Storms named and unnamed

🟡 A parade (what is the collective noun for storms?) of storms, named and unnamed, caused a fair bit of disruption in Wester Ross this week. Power cuts shut down the community broadband in Applecross and the filling station. High winds and coastal flooding made it tricky to get around in some parts, cancelling trains, closing local roads, schools, libraries and visitor attractions. Important winter vaccination sessions in Ullapool and Gairloch were also cancelled. Although it may have had nothing to do with the storm, a broken water main in Gairloch meant that some people even lost water supplies for a short time.

SSE won praise for working hard to get the power back on in difficult conditions. NHS Highland was not praised for failing to tell some people that their vaccination appointment had been cancelled, which meant they made pointless trips in poor weather to locked buildings. At least it looks like we're in for a calmer period of weather now.

🟡 Following the storms, the council is urging landowners to check trees and drainage to make sure they are safe. More: Highland Council

🟡 Congratulations to Radio Wester Ross presenter Iain Meadows who won the gong for Best Presenter - Male - at the UK Community Radio Awards. Here he is at the awards ceremony: Facebook

🟡 Marketing boffins have crunched the numbers on the Google reviews of Highland visitor attractions and named Gairloch Museum as the sixth most highly rated experience in the whole region. More: Michelle Henderson | The Inverness Courier

🟡 A group of Highland Councillors have criticised Royal Mail for poor service in some parts of the region. A motion to be considered at the full council meeting today says that some homes are only receiving deliveries once per week. Locally, Wester Loch Ewe Community Council has also voiced similar concerns. Royal Mail says it is improving. More: BBC News

🟡 Gairloch Community Hall has received a bit of a glow-up. Photos of the revamped hall here: Facebook

🟡 The Wester Loch Ewe Trust hopes to organise weekly soup lunches on a Thursday and are looking for volunteers to make the soup and serve it at the Old School House, Inverasdale. Expenses will be reimbursed. More: WLET

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.

🟡 Consultation on Proposed Fisheries Management Measures
As part of the consultation on "proposed fisheries management measures in Scottish inshore Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) and proposed Priority Marine Features (PMFs)," the Scottish Government is holding drop-in sessions to explain the proposals and the consultation process. Everyone is welcome. This is an open-door event, no need to book.
Thu 29 Oct | 2.00pm–3.00pm and 6.00pm–9.00pm | Ullapool Village Hall · Ullapool | More info

🟡 A Night at the Ceilidh House [Monthly]
Come along for monthly evenings of songs and stories! Perform a poem, play a tune, tell a tale or just listen & enjoy.
Thu 29 Oct | 7.00pm | Loch Torridon Community Centre · Kinlochewe & Torridon | More info

🟡 Kinloch Woods AGM
Gathering from 10 am for 10.30 start. Refreshments before, during & after!
Fri 30 Oct | 10.00am | Shieldaig Village Hall · Applecross & Shieldaig | More info

🟡 Spooktastic! Market
If you wish to come disguised for this Spooktastic market please do.
Sat 31 Oct | 10.00am | Aultbea Hall · Aultbea & Laide | More info

🟡 Ullapool Museum Halloween: Things That Lurk Beneath
Dive into the darker side of the North-West Highlands this Halloween! Join us for a family friendly Halloween festival inspired by the monsters, mysteries and maritime folklore of our wild Highland coastline. Expect a day of Halloween fun, mysterious happenings and fascinating folklore for all ages.
Sat 31 Oct | 11.00am | Ullapool Museum · Ullapool | More info

🟡 Halloween Kids Party Get Together
At Nanny's we're having a lovely little Halloween get-together from 2pm, and all kids are welcome to come along for an afternoon of fun, treats and a little bit of spooky magic!Starting from 2pm on 31st October. Fancy dress is encouraged!
Sat 31 Oct | 2.00pm | Nanny's · Applecross & Shieldaig | More info

🟡 Halloween Hall of Horrors
Bring your guisers along for some extra Halloween fun at Aultbea Hall from 5-6pm on Saturday 31st October! We would welcome donations at the door with all proceeds going towards Aultbea Hall Revival.
Sat 31 Oct | 5.00pm | Aultbea Hall · Aultbea & Laide | More info

