Tractors ahoy, A835 update, and a row around Loch Ewe

Hello and welcome to this week's gallimaufry of (mostly) good news: the Wester Ross Round-up. If you're new here, thanks for joining us!

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🟡 BEAR Scotland have issued an update on the works on the A835 site south of Garve known as Check Rail Corner. The single-lane closure with two-way traffic lights is currently expected to remain in place until March 2027. More: BEAR Scotland

🟡 The Lochbroom Community Council (LBCC) is preparing a Local Place Plan (LPP) for the communities of Little Loch Broom. Members of the Little Loch Broom community are encouraged to participate in the LPP questionnaire here.

🟡 In more news from Lochbroom Community Council, they have been approached by SSEN with a view to offering the local community the opportunity to form a Community Liaison Group (CLG) in relation to the Western Isles HVDC Mainland Cable Project. LBCC add that they would not be leading the CLG. To find out more or to get involved in the CLG, local community members are asked to contact LBCC at either [email protected] or [email protected]. More: Facebook

🟡 Certified mud expert Daniel Postma has declared Gairloch's mud to be officially "lovely" on a visit to talk all things turf with Gairloch Museum as part of their Roundhouse project. More: Facebook

🟡 Wester Ross Vintage Tractors are setting sail today on their Wester Ross Tractor Run in aid of Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland. Over three days they'll complete a circuit from Ullapool to Garve, down to Applecross and back up to Ullapool via Gairloch and Aultbea. Give them a wave if you see them, and for more information on their route or to donate, visit JustGiving.

🟡 Don't be alarmed if you see unusual goings-on at Aultbea Hall and surrounding area today, 17 September: a planned multi-agency exercise will be taking place. More: Facebook

🟡 The Scottish Crofting Federation have announced a series of crofters' meetings this autumn with a particular focus on common grazings and the election of Crofting Commissioners. They say: "Our meetings are a chance to talk about both of these key issues, hear the latest developments and, most importantly, hear your views." Dates include 18 November in Ullapool. More: Facebook

🟡 The Scottish Government this week launched its consultation on proposals for fisheries management measures for inshore Marine Protected Areas and Priority Marine Feature management areas. Fishers, coastal communities, marine and environmental groups are being invited to help shape the future management of Scotland's seas. You can read the consultation paper and respond here: Scottish Government.

🟡 Speaking of MPAs, the Blue Hope Alliance are presenting a weekend festival in Coigach to mark the 10th Birthday of the Wester Ross Marine Protected Area, the largest maerl MPA in the world. From short talks to an illuminated twilight flotilla, it's a packed programme. More: Blue Hope Alliance

🟡 Crumbs have announced that their last day of trading in their Gairloch shop will be 16 October. They are also taking pre-orders for pies in the meantime: don't miss the chance to get a final order in. 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.

🟡 Shieldaig Autumn Market
Arts and crafts stalls with Prickly Fish Pottery, Patterns of Light, KW Creations, Wallace Woodwork, Highland Beasts. Teas, coffees, and cake in aid of Shieldaig Community Association. FREE
Sat 19 Sep | 11.00am | Shieldaig Village Hall · Applecross & Shieldaig | More info

🟡 30 Years of Ullapool Museum
For three decades, Ullapool Museum has been collecting, preserving and sharing the stories of Ullapool and Lochbroom. This special anniversary celebration is an opportunity to come together, remember the people and stories that have shaped the museum, celebrate where we are today, and look towards the future.
Sat 19 Sep | 12.00pm | Ullapool Museum · Ullapool | More info

🟡 Film: Road to Singapore
1940s comedy musical film Road to Singapore follows two carefree friends who flee their romantic entanglements and end up on a tropical island.
Sat 19 Sep | 7.30pm | Aultbea Community Hub · Aultbea & Laide | More info

🟡 Ceilidh House Gathering
Doors open 18.30. Our Ceilidh House gatherings meet once a fortnight and are a welcoming group who enjoy making music, singing or the spoken word, come along and tell a tale, read a poem, play a tune, bring your knitting or just sit back and enjoy.
Mon 21 Sep | 7.00pm | Gairloch Museum · Gairloch | More info

🟡 Aultbea Community Council Meeting
Aultbea Community Council Meeting - focus is on the mothballed Nursery and wider impact on the local area. MPs, MSPs, and Highland Council are joining - so we strongly encourage as many people to turn up as possible. Zoom also available.
Mon 21 Sep | 7.00pm | Crow's Nest · Aultbea & Laide | More info

🟡 Kinlochewe Creative Writing Group [Monthly]
Everyone is welcome, no experience necessary. Pens, paper and refreshments provided.
Mon 21 Sep | 7.00pm | Kinlochewe Village Hall · Kinlochewe & Torridon | More info

