Roundhouse cash and second home tax campaign
Read to the end to see some stunning spring photos shared by our readers.
Hello and welcome to the latest Wester Ross Round-up. We hope you've been enjoying the sun. This week the newsletter is hitting the inboxes of 1182 people. If you're a regular reader and know someone who might find this useful, please share it and encourage them to subscribe, it really helps.
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🟡 This week ward councillors met and agreed to back the Gairloch Museum Roundhouse project with a grant of £45,000. Torridon District Community Association, Torridon & Kinlochewe Community Council, Aultbea's Men Shed and Toybox Children’s Centre all received smaller grants too. More: Highland Council
🟡 A Gairloch home has been named by letting platform Vrbo as Scotland’s only winner in the Vrbo Holiday Homes of the Year 2026 awards, one of just six recipients in the UK. A photo of the house, called The Lighthouse, is featured at the top of this newsletter. Camilla Gray Muir, whose family developed the house said: “It has been a pleasure to share the house with guests who have so clearly appreciated it. The Lighthouse is just one of a growing number of local businesses that together offer visitors a memorable stay in this remote and lovely place.” More: Vrbo and The Lighthouse.
🟡 Meanwhile, a campaign has been launched to try to dissuade Highland Council from increasing council tax on second homes in the area. Colin Taylor, from the newly-established Second Home Owners for Fair Treatment (SHOFT) group argues that plans to make second home owners pay four times the standard council tax rates by 2028/29 are unfair and a "revenue grabbing exercise”. The council says the policy will help to free up more local homes for people to live in all year round. More: STV News
POLL: Do you think second home owners should pay more council tax?
We want to know what our readers think about this issue. Please vote in our quick poll below by tapping the button below.
🟡 Local Gaelic speaking school pupils have submitted their entries to this years FilmG short film competition and are now up for a public vote. You can find the Gairloch High School entry here, and the Lochcarron Primary School entry here. Voting closes on May 1 at 18:00, so you need to be quick! More: FilmG
🟡 A dolphin was found stranded in Loch Ewe near Aultbea Stores recently. We've published a full account of what happened next that our paying supporters can read right now. The full story will also be in the next issue of the paper.
Kate Larsen-Daw
🟡 Loch Broom Community Council have begun the process of putting together a Local Place Plan for the Little Loch Broom area. If you live around the loch there's a survey for you to fill in. When it is complete, council officials should take account of the Local Place Plan when they are making planning decisions. More: Loch Broom Community Council
Events
These are just the most recent events that we've spotted. For a complete list of local events, see our What's On Guide in the latest issue of the paper.
🟡 The 2026 Wester Ross Vintage Tractor Run is happening on April 30 - May 2. They're raising money for the Highland Hospice. Route details are on their fundraising page: Just Giving
🟡 On May 1, new exhibitions by artist Lesley Mackay and photographer Mark Littlejohn go on display at Gairloch Museum. The opening event starts at 4pm. More: Gairloch Museum
🟡 May 1 is also the big opening day for the Lochcarron Cafe. More: Facebook
🟡 On Saturday May 2, Tasting Shapes and Niamh Maclennan play in Applecross Community Hall. More: Facebook
🟡 Social Badminton is getting going again at Aultbea Hall. More: Facebook
🟡 On Friday May 8, the Trustees of the Arctic Convoy Museum will be paying their respects at the Cove Memorial at 11:00 to mark the 81st Anniversary of VE Day and would be delighted to be joined by anyone else who wishes to attend.
🟡 West Coast Arts have got two events lined up for May. Sarah McQuaid is playing Gairloch Community Hall on May 16. On May 30, The Sorries are playing Aultbea Hall. Tickets and more info: West Coast Arts
🟡 Fancy dress fundraising caper, Oddballs, is set to make a return to Ullapool on August 15. This year’s chosen charities are Mikeysline and Rural Athlete Support Network. More: Facebook
Jobs
Are you planning to hire someone new? Advertise your jobs with us.
🟡 Gairloch High School have not one, but two, teaching vacancies at the moment. They are looking for a History Teacher and a Principal Teacher of Science.
🟡 NHS Highland are also seeking a new doctor to join the team at the Torridon Medical Practice. More: NHS Scotland
More news
🟡 In their first fortnight, the newly formed Torridon Community First Responders volunteer team has already been on two callouts. More: Facebook
🟡 If you speak Scottish Gaelic, researchers at the University of the Highlands and Islands (UHI) want to hear from you. More: UHI
🟡 A Victorian villa in Ullapool is set to be transformed into a guest house by former luxury hotel manager James Eckersley, with plans open for public consultation until May 5. More: Iona M.J. MacDonald | Ross-shire Journal (£)
🟡 Not sure who to vote for in the Scottish Parliament Elections on May 7? The BBC have built a handy webpage that makes it easy to compare the policy proposals of all the main parties. Whether you think they can deliver them is a different matter... More: BBC
🟡 Highland Council reports that a short-term lets control zone has slowed the growth of Airbnb-style accommodation in Badenoch and Strathspey since its introduction in 2024. Officials are working on introducing a short-term let control zone in Wester Ross. More: BBC
🟡 The Arctic Convoy Museum have published their Spring Newsletter. Download it here: Arctic Convoy Museum
🟡 The Ewe Brew Tap House at Poolewe Village Hall is all ready to open... but there's some official approvals still needed. So no date yet. More: Facebook
🟡 We've had some spectacular spring weather over the last couple of weeks. Thank you to everyone that has shared their photos with us on our Facebook page and elsewhere. We wish we could share them all but there simply isn't space here.
Photo credits:
- Poolewe fog bow | Button Bothy
- South Erradale fog bow | Annie Worsley
- Alpacas | Louise Quinn
- Burnet Moth Caterpillars, Gruinard Bay | Chloe Hall
- Wild Primrose near Coast | Iain Aitken
- Sunset over The Minch | Steve McDonald
🟡 And finally... if you haven't already, please take part in our second home tax poll. We'll share the results in the next issue of the paper, along with a selection of your comments. Vote here: Gairloch Times
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