🟡 Halloween Party Dance
Bar. Hot food. Prizes for best home-made costumes! £5
Sat 31 Oct | 7.00pm | Coigach Community Hall · Achiltibuie & Summer Isles | More info

🟡 10A: The Fitting Room
Fresh from this year's Edinburgh Fringe Festival, Australian writer-performer Eliza Allen brings her solo theatre show, 10A: The Fitting Room, to our humble stage. Directed by Max Kirk, the one-woman show balances retail workplace comedy with a candid look at how personal independence can unravel in an unhealthy relationship.
Sat 31 Oct | 7.30pm | Lochcarron Village Hall · Lochcarron & Strathcarron | More info

🟡 Halloween Party
Dress up or die. Enjoy music from Liam McVey and Tom Woodley.
Sat 31 Oct | 8.00pm | Ceilidh Place Ullapool · Ullapool | More info

🟡 Mountain Song
"The real thing! high voltage, golden era Bluegrass delivered with expertise, panache and authenticity"
Sat 31 Oct | 9.00pm | The Arch Inn · Ullapool | More info

🟡 Reel to Reel: Let The Right One In
Entry by £5 donation at the door. All are welcome. Bring your own refreshments. Advisable to bring a cushion.
Sun 01 Nov | 7.00pm | Ullapool Ferry Terminal · Ullapool | More info

🟡 Warm Mondays [Every Monday]
All welcome, free of charge but donations are appreciated! Soup, tea/coffee, cake & chat.
Mon 02 Nov | 11.00am | Gairloch Community Hall · Gairloch | More info

🟡 Breakfast for Men
All male residents of Coigach are welcome to come along for a bacon roll, tea/coffee and a blether. Have an input into developing a Men's Shed in Coigach.
Tue 03 Nov | 9.30am | Coigach Community Hall · Achiltibuie & Summer Isles | More info

🟡 IT Drop In Session | Getting know your smartphone or tablet
Each session will begin with a short 30-minute introduction to the topic followed by an open drop-in, where you can ask questions, get help with your own devices or discuss any IT issues you're having. Bring along your phone, tablet or laptop and we'll do our best to help.
Wed 04 Nov | 2.00pm | Poolewe Village Hall · Poolewe | More info

🟡 Gentle Movement Sessions - 6 Week Block [Every Thursday]
Slow down, unwind and reconnect. Discover the joy of gentle movement with our free six-week wellbeing programme in Inverasdale. Everyone welcome, no experience needed!
Thu 05 Nov | 11.00am | Old School Inverasdale · Poolewe | More info

🟡 Shieldaig Community Council
The next meeting of Shieldaig Community Council will take place on Thursday 5th November 2026 at 7.00 pm in the Shieldaig Hall.
Thu 05 Nov | 7.00pm | Shieldaig Village Hall · Applecross & Shieldaig | More info

More News

🟡 Highland Council is facing a huge unexpected £40m budget gap. Expect Council Tax to go up every year, plus more cuts. More: Highland Council

🟡 The Loch Broom and Ullapool Community Benefit Fund is open for applications. More: LUCT

🟡 With fuel bills set to rise again in January, The Scottish Government has pledged to replicate a one-off UK government energy payment scheme announced by the chancellor in the budget this week. The English scheme will see £100 paid directly to people who live in homes in council tax bands A-D. The details of the Scottish Government scheme are yet to be confirmed. Age Scotland has already called for the Scottish scheme to be extended to cover anyone that receives Pension Credit regardless of the size of their home. More: BBC News

🟡 The UK Government chancellor will also remove a 4% tariff on kerosene to "support the 142,000 Scottish households that rely on heating oil." More: UK Government

🟡 The Inverness - Kyle Railway line is to close for three weeks from Saturday November 28 to Friday December 18. The closure will allow for a £9m maintenance and improvement project to take place at various points along the line including Inverness Station, Achnasheen and the Carron Viaduct. More: Network Rail

🟡 Harbour House on Garve Road in Ullapool wants planning permission from Highland Council for a change of use from hotel owners accommodation to four hotel guest rooms. More: Hector Mackenzie | Ross-Shire Journal

🟡 And finally, thank you to Ginevra House for sending us this photo. She wonders whether she may have spotted the mysterious Lord Berkeley, hanging around Stob Cadha Gobhlach on An Teallach?