Ullapool
A whitewashed fishing town on Loch Broom. Ferries to Stornoway. The Falls of Measach 12 miles south. Stac Pollaidh 30 minutes north. And fish and chips on the pier that'll ruin you for all other fish and chips.
Best Time
May – September
Recommended Stay
1 – 2 Days
Getting There
1 hr from Inverness
Known For
NC500 Stop + Summer Isles
Ullapool is the largest settlement in Wester Ross — which isn\'t saying much, it has about 1,500 people — but it punches above its weight. The harbour is busy with fishing boats, the Stornoway ferry, and tour boats to the Summer Isles. The pubs are good. The fish is fresh. And it\'s one of the best bases for exploring Assynt and Coigach, the wild country to the north that contains some of Scotland\'s strangest and most beautiful mountains.
Things to Do
Ullapool Harbour
The heart of the town. Fishing boats, the Stornoway ferry, and a row of whitewashed buildings along the waterfront. The chip shop on the pier does haddock landed that morning. The ferry to Stornoway on Lewis departs daily — 2.5 hours each way. You can do Lewis as a very long day trip or stay overnight.
💡 The best fish and chips are from the van on the pier, not the restaurant. Cash only.
Corrieshalloch Gorge
A 60-metre-deep slot gorge 12 miles south of Ullapool. A Victorian suspension bridge sways across the top while the Falls of Measach plunge into darkness below. Built in 1874, still slightly unnerving. The whole stop takes 30-45 minutes. Free.
💡 Car park right off the A835. Follow the path to the bridge and viewpoint. Stay on the path.
Summer Isles Boat Trip
The Summer Isles are a cluster of islands in Loch Broom — uninhabited except for sheep and seabirds. Boat trips from Ullapool harbour run May-September. You'll see seals, possibly dolphins, and the tanin-coloured water that gives the Summer Isles their distinctive look.
💡 Book at the harbour kiosk. 2-hour trips about £30. The morning trips are calmer.
Ullapool Museum
In a converted church by the harbour, this museum tells the story of Ullapool — founded as a herring station in 1788, built on a grid pattern by the British Fisheries Society. The exhibits on the Clearances (when Highland landlords evicted tenants in the 19th century) are particularly powerful.
💡 £5 entry. Good rainy day option. The building itself is worth seeing.
Stac Pollaidh (30 min away)
The mountain with the broken-crown ridge. The car park is 30 minutes north of Ullapool. If you only hike one mountain in Assynt, make it this one. 2-3 hours to the shoulder with panoramic views. The ridge is a Grade 1 scramble for the brave.
💡 Arrive before 9am. The car park is small. Check MWIS for cloud base before going.