New Visitor Levy plan and SSEN probe rockfall

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🟡 Councillors are to consider a revised Visitor Levy (aka Tourist Tax) proposal at a special meeting on August 25. The new proposals will see a £5 per night flat rate applied to overnight stays in hotels, short-term lets and B&Bs, with a lower £2 per night rate for campsites. Operators will be permitted to keep 5% of the takings to cover administration costs. No levy would be charged for stays in December, January and February. If councillors approve the new plan, there will be a 12-week public consultation period. More: Highland Council

🟡 This week the A832 was closed entirely due to a rockfall. The incident happened "roughly 500m" from where SSEN culvert works were underway, linked to the installation of the Western Isles High Voltage DC cable. In a statement emailed to locals, the firm said: "We’ll be working with the Highland Council to seek to understand the circumstances of the incident and the implications for planned future works along the route."

🟡 You can help Gairloch / Aultbea FC raise cash by taking part in their fantasy football league. It’s £20 entry, half the money raised will go to the winner of the league and half will go to the club. Register using league code - goawv1. Sign up at: Fantasy Premier League

🟡 If you know a local young person with a business idea it's not too late for them to get a space on the Rural Young Entrepreneurs Project. It's completely free for folk aged 16–35 in Gairloch, Aultbea, and Wester Loch Ewe. For more info email: [email protected]

🟡 An overflowing motorhome waste disposal point in Ullapool's Latheron Car Park caused a great deal of upset to locals and visitors alike this week. After many complaints, the council has now restored some order. [Don't click this link if you are eating!] More: Iona M.J MacDonald | Ross-Shire Journal

🟡 A planning application has been submitted for the addition of a new extension to a house, the addition of a new ancillary outbuilding, a solar panel array and a wind turbine at Croft 7, Big Sand, Gairloch. The application also seeks permission for the temporary siting of a shipping container and a caravan. More: Highland Council

🟡 Gairloch Community Car Scheme is running an online survey to find out what you think about them. More: GCCS

🟡 Ben and Lesley from Garden Cottage Nursery, plus a local young couple, have been praised by Wester Loch Ewe Community Council for sprucing up the planters and cutting the grass in Poolewe. More: Facebook

🟡 The Achiltibuie wind turbine owned by the Coigach Community Development Company is finally generating power again. More: Facebook

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.

🟡 Guided Walk: A Saunter Amongst Champions
Join the Trust's ranger Ben Syrett-Judd on a saunter amongst the champion trees of Inverewe Garden. Discussing what makes a champion tree, the history and uses for both humans and wildlife.
Fri 21 Aug | 1.30pm | Inverewe Garden (National Trust for Scotland) · Poolewe | More info

🟡 Tarran
Tarran are an exhilarating contemporary folk group from Glasgow, with roots in both Ireland and New Zealand. Using elements of funk, blues and contemporary rhythm, the band creates a lively and innovative twist on traditional music. Past winners of The Danny Kyle Award and the Hands Up For Trad Battle of the Folk Bands Award
Fri 21 Aug | 8.30pm | Ceilidh Place Ullapool · Ullapool | More info

🟡 Teas & Tees
Tea & Coffee with Isabelle's delicious home baking - Proceeds to WWF. Another chance to buy our Artist Designed sustainably produced T-Shirts, Hoodies, Hats & Totes - Proceeds to Shieldaig Community Association
Sat 22 Aug | 11.00am | Shieldaig Village Hall · Applecross & Shieldaig | More info

🟡 Volunteer to save Torridon's Rainforests
Join the Glen Torridon Partnership and Our Rainforest Futures for a hands-on day of temperate rainforest restoration. Help protect one of Scotland's rarest habitats by removing Red Cedar with the National Trust for Scotland. Email [email protected] to book.
Mon 24 Aug | 9.30am | Loch Torridon Community Centre · Kinlochewe & Torridon | More info

🟡 Accessible Communication Training
Do you support children, young people, families or community groups? Join us for an engaging and practical workshop exploring how to make communication more inclusive, accessible and effective for everyone. FREE
Mon 24 Aug | 10.00am | Macphail Centre · Ullapool | More info

🟡 Nature‑Inspired Colour & Moodboard Workshop
Join Charlotte from Arts in Nature for a relaxing creative session that celebrates the colours of nature and the art of moodboarding.
Tue 25 Aug | 2.00pm | Old School Inverasdale · Poolewe | More info

