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NC500 News & Updates Northwest Highlands Updates

Cul Mor and Suilven on 18th & 19th June 2024

We have some walks planned you can book. These are confirmed, and you can join this group for a reasonable price. Get in touch for more details at 07532315262 or [email protected]

18th June Cul Mor

On the way to Cul Mor

Assynt in the far North West of Scotland is jaw-dropping, the landscape is so outstanding and other worldly that you’d think you’d travelled to another planet.

One of the highest peaks in Assynt, Cul Mor’s rocky summit offers beautiful views and a window into the history of how the surrounding landscape was formed. Cul Mor, meaning ‘big back,’ rises from Knockan Crag to the east to overlook Loch Sionascaig and the neighbouring peak Stac Pollaidh to the west.

Despite its higher altitude, it is less well known than two other neighbours, Suilven and Stac Pollaidh. However, being higher, it commands views over these and other neighbours and extensive stunning views out to the Summer Isles.

Walk details: 8 miles, 13 km – Ascent 670 m, Descent 670 m – Walking time 5 h

19th June – Suilven

Suilven seen from the road to Glencanisp Lodge

This is a very exciting way of climbing this magnificent hill.

Suilven may be only 731 metres high, but its remarkable outline makes it one of Scotland’s best-known and most easily identified mountains.

Its position in the heart of Assynt’s cnoc-and-loch landscape and superb views make it one of the finest peaks in Britain.

The return is on the same route we walked up.

Walk details: 12 miles, 19.5 km – Ascent 750 m, Descent 750 m- Walking time 6 – 7 h

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NC500 News & Updates Northwest Highlands Updates

Walks around Ullapool 2022

All Walking trips and Day Walks are bookable for 2022

We haven’t been posting much here recently. The summer has been amazing and most of it we have been out and about guiding folk all around Ullapool and the North-West of Scotland.

We thank every single person who booked with us in 2021, especially all the returning guests. We all need this in times likes this.

Then we got surprisingly a job offer to return to the Canaries for guiding walking trips after a 2 years abstinence. COVID stopped us from regularly heading out in Autumn and Spring.

Now after being here 8 weeks working here we are slowly shifting our focus back to our beloved Scotland and home village Ullapool.

All walks are now bookable from the 1st of April until the 15th of October 2022. Our approach this time is different and every walk can be booked every day. We now have a guide pool in place and can offer more walks per day if needed.

Each walk needs a minimum of at least 4 guests to make it viable.

Should a walk not have the minimum amount of guests a few days before we will offer you either to pay a supplement to guarantee the walk or we refund you in full if this is the preferred option.

Opportunities are endless when it comes to walking and if you don’t find what you like to do please get in touch. We endeavour to find a suitable walk for you or you may have an idea yourself.

We are looking forward to welcoming you to our wee corner of the North-West in Scotland in 2022.

All the best.

Rosie & Ben & Corrie

Greetings from the Canaries (Tenerife)
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Best of Destination NC500

Ullapool – What to see and do

COVID-19 Notice

We would love for you to read our blog about Ullapool and the surrounding sights and hope that it gives a brief outline of what a wonderful area we live in and the abundance of walking available, but we ask that all people who are considering visiting our wee community please do not do so until government guidelines state it is permitted to travel.

The Scottish government will update when it is deemed safe to do so with social distancing measures put in place and when local business are likely to be slowly reopening. Many thanks for your patience and understanding and we hope to welcome you back to our special wee corner of the North West soon. (22/06/2020)

Assynt Mountain Adventure
Ullapool – What to see and do!
Where is Ullapool in Scotland

Situated in the North West of Scotland, just a stone’s throw from some incredible mountain walks, is the picturesque and characterful village of Ullapool.

This delightful village that we are lucky enough to call home, has around 1500 inhabitants and is a very popular stop-off point for people visiting the highlands and driving on the NC500. It is becoming more usual for visitors to spend more than one day in the village as it’s a great base for exploring the wonderful surroundings.

Fishing has played a hugely important role in the history of the village over centuries, herring being the main catch in the early days. It is worthwhile to spend a bit of time in the museum in the village to learn more about the fascinating history of this sometimes turbulent industry.

These days you can enjoy locally caught fish and seafood in one of the many bars/restaurants dotted around the village.

Ullapool lies just 60 miles north of Inverness and takes around 1hour 20 minutes by car. It can also be reached via bus from Inverness, with regular trains and buses serving Inverness from several towns across the country.

The drive is wonderfully scenic and there are plenty of stunning places to stop off on route for photos or short walks to stretch the legs.

Walks near Ullapool

Rogie Falls is a popular beauty spot and you can enjoy a short circuit walk here through the forest to visit the dramatic falls which can be seen from a suspension bridge.

