Wester Ross: Stillest place in Europe

Hello and welcome to another Wester Ross Round-up. Guaranteed to be a less disappointing experience than the view we had last night of the solar eclipse. If you have just found us, and would like to get this every week, simply tap the button below to subscribe. It's free.

🟡 This week Wester Ross was named as the best place in Europe for a "stillcation" - a holiday where "you can slow down among nature." This may of course be news to the people who live and work here. More: Euronews

🟡 The new owners of the Torridon Stores, Rich and Jenny Morrish have paid tribute to their predecessor, Jo Harris, in The Ross-Shire Journal. More: Hector MacKenzie | Ross-Shire Journal

🟡 SSEN have sent out a reminder of the upcoming overnight road closures on the A832 at Dundonnell. The night-time road closure culvert replacement works will take place between 24 August and 4 October 2026 and are required to replace existing culverts ahead of future HVDC cable installation works associated with the Western Isles HVDC Link project. To allow the works to be carried out safely, the A832 will be fully closed each night between 9pm and 7am throughout the programme. During daytime hours, the road will remain open under convoy-controlled traffic management through the work area. More: SSEN Information Booklet (pdf)

🟡 Speaking of downloadable booklets, a souvenir booklet produced by the Arctic Convoy Museum has proven so popular you can now buy it online. More: Arctic Convoy Museum

🟡 The current owners of Cult Cafe in Ullapool are seeking to pass the business on. They have dropped the asking price recently and say they are open to doing a deal with the right people to help them get started. More: Facebook

🟡 Community groups, charities, public sector bodies and other eligible organisations across Highland are being encouraged to apply for funding from the latest round of the Highland Nature Restoration Fund (NRF) Community Grants Programme, which opens for applications on Friday 14 August 2026. More: Highland Council

🟡 A four bedroom home at Peterburn has recently gone on the market. More: Yopa

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.

🟡 Unfortunately, the Race Night that was scheduled for August 15 in the Aultbea Hub has been cancelled. More: Facebook

🟡 Crafting Together in Aultbea [Fortnightly Fri]
A welcoming group for all (non messy) Crafts that meets every second Friday
Fri 14 Aug | 10.30am | Aultbea Free Church of Scotland · Aultbea & Laide | More info

🟡 Bat Walk [Every Friday]
Join Inverewe ranger Ben Syrett-Judd for an evening walk with these midge-eating wonders. The walk starts at Inverewe visitor centre, where we will watch them leave their roost, we will then follow them into the gardens while they hunt for food, listening in to to their calls using bat detectors. The walk is on established paths.
Fri 14 Aug | 8.30pm | Inverewe Garden (National Trust for Scotland) · Poolewe | More info

🟡 RANT fiddles
RANT are at the forefront of the Scottish fiddle scene. The band is made up of the country's finest players, (Bethany Reid from Shetland, Anna Massie and Lauren MacColl from the Black Isle, and Gillian Frame from Arran) and creates a sound which is both spacious and lush, yet retaining all the earthy bite of a traditional Scottish fiddle player.
Sat 15 Aug | 8.30pm | Ceilidh Place Ullapool · Ullapool | More info

🟡 Community Carboot Sale
Lots of Stalls, UHS D of E Stalls, Community Groups, Private sellers. A variety of fantastic home baking including gluten free, dairy and egg free. Tea, coffee and soft drinks. £10 per stall.
Sun 16 Aug | 1.00pm | Ullapool High School · Ullapool | More info

🟡 Aultbea Community Council
Items to be discussed including road repairs, local schools, and community projects.
Mon 17 Aug | 7.00pm | Aultbea Hall · Aultbea & Laide | More info

🟡 Poolewe Cèilidh Partnership - Anndra Cumming & Friends
The Poolewe Cèilidh Partnership (P.C.P.) is a group of volunteers who run a series of cèilidh dances throughout the summer each year to promote traditional music and fundraise for local good causes. Tickets available on the door.
Wed 19 Aug | 7.00pm | Poolewe Village Hall · Poolewe | More info

🟡 Gaelic Lunch ~ Lòn Gaidhlig
Our Gaelic lunches are a chance to speak, practise and learn Gaelic, in a relaxed and friendly social setting. Whether you are a fluent speaker, learner or beginner, all are welcome to attend. Teas and coffees available.
Fri 21 Aug | 1.00pm | Gairloch Museum · Gairloch | More info

🟡 Wester Ross Parkinson's Support Group
Join us for a cafe, open to all living with Parkinson's and their families and carers. Come along for the "three Cs" - coffee, cake and craic!
Thu 27 Aug | 2.00pm | Poolewe Village Hall · Poolewe | More info

🟡 Ullapool Angling Competition
Ullapool Angling Day. Boats can leave from where they like and at any time but must be in for weigh-in at Ullapool Harbour at 5pm. Only land legal fish that will be used. Entry by donation, suggested amount over 18s £10, under 18s £5, monies go to overheads, prizes, and putting on angling events on the harbour during the day for kids.
Sat 29 Aug | 1.00am | Ullapool | More info

🟡 What Ever The Weather [Every Wednesday]
Our friendly group meet every Wednesday and use Museum objects and other inspiration to aid discussion. Board Games also available. All our activities are accessible and dementia friendly. If you need help with transport please get in touch.
Wed 09 Sep | 10.30am | Gairloch Museum · Gairloch | 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.

🟡 MOWI are looking for an Assistant Farm Manager, based at Ullapool. More: HiJobs

🟡 The Ocean View Hotel at Laide has several jobs on offer. Some of them involve pizza. More: Facebook

🟡 The Ceilidh Place in Ullapool have two hospitality jobs on offer. More: Facebook

🟡 The Badachro Inn are looking for bar staff. More: Facebook

More News

🟡 The shooting season may have opened on "the glorious twelfth" but The Scotsman reports a poor season is expected in the Highlands. More: Scotsman

🟡 Conanvet are changing their service availability in Ullapool. More: Facebook

🟡 Inverness - Highland is the only Scottish entry into the latest UK City of Culture competition. It is also the only bid to include a wider region beyond a city in the scope of the bid. The Beò! 2029 bid has now been submitted to the Department of Culture, Media and Sport. More: Highland Council

🟡 Pollaidh Coffee & Bakes have started serving up, erm, coffee and cakes at the Stac Pollaidh car park. More: Facebook

🟡 The UK Government has announced that people who live within 500m of new electricity distribution infrastructure, such as pylons and sub-stations, will be eligible to receive £250 per year off their power bills for ten years. Unfortunately, underground and sub-sea high voltage cables do not qualify so people in Dundonnell and Little Loch Broom will miss out, despite the transport disruption on the A832. In fact, none of the initial qualifying schemes appear to be in Wester Ross. More: UK Government

🟡 The Highlands were named as the area with the worst food hygiene in Scotland. More: Deadline news

🟡 It was the Shieldaig Fate last weekend, and a little rain didn't stop proceedings. Here's a short video from the event. More: Facebook