Ullapool

Ullapool is almost 60 miles / 100 km northwest of Inverness, which has the nearest airport and railway station. Follow A835 and allow 75 mins.
By bus: Scottish Citylink Bus 961 takes 80 mins between Inverness and Ullapool. These are timed to meet the ferries so they run twice a day M-Sat and once on Sunday. An adult single is £15 and in summer you'd best book ahead.
On schooldays only, Bus 890 runs to Ullapool from Kinlochbervie in the morning, taking 2 hours via Laxford Bridge, Kylesku and Elphin, and returning north in the afternoon. An earlier Bus 891 continues from Ullapool to Dingwall, starting back around 14:45.
By boat: Calmac car ferries sail between Ullapool and Stornoway on Lewis, taking about 2 hours 45 min. They sail year-round, with two sailings M-Sat, one on Sunday Nov-Mar and two Apr-Oct. Single fare is about £50 per car and £10 per passenger including driver.
Buses and ferries converge on on the shores of Loch Broom.

Ullapool is small and easily viewed on foot, but you'll need your own wheels to get around the countryside.

The main attraction of Ullapool is the beautiful situation it is in beside the loch and surrounded by typical west Highland scenery. The town itself is pretty and can be wandered around in half an hour or so. Most people also end up walking over to the pretty but still functioning harbour, down to the loch or up the hill behind the town that, for very little effort, provides a wonderful view over the town and over to the Summer Isles.

• Ullapool Museum

  phone: +44 1854 612987
  address: 7 & 8 West Argyle Street IV26 2TY
  Museum in a Thomas Telford church built in 1829, with temporary exhibitions.

• Clear night skies: you need to go a mile or so out of the village to get completely clear of skyglow, then the Milky Way and other celestial objects swim into view.

• Ullapool is a great base for walkers and Munro-baggers - see Ullapool walks for details of routes.
• There are cruises to the nearby Summer Isles on the sedate "Summer Queen" or on a bouncy RIB.
• There are regular concerts in the Ceilidh Place, Seaforth and Macphail Centre next to the secondary school.
• The local pipe band parade in the village on Thursday evenings in summer.
• Ullapool Book Festival is held annually in mid-May. The next event is 8-10 May 2020.

• Loopalu

  address: Ullapool pier
  An increasingly popular rock music festival.
• The Guitar Festival is 3 days of acoustic guitar music in early October at the Macphail Centre. The next event is 4-6 Oct 2019.

• Banks: Bank of Scotland is on West Argyle St, one block back from the ferry pier, open M W F 10:00-15:00. Royal Bank of Scotland is 100 yards east of it, open M-F 09:30-16:45. There's also an ATM in Tesco.

• Tesco

  address: Latheron Lane IV26 2XB
  Well stocked medium sized supermarket.

• Food for Thought

  phone: +44 1854 612416
  address: West Shore Street IV26 2UR
  Butchers and fishmongers next to the ferry terminal. Sells hot pies and pastries.
• The Frigate (see "Eat") also has a small deli.
• Saturday market is held along Quay Street April-Sept, Saturdays 09:00-17:00. Crafts and local produce: organic vegetables, seafood, smoked cheese and fish, bakery.
• Fuel: Lochbroom filling station, 400 yards east of the ferry pier, has 24 hour pumps. The well-stocked shop is open M-Sa 07:30-21:00 and Su 08:30-19:00.

• Ullapool Bookshop

  phone: +44 1854 612918
  address: Quay Street IV26 2UE
  Great selection of general and Scottish titles.
• Several arts and crafts shops in Ullapool, and see also Ceilidh Place bookshop.

• The Frigate and the Seaforth Bar are decent budget eating places next to the ferry terminal, open daily.
• Lucky House a few blocks back is no better than okay, was Jade House until April 2019. Closed Tuesday.

• Essence Of India

  phone: +44 1854 613331
  address: West Lane, IV26 2UT
  Classic-style Indian food, they don't stint on the cooking oil.

• The Arch Inn

  phone: +44 1854 612454
  address: 10-11 West Shore Street IV26 2UR
  Offers a nice atmosphere and live bands. Food service often very slow.

• Broomfield Holiday Park

  phone: +44 1854 612020
  address: West Lane, Ullapool IV26 2UT
  Camping and caravan site open mid-April thru Sept, close to town and ferry pier on the shore of Loch Broom.

• Ullapool Youth Hostel

  phone: +44 1854 612254
  address: Shore Street IV26 2UJ
  Great hostel on the sea front open April-Oct. Clean & safe, a few minutes walk from the ferry pier and the Citylink Bus Stop. Good kitchen and internet access. Guests can use the lounge till 12:00, then you need to be out until 16:30.
• Over a dozen small guesthouses and B&Bs in town, with various rules on dogs, children and minimum stays.

• The Ceilidh Place

  phone: +44 1854 612103
  address: 14 West Argyle Street IV26 2TY
  Open all year, it's a hotel, restaurant, bookshop, café, pub and arts venue. This place is in all the "Best of - " books about Scotland and for good reason. Good food downstairs, relax upstairs in the guest lounge. Comfy rooms, live music in the bar. It's Scottish without being tacky, you will find no Jimmy Hats or dodgy tartan here.

• Riverview

  phone: +44 1854 612019
  address: 2 Castle Terrace, Ullapool IV26 2XD
  Has returned to B&B after a spell of just offering self-catering lets. Clean and welcoming All rooms have en-suite shower rooms, flat screen TV/DVD players, tea/coffee making facilities. No children or pets. 2 night minimum stay so it doesn't work as a stopover for the ferry.

• Caledonian Hotel

  address: Quay Street, IV26 2UG
  83 room hotel in turreted old building, often used by coach parties. Worn-out décor.

• Get on a ferry to Stornoway
• North West Highlands Geopark
• North to Achiltibuie, The Summer Isles and Lochinver
• South to Gairloch