland fiddle player Graham MacKenzie. The newly composed music and traditional songs will represent the themes of loyalty, love, longing, bravery, betrayal and mystery. Brian Ó hEadhra and Fionnag NicChoinnich perform traditional and contemporary songs.
Fri 11 Sep | 7.30pm | Loch Torridon Community Centre · Kinlochewe & Torridon | More info

Jobs

Do you have a job vacancy you are trying to fill? Reach even more local people by advertising in the Gairloch and District Times. You can book space here.

🟡 Torridon District Community Association is looking for a part-time Operations and Events Manager. More: Goodmoves

🟡 JoJo Cafe in Ullapool has a permanent part-time position available. For more info email: [email protected]

🟡 Applecross Community Company is seeking a part-time Operations Manager. More: ACC

🟡 Highland Council is looking for casual youth workers, based in Ullapool. More: MyJobScotland

More News

🟡 Police Scotland have set-up new email addresses to make it easier for people to contact their local community policing teams. They are also the longest email addresses in the world, possibly to deter you from trying to use them in an emergency (always call 999 if it is an emergency). The Dingwall and Wester Ross team can be contacted at:
[email protected]
More: Police Scotland

🟡 Scotland's environmental agencies, NatureScot, Scottish Environmental Protection Agency, Zero Waste Scotland and possibly Forest Land Scotland are also to be merged into one huge environment quango as part of newly announced Scottish Government reforms. NatureScot and Forest Land Scotland both manage land in Wester Ross. More: Scott Maclennan | Inverness Courier

🟡 The Smiddy Chippy in Contin has announced it is to close permanently. More: Facebook

🟡 If you fancy trying your hand at running a cafe, the SEALL Coffee House at Lochcarron is up for rent. More: Facebook

🟡 147 anglers took part in the Ullapool Angling Festival last weekend. Prize winners, including Iain Boyd who landed a whopping 171lb skate, are listed here: Facebook

🟡 There was much excitement over the weekend as Minke whales fed on shoals of small fish in Gairloch, accompanied by huge flocks of sea birds.

🟡 Gairloch Marine Wildlife Centre and Cruises also posted some amazing videos of the Minkes feeding. Watch: Facebook

Don't forget our deadline for submissions to the next issue of the Gairloch and District Times is Friday September 4 at 10am. You can send us stuff here.