Screen Machine success and NC500 survey

Hello and welcome to another Wester Ross Round-up. It may be dark and stormy outside, but we hope this newsletter shines a little light in the local news darkness...

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🟡 Let's start with some good news for fans of the Screen Machine mobile cinema. After a massive fundraising campaign, enough cash has been raised to place an order for a new £1.49m vehicle. Delivery of the new cinema is expected in June 2026 and the service is to resume the following month. In the meantime, the Screen Machine will be visiting Ullapool on December 12 and 13, Lochcarron on January 26 and 27, and Gairloch from January 28 - 31. More: Screen Machine

🟡 Following the death of a local woman Aultbea Stores is closed. A spokesperson for Police Scotland said: "Around 11.45 on Monday, 8 December, 2025, we were made aware of the death of a woman in the Aultbea area. There are no suspicious circumstances and a report will be sent to the Procurator Fiscal in due course.”

🟡 Strong winds associated with Storm Bram caused some local disruption this week. Trains and ferries were cancelled, fallen trees between Torridon and Shieldaig caused trouble on the roads, and Inverewe Garden, Gairloch schools, and Gairloch library were all closed. Community internet provider Applenet and Wester Ross Radio broadcasts were also disrupted in some parts.

🟡 Highland residents living along the NC500 are being encouraged to take part in a survey that seeks to "probe the economic advantages and rising pressures of increased visitor numbers," associated with the route. More: Josh Pizzuto-Pomaco | The Herald (£) and this is the survey link.

🟡 The new Co-op store in Gairloch is scheduled to open this Friday December 12 at 10am.

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The Button Bothy Christmas Shop featuring Ron's Book Bothy, Garden Cottage Nursery, Highland Hospice and much more for all your Christmas shopping - gifts, cards, wrap, vouchers. Open Wednesday - Saturday 11am-4pm at Poolewe Village Hall.

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🟡 Bathing waters at Gairloch Beach and Sands have retained their Excellent water quality rating after testing throughout the 2025 season. More: SEPA

🟡 The Ullapool Bookshop has announced its top 10 best sellers for 2025. The list includes a number of Wester Ross-based authors. More: Facebook

🟡 Local volunteers have been thanked for helping to remove roof tiles from the inside of Gairloch Community Hall, after one fell onto a hall user earlier in the week. A statement posted to social media from the committee said: "A huge thank you to the team of volunteers who took all the offending ply panels down from the ceiling in the hall this morning and a big thanks also to the soup ladies who rallied the troops from the community to help. The hall is now safe and operational once again in time for all the Christmas events." More: Facebook

🟡 Local composer Ginevra House is raising funds to support a collaborative creative project in Indonesia: Bishma and Shikhandi - a Gamelan Opera. You can find out more about the project on the Crowdfunder site. More: Crowdfunder

🟡 Highland Council have advertised three new local job vacancies. At Gairloch, the local authority is hoping to recruit a part-time pupil support assistant, and at Ullapool Primary School a part-time cleaner is needed. At Ullapool High School they're looking for a new ASN/Inclusion Principal Teacher.

🟡 Tonight, Thursday December 11, there's a festive charity pub quiz in the Jam Jar at the Aultbea Hotel. More: Facebook

🟡 There's more festive fun planned in Aultbea, Torridon, Ullapool and Lochcarron in the coming days. Details in the flyers below.

🟡 Also on December 13, they're showing It's a Wonderful Life, which organisers claims is the "greatest Christmas movie of all time" at the Loch Torridon Community Centre. Doors open at 14:00. More: Facebook

🟡 Scottish Opera has announced they are bringing their touring show The Office Party to Gairloch Community Hall on February 24, 2026. More: Scottish Opera

🟡 And if you fancy planning ahead, West Coast Arts have already posted details of ten events for 2026 to their Facebook page, including favourites Budapest Cafe Orchestra, and the Luke Daniels Trio. More: Facebook

🟡 The Scottish Government has established a new pilot small producers fund that may be of interest to local crofters. But you need to move fast – there is just £175,000 available for the Highlands and Islands area – 17 projects are expected to gain support and expressions of interest must be in by January 9. More: Highlands and Islands Enterprise.

🟡 The Scottish Creel Fishermen's Federation are encouraging all inshore fishers to complete an online survey that wants to gather views on limiting creel numbers. More: Facebook

🟡 A recent SSEN event at Contin that was held to share information about works associated with the planned new HVDC cable that will run from the Hebrides to Beauly, via Dundonnell, has been described by Garve and District Community Council (GDCC) as "wholly shambolic and notably uninformative." More: GDCC

🟡 NHS Highland has implemented a face mask policy for staff and visitors in response to rising flu cases. In a social media post they said: "We would also ask that visitors to our hospitals wear masks which will be available on arrival. This helps us protect our patients and keep our essential services running when you need them most. Please only visit NHS Highland sites if you are symptom free and limit the number of visitors to relatives and loved ones." More: Facebook

🟡 Gairloch and Loch Ewe Action Forum have published a progress update on their local Community Action Plan. More: GALE

🟡 The bridge at Corrieshalloch Gorge is currently closed due to the breakage of an essential part. It is expected that the bridge will be closed for at least six weeks. More: Facebook

🟡 The Rape and Sexual Abuse Service Highlands (RASASH) has put out a statement urging people not to promote "misguided" claims that migrants are linked to increasing risk of sexual crime. Eileen Stuart, RASASH Board Chair said: “We are aware that anti-migrant protests nationally have invoked concerns for women’s and girls’ safety based on the misguided belief that asylum seekers pose a greater risk. Sexual violence is rooted in misogyny, inequality, and power – not immigration status or nationality.” More: RASASH

🟡 Following the latest national squirrel survey it has emerged that the Red Squirrel has extended its range throughout Scotland by 25%. This hasn't happened by accident, but is a result of a ten year long reintroduction strategy led by Trees for Life. The charity has re-established new populations in Wester Ross at Plockton, Letterewe, Inverewe and Shieldaig, among other places. The Scottish Squirrel map also shows other recent sightings including Kinlochewe and Torridon. More: Inside Ecology

🟡 Congratulations to the creative pupils at Bualnaluib Primary School who won £450 from the Scottish Book Trust after making a clever stop-motion animiation video. Watch it at the bottom of this web page: Bualnaluib Primary School