A little further north from Rogie Falls you will find a lovely walk called the Silverbridge circuit which reveals two beautiful old stone bridges and lovely woodland. A true delight!

Further north still with a slight detour off the main road is Corrieshalloch Gorge National Nature reserve, one of the most spectacular gorges in the UK at 1.5km long, 60 metres deep and 10 metres wide. It’s home to some unusual species of insect and flowers and plants. There are short walks that take in the suspension bridge and a fantastic viewpoint.

Around 7 miles south of Ullapool you will find Lael Forest garden. There are beautiful walks through the woodland here with over 200 species of trees, some of which are from all over the world and with signboards identifying the trees along the paths.

Ullapool nestles seductively into the shores of Loch Broom, a sea loch that flows into the Atlantic ocean.

A ferry runs from the terminal in the village over to the Outer Hebrides, the most North Westerly islands in the UK, and indeed when the ferry pulls into the harbour with its locals and tourists alike, the houses along the shorefront appear tiny in comparison.

Where to eat and drink

Within the village, you will find several friendly bars and restaurants serving good local produce with seafood being a speciality.

The Seafood Shack, a catering trailer with attractive outside seating area and always cheery staff has won several awards in recent years for its delicious fresh seafood cooked in innovative ways served with excellent accompaniments at competitive prices.

Langustines in the Seafood Shack

Other eating establishments include the Ceilidh Place, a lovely friendly good sized bar and restaurant offering a great menu with daily specials and oozing character inside and out. It even has an eclectic bookshop inside where you can browse the great literature whilst waiting on your dinner! It also has a music venue across the road with regular gigs from up and coming and well-established bands.

The Seaforth Bar and restaurant has a substantial and varied menu with something for everyone including an excellent choice of burgers, sharing platters and a good selection of fish dishes. It also hosts occasional music events.

The Arch Inn which is home to some regular live music including the wonderful Ruairidh Maclean, a renowned young musician known for his outstanding accordion-playing incorporating traditional music with a modern twist. This friendly pub/restaurant also serves excellent food in its adjoining restaurant.

Other places to eat and drink include the Royal Hotel waterfront bar with its Italian themed simple menu and a vast range of malt whiskeys and super friendly staff. The Argyle Hotel and bar is very popular with the locals and has a great wee pub menu as well as lots of live music nights each week.

The Frigate on the shore serves up some great food and drinks in comfortable surroundings and the Ferry Boat inn – known to locals as the FBI has wonderful views of the fishing boats in the harbour and boasts a cosy atmosphere and a super wee menu in its bar and adjoining restaurant.

We also have not one but two excellent ‘Chippys’ where you can buy fish and chips and a large choice of other hot takeaway food.

What can you do and local walks in Ullapool

Ullapool is also proud to be home to several festivals including a yearly guitar festival, a beer festival and a book festival to name but a few, as well as having several interesting and quirky shops and art galleries.

There are two fantastic bookshops and a wonderful social enterprise shop where you will find beautifully made and scented candles of all shapes and sizes.

There are some lovely local walks in and around the village including Ullapool hill which sits at 258 metres high and offers many Enjoyable tails around it and to its summit.

You are treated to some fantastic viewpoints on the many paths including superb views back down to the village and of the surrounding mountains and far out to the summer isles.

View over to the Summer Isles and Loch Broom

There are endless mountain climbs and walks to choose from In the surrounding area for the more adventurous including the iconic Suilven, recently featured in the film Edie, as well as Stac Pollaidh with its craggy distinctive outline and so many more Interesting Hills offering outstanding views.

For the Munro enthusiast (list of Scottish mountains over 3000 feet) there are numerous to choose from just a few miles driving distances in either direction of the village including Ben Dearg and it’s surrounding tops allowing a strenuous traverse of four Munros in one very long adventurous day!

Not to forget the challenging and mighty An Teallach with It’s two Munro tops joined by a scrambly and exposed ridge. The options of hillwalking adventures are endless and there really is something for all abilities!

Summit view of Beinn Enaiglair

A visit to Ullapool and the North West is simply not to be missed on any trip to Scotland and truly has something for everyone, especially those looking for a wonderful experience in the outdoors amidst some of the most beautiful scenery to be found anywhere in the UK.

Please feel free to send us any questions you may have about the area.

Finally we hope to meet you someday

We also offer a variety of guided walking trips if you prefer to explore with the experience and knowledge of a friendly qualified mountain guide. These trips include accommodation but we can also do day trips and longer trips that can be tailor-made to suit your needs, with or without accommodation included. Feel free to drop us an email or give us a call to discuss.

Ullapool – What to see and do