🟡 Red Point Beach Clean
Join us to help clean up the beaches at Red Point and enjoy the beautiful coastal views and wildlife. Come along for as long as you feel like and help clean up the beaches at Red Point. Bring a picnic if you like! It's a great opportunity to connect with nature, meet new people, and make a positive impact on the environment. See you there!
Tue 22 Sep | 10.30am | Red Point beach · Gairloch | More info

🟡 Lochcarron First Responders Information Evening
Information session with The Scottish Ambulance Service. Minutes matter & you can help. An ambulance may not be able to arrive as quickly as you. You already live here. Once trained, as a Community First Responder you could help save lives in the community you call home. Come along to hear if being a Community First Responder is for you.
Wed 23 Sep | 7.00pm | The Lochcarron Centre · Lochcarron & Strathcarron | More info

🟡 Eco Printing at Laide & Aultbea Community Woodland
Join us for a fun walk in the woodland to gather some interesting or beautiful leaves. Then, learn from the Ranger how to make cool prints with these leaves on paper and fabric. It's a great way to get creative and connect with nature!
Thu 24 Sep | 10.00am | Laide & Aultbea Community Wood · Aultbea & Laide | More info

🟡 Drawing from the Collections
These sessions are informal, self-led and drop-in with no set activity or facilitator. You can spend time looking closely at Museum objects, exploring the galleries and drawing whatever catches your eye. Tea and Coffee is available.
Thu 24 Sep | 3.00pm | Gairloch Museum · Gairloch | More info

🟡 Scottish Country Dancing Club [Every Thursday]
Scottish Country Dancing Club Great fun, good exercise for the body and mind and a wonderful way to meet people.
Thu 24 Sep | 7.30pm | Gairloch Community Hall · Gairloch | More info

🟡 Community Puppet-build Weekend Workshop
Over the weekend of 25-27 September, we are hoping to gather as a community and build a large puppet of Roy the humpback whale - a whale close to the heart of our community - to parade through the village on the afternoon of Sunday 27 (weather permitting!).
Fri 25-Sun 27 Sep | 10.00am | Ceilidh Place Ullapool · Ullapool | More info

🟡 Angus MacDonald MP Constituency Surgery
Angus MacDonald MP will be holding a Constituent Surgery at Shieldaig village hall on Friday 25th of September from 10.15am to 11.30am. All welcome.
Fri 25 Sep | 10.15am | Shieldaig Village Hall · Applecross & Shieldaig | 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.

🟡 Ullapool High School are recruiting for two teaching roles: a Maths Teacher and a Principal Teacher of Technologies and Home Economics.

🟡 Gairloch and Loch Ewe Action Forum are looking for two new team members: an Events Coordinator and a Zero Waste Coordinator.

🟡 Ferguson Transport and Shipping need Temporary Shipping Crew at Kishorn Port between 20-25 September. More: Ferguson Transport

🟡 Postal Delivery Drivers are needed in Ullapool. More: Blue Arrow

More News

🟡 Black Pearl Creole Kitchen in Gairloch are celebrating after scooping a TripAdvisor Travellers' Choice award. More: Facebook

🟡 Applications are open for the Community Capacity Grants Programme. Crown Estate Scotland is looking to fund projects that provide benefits to the wider community and support economic regeneration. The fund is open to eligible community organisations within five miles of Scotland's coastline or estuarine foreshore. More: Foundation Scotland

🟡 Could you help to put on a panto? If so, the good folk of Torridon Christmas Panto want to hear from you – oh yes they do! More: Facebook

🟡 Gaelic has been helping scientists to track down long-lost oyster beds on the West Coast. More: BBC

🟡 Loch Ewe Community Skiff Group have completed their biggest challenge yet by rowing the entire way around Loch Ewe, splitting the 30km route over 5 legs between 7 rowers, and clocking up 7 hours on the water. More: Facebook

🟡 Watch your step at Kinlochewe Village Hall for the next few days. Concrete has been poured on their pathways as part of work to make the hall fully accessible and will take a few days to set. More: Facebook

🟡 Help shape Highland's future: the Highland Council is running a Call for Ideas Survey. They want your ideas for local areas and land that could be better used, improved, protected or developed, such as for local facilities, greenspaces or biodiversity.

🟡 Could you lend the Gairloch & District Times a hand? We're on the lookout for a volunteer to help us with deliveries of the paper from Gairloch to Kinlochewe. If you'd be interested in this or other volunteering opportunities, please get in touch at [email protected].

🟡 And finally, Arctic Convoy Museum shared some specially commissioned aerial footage over Boom Beach, filmed thanks to support from Museums Galleries Scotland. More: Facebook

Our deadline for submissions to the next issue of the Gairloch & District Times is Friday 18 September at 10am. Do you have something for us to publish? Get in touch here!