🟡 People's Emergency Briefing
'The climate we live in today is the least extreme climate we will experience in our lifetimes.' What we need to know. What we need to do. Film screening (50 mins) and discussion. FREE
Wed 26 Aug | 7.00pm | Ullapool Ferry Terminal · Ullapool | More info

🟡 Rainforest past, present & future - A Guided Walk
Join The Woodland Trust on a walk through newly created native woodland, past the stunning Meallan Gobhar gorge and on towards Couldoran. Learn how rainforests are being restored and expanded, see remnant trees that will help seed the woods of the future and find archaeological ruins along the way. Free, but booking essential.
Thu 27 Aug | 10.30am | Gleann Shìldeag · Applecross & Shieldaig | More info

🟡 Author Event : Charlie Bingham
Author and Historian Charlie Bingham will be in conversation with Bookshop Manager Katharine, about her beautiful book The Life Affirming Magic Of Birds. The event is free, with wine, soft drinks and cookies served on the evening. However, please book a seat, as spaces are limited. Call: 01854 612 918 or email [email protected]
Thu 27 Aug | 5.30pm | Ullapool Bookshop · Ullapool | More info

🟡 Cearcall Còmhraidh
Gaelic language conversation sessions for both fluent speakers and learners of all ages. Bria Mason leads the conversation, to develop your Gaelic language skills. School pupils are especially welcome.
Fri 28 Aug | 2.00pm | Gairloch Museum · Gairloch | More info

🟡 Blueness
Blueness is an Inverness-based blues band featuring musicians well known in the North of Scotland. They combine traditional New Orleans blues styles with Chicago and Texas electric blues classics in an exciting mix guaranteed to keep you moving.
Sat 29 Aug | 7.30pm | Gairloch Community Hall · Gairloch | More info

🟡 Demba's Dimanche Dish
A Taste of Senegalese Teranga at The Old Inn, Gairloch. Booking is essential. A proportion of the fee for each meal sold will go to the Nio Far Project.
Sun 30 Aug | 12.00pm | The Old Inn Gairloch · Gairloch | More info

🟡 Wester Loch Ewe Community Council Meeting
All welcome. Send agenda items to [email protected]
Wed 02 Sep | 7.30pm | Poolewe Village Hall · Poolewe | 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.

🟡 Gairloch Primary School are looking for a Gaelic speaking Early Years Practitioner. More: Hi-Jobs

🟡 Dòchas Applecross is looking for a freelance communication officer to undertake a couple of days work per month for them. More: Facebook

🟡 Torridon Cafe and Stores are looking for someone to work five days per week with them, at least until October. More: Facebook

More News

🟡 People who are struggling with gambling across Highland regions and islands in Scotland will now be able to access free treatment sessions through the charity GamCare. More: GamCare

🟡 The Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) have published a report into the grounding and subsequent loss of the fishing vessel, Silver Cloud II. The Silver Cloud II was a prawn trawler that operated from Gairloch and Ullapool. More: MAIB

🟡 Congratulations to the Kinloch Community Woodland volunteers. The wood has been designated as one of just five "Nature30" sites in Scotland as it is "an outstanding example of how community ownership can drive ecological restoration." Convenor of Kinloch Woodlands trustees, Richard Munday said: “This recognition of Kinloch Woodlands as a Nature30 site is warmly welcomed." More: NatureScot

🟡 Congratulations also to everyone at the Aultguish Inn who were awarded the "Outstanding Achievement Award – Scottish Inn / Restaurant of the Year" at The Food Awards Scotland 2026. More: Facebook

🟡 Out of 32 local authorities in Scotland, Highland Council has been rated as having the fourth worst roads in Scotland, according to a recent independent survey. They have marginally improved from last year though. More: Highland Council (pdf)

🟡 The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) investigated Bakkafrost’s salmon farm at West Strome on Loch Carron in 2023 following a complaint and video footage from anti-salmon farming campaigners. After a lengthy Freedom of Information battle with the regulator, The Ferret now has the letters. More: Rob Edwards | The Ferret

🟡 The Applecross Community Company are inviting locals to get involved in developing their next strategic plan, by sharing ideas and feedback. More: Applecross Community Company

🟡 A resident of Wester Alligin says that a stretch of local access road has had no verge maintenance undertaken by the council for years, and that the road is "now disappearing due to bracken and gorse." More: FixMyStreet.com

🟡 There are some tremendous photos from last weekend's Oddballs fancy dress fundraising pub crawl in Ullapool on their Facebook Page. The event raised £2896, which is to be shared between charities, Mikeysline and the Rural Athletes Support Network. More: Iona M.J MacDonald | Ross-shire Journal