Poolewe school gets glowing report plus could you run a campsite?

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🟡 Poolewe Primary School received a glowing report card from schools inspectors this week. The school won "very good" ratings for "Learning, teaching and assessment," and for "Ensuring wellbeing, equality and inclusion." The four pupils at the school also have an excellent attendance record. More: HMIE

🟡 Here at the Gairloch and District Times we were delighted to learn that The Highland Council has awarded us a grant to renew our printing equipment. We'll have more on what this means for the paper in the next issue, but in the meantime here's the press release: Highland Council

🟡 Roadworks on the A835 at Loch Garve are not set to be complete until "summer 2027," and even that end date is under review according to an update from BEAR Scotland. More: Bear Scotland

🟡 Ullapool's The Ceilidh Place has been nominated in the Venue of the Year category at the MG ALBA Scots Trad Music Awards 2026. You can help them win by voting here: handsupfortrad.scot

🟡 Gairloch Primary School Parent Council are looking for stuff they can sell to raise cash for the P6 & P7 residential trip to Loch Eil. Donations can be left at Gairloch Primary School. More: Facebook

🟡 Following recent stormy weather a Bakkafrost feed barge sank in Loch Torridon. More: BBC Scotland

🟡 Today November 5, The Shop at The Pier in Gairloch will be closed all day as they are having new windows and doors fitted. 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.

🟡 Ulluminate 2026: Mind, Body and Soul | Day One
Join us for a day of stimulating discussions at the village hall.
Fri 06 Nov | 10.00am | Ullapool Village Hall · Ullapool | More info

🟡 Stress-Busting Singing
Join us to sing all your stresses away as part of Ulluminate's Mind, Body & Soul weekend of discussions and workshops. No experience needed.
Fri 06 Nov | 1.00pm | Ullapool Village Hall · Ullapool | More info

🟡 Applecross Fireworks Display
Light up the sky with us! + Games Night. Hall Bar open from 5.30pm, hot dogs (meat or veg) & soup. Donations Welcomed
Fri 06 Nov | 6.00pm | Applecross Community Hall · Applecross & Shieldaig | More info

🟡 Community Bonfire and Fireworks
Community Bonfire & Fireworks organised by Ullapool Fire and Light. Fire lit: 6.15pm. Fireworks: 7pm. Hot food and drinks available. Remember cash for stalls and donation buckets.
Fri 06 Nov | 6.15pm | West Terrace · Ullapool | More info

🟡 Bonfire & Firework Night
Join us at Shieldaig sports ground for our bonfire and firework show with refreshments available in the shed!
Fri 06 Nov | 6.30pm | Shieldaig Sports Ground · Applecross & Shieldaig | More info

🟡 Ulluminate Festival 2026: Day of Wellbeing Science Tapas
Mind, body and soul event exploring evidence and practice. Featuring: Yoga, Art, Rural Walking, Mindfulness, Gut health and cooking demo, Lunch from Gino's Cantina, Breathwork, Saltwork Sauna Tent and Cold Plunge.
Sat 07 Nov | 10.00am | Braemore Space · Ullapool | More info

🟡 Poppy-In Café
Come along and join us to raise funds for Poppyscotland.
Sat 07 Nov | 12.00pm | Aultbea Hall · Aultbea & Laide | More info

🟡 3 Lochs Cinema: Still Pushing Pineapples
An ageing pop star, his elderly mother, and his girlfriend journey through love, family obligations, and the quest for a final hit in this British road movie blending entertainment, working-class spirit, and human bonds.
Sat 07 Nov | 2.30pm | Aultbea Community Hub · Aultbea & Laide | More info

🟡 Ulluminate Festival 2026: Dark Skies Event
Launch of campaign to designate a dark skies reserve in the NW Highlands in association with Wester Ross Biosphere, NW Highlands Geopark. Presented by Mark Washer, Astronomy Educator & Fellow of the Royal Society of Astronomy.
Sat 07 Nov | 6.30pm | Braemore Space · Ullapool | More info

