Royal visit for Inverasdale and Gairloch High success

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🟡 Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal, Princess Anne, is to visit the Old Schoolhouse, Inverasdale on Tuesday May 12, according to an announcement by the Wester Loch Ewe Trust.

It said: "During her time at The Old Schoolhouse, Her Royal Highness will meet volunteers, trustees, and members of the community, and learn more about the initiatives and projects that have been developed to sustain and enrich life in this rural area."

Liz Nicholson, Chairperson for Wester Loch Ewe Trust said: "We are delighted and deeply honoured to welcome Her Royal Highness to Inverasdale. This visit is a wonderful recognition of the dedication of our volunteers and the support of our community. The Old Schoolhouse is at the heart of what we do, and we are proud to share our story and the impact of our work." More: Facebook

🟡 This week Gairloch High School are celebrating leaping up the attainment league table. Headteacher Stuart Caddell wrote in an email to parents: "Based on national data relating to pupils leaving school with five or more Highers (including SCQF Level 6 courses), we are currently top of the table in Highland and an outstanding 18th out of more than 350 state secondary schools across Scotland. This is a hugely impressive outcome and a real testament to the hard work and dedication of our whole school community." More: Facebook and The Times (£)

🟡 Five men in a convoy of high performance cars, and a motorcyclist doing 129mph were among those caught by police on the A835 recently. They were charged with speeding and driving offences. More: BBC

🟡 A recent poll suggests that local MSP Maree Todd's coat might be on a shoogly peg at Holyrood. The poll predicts that she could be ousted by the rival Liberal Democrat candidate. More: Scott Maclennan | Inverness Courier (£)

🟡 The Seafood Shack in Ullapool is all set to open after a big revamp on April 25. More: Facebook

🟡 The Bridge Cottage Art Café at Poolewe has also undergone a big facelift. Customers will be able to check out the new décor when they re-open today, April 23 at 10:00. More: Facebook

🟡 It looks like a new taxi service will soon be serving the Wester Ross area. More: Facebook

Events

🟡 This afternoon, April 23, it's Home Energy Day at the MacPhail Centre in Ullapool. More: LUCT

🟡 Also in Ullapool, Fèis Rois nan Inbheach 2026 is taking place from Friday May 1 to Monday May 4. There's a healthy range of fringe events for trad music fans to attend too. All the details can be found here: Fèis Rois

🟡 On Friday May 1, The Torridon Partnership are putting on an event for local crofters and anyone else interested in finding out more about Scotland's Rainforest, and how it can best be looked after. More: Facebook

🟡 Would you like to join the local team that helps rescue seals, whales and dolphins? Charity BDMLR are training more volunteers. Details in the flyer below.

🟡 The Jam Jar at Aultbea Hotel are marking National Mammal Week with a pub quiz tonight (April 23, 19:30). More: Facebook. Get involved with National Mammal Week by recording sightings of wild mammals or their signs using the free Mammal Mapper app. Express your interest in other ways to support local mammals at: NW Scotland Mammal Network Volunteer Form

🟡 On May 27, there will be a mini craft fair at Hillbillies Bookshop in Gairloch from 18:00 - 20:00. More: Facebook

Jobs

🟡 FEATURED JOB AD: There are a range of jobs going at The Torridon Hotel. More details in the flyer below. Email [email protected] for more info.

🟡 The Loch Torridon Community Centre are looking for people able to work at the Celtman events in June. Various shifts and jobs are available on June 12, 13, 14, 19 and 20. More: Facebook

🟡 The Scottish Wildlife Trust are hiring a reserves manager to work in the area. More: Highland Jobs

🟡 Highland Council are recruiting for a part-time, temporary cleaner to work at Lochcarron Primary School. More: Hi-Jobs

🟡 Fire and Steam Sauna, based in Gairloch, are looking to hire an additional Sauna Host. They are particularly looking for people with evening availability 16:00 onwards especially Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. More: Facebook

More News

🟡 Members of Shieldaig Community Council are "perplexed" after several protected pine trees were felled just outside the village. More: Facebook

🟡 Gairloch Aultbea United FC were on BBC Alba recently to mark their return to the local league. (Read more on their return in the next issue of the Gairloch and District Times, out tomorrow!) Watch: Facebook

🟡 Local MP Angus MacDonald says demographic change in the Highlands "...cannot be ignored. Without action, we risk hollowing out communities that have existed for generations." More: Politics Home

🟡 Mànran have said they plan to team up with Ruairidh Gray to record the tune Loch Maree Islands, after the version of the tune that they played live at Glasgow Hydro at Hogmanay proved a big hit. More: Facebook

🟡 Highland Council have only issued three fixed penalty fines for dog fouling in the last five years. None of them were in Wester Ross. More: BBC

🟡 The average household consumption of electricity in The Highlands is the third highest of anywhere in the UK at 5,332 (kWh). Only households in Na h-Eileanan Siar and Argyll and Bute use more power. That's according to the newly released UK Renewable Energy Independence Index. More: Utility Bidder

🟡 Scoraig is to get a visit from the Ullapool GPs and nurses on April 30. Book an appointment by calling 01854 612015. More: Facebook

🟡 Are you interested in learning or improving your Gaelic? Wester Ross Biosphere hope to run more of their popular Gaelic classes in the future. You can get on the waiting list or find out more by emailing: [email protected]

🟡 Highland Council has outlined the range of support available at polling stations that can make it easier for people to vote in the Scottish elections on May 7. Voters can also appoint a trusted person to vote on their behalf, but proxy applications must be received by 17:00 on Tuesday 28 April 2026.  In the event of an emergency that prevents a voter from attending the polling place, an emergency proxy can be requested until 17:00 on polling day. More: Highland Council

🟡 Type your postcode into this new tool to find out how nature is doing near you. More: Scottish Nature Data

🟡 And finally, here's a video from Gairloch Marine Wildlife Centre and Cruises, who spotted their first Common Dolphins of the season this week. More: Facebook

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