🟡 Northern Soul: Still Burning - Torridon Community Cinema
Film screening of the documentary Northern Soul: Still Burning. Bar opens 7pm, film 7:30pm, tickets £7.50
Sat 07 Nov | 7.00pm | Loch Torridon Community Centre · Kinlochewe & Torridon | More info, shared by Torridon District Community Association

🟡 Remembrance Day Service
Aultbea Community Council invites you to a short Remembrance Day service at the war memorial. Everyone is welcome back to Lochewe Community Church for breakfast afterwards.
Sun 08 Nov | 10.50am | Aultbea War Memorial · Aultbea & Laide | More info

🟡 Loch Ewe Tourism Business Meeting
This meeting will cover the same information as a meeting held in Poolewe previously. If you missed the Poolewe meeting please feel free to come along to Aultbea on the 11th and see how we can join forces to create sustainable and resilient tourism businesses for our area.
Wed 11 Nov | 7.30pm | Aultbea Hall · Aultbea & Laide | More info

🟡 Ullapool and District Pipe Band AGM
All are welcome to attend the Ullapool and District Pipe Band AGM.
Mon 16 Nov | 7.00pm | Ullapool Ferry Terminal · Ullapool | More info

🟡 SCF: Crofters Meeting
The Scottish Crofters Federation is holding an open crofters' meeting in Ullapool this autumn. It has never been more important for us to be talking to the Scottish Government about common grazings, how the rights of crofters can be protected into the future, and how active common grazings can best be supported.
Wed 18 Nov | 7.00pm | Macphail Centre · Ullapool | 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.

FEATURED OPPORTUNITY: The National Trust for Scotland is looking for a new tenant to take on the Inverewe Campsite for the 2027 season and beyond. To find out more email [email protected] before November 16.

🟡 Folk at the Dundonnell Hotel are interested in speaking to people that might want to work there for the 2027 season. More: Facebook

More news

🟡 Gairloch Museum are looking for undressed stone that they can use to build their replica roundhouse. Can you help? More: Facebook

🟡 Voluntary car parking fees paid at car parks throughout Wester Ross have raised £25K for councillors to spend on local projects . More: Hector MacKenzie | Ross-Shire Journal

🟡 A £1million fund set up to encourage Highland property owners to bring empty homes into use has only paid out one grant so far, it has emerged. More: Katie McKay | Inverness Courier

🟡 Mamta Patel, the entrepreneur behind the new co-working and event venue, Braemore Space, was interviewed in the Press and Journal recently. More: Jacob Kvasnicka | Press and Journal

🟡 Despite concerns raised by MPs representing rural areas, Openreach has issued a reminder to customers that the legacy phone network is being officially switched off on January 31, and it says this time the deadline will not be postponed. If you use a copper wire line for calls, or things like telecare services or security alarms you are going to need to make alternative arrangements before the deadline. It's not clear what people are supposed to do if they also live somewhere with a rubbish 4G mobile signal. More: Dan Robinson | The Register

🟡 Writing in the Press and Journal, Anna McPherson, the Programme Leader for the BA (Hons) Film Making degree programme at the University of Highlands & Islands says that the cumulative effect of cuts at STV, the BBC and elsewhere amounts to a media blackout of the north of Scotland. More: Press and Journal

🟡 Local politicians are highlighting the issue of high delivery charges to the Highlands and Islands again. MP Jamie Stone has raised the issue on the floor of the Houses of Parliament while MSP Maree Todd has written to UK Ministers with examples from her constituents. More: Angus Coleman | Inverness Courier

🟡 The Herald's Vikki Allan has been trying out saunas around the NC500. Her trip included Othala at Diabaig, and the Applecross Community Sauna. More: Vicki Allan | The Herald (£)

🟡 And finally, here's a nice video of an otter on the Aultbea shoreline. More: Facebook