Things to Do in Wester Ross

Wester Ross has some of the most beautiful coastal and mountain scenery of any part of the Scottish Highlands. Its remoteness means that it is quiet and peaceful even at the height of the summer months.
The vast expanses of wild countryside are home to red deer, pine martins, the magnificent golden eagle and the elusive sea eagle. The seas around Wester Ross are home to a multitude of marine mammals – seals, porpoises, dolphins, otters and whales.
The landscapes of Wester Ross have it all – towering mountains, glorious sweeping sandy beaches, miles of breathtaking unspoilt coastline, sea and hill lochs, rich forests and wild open moorland. Here you can find freedom, space and solitude in abundance.

If you want more from your holiday than soaking up the magnificent scenery, Wester Ross has plenty of other attractions and activities to keep holidaymakers fully occupied.

Walking

There are many fine walks for all ages and abilities from short gentle strolls to challenging mountain climbs on the regions many Munros.

Guided walking tours: -

Go Further – Guided hillwalking, mountaineering and climbing trips and courses – www.gofurtherscotland.co.uk

Rua Reidh Lighthouse, Gairloch – walking holidays and rock climbing courses - www.ruareidh.co.uk
Martin Moran Mountaineering, Lochcarron – guided mountaineering courses – www.moran-mountain.co.uk

Beautiful Sandy Beaches

There are many beautiful sandy beaches in the area, the best of these being Red Point, Gairloch, Big Sand, Inverasdale, Mellon Udrigle and Gruinard.

Boat Trips

Hebridean Whale Cruises have 2 boats operating from Gairloch Harbour and are the top boats for whale and dolphin sightings. The boats take you well off shore where you have a realistic chance of seeing whales. They are based at The Chandlery on Pier Road. www.hebridean-whale-cruises.com There are other boats on which you can go on a short trip around the bay. Sailing and powerboat trips are also available. www.sail-scotland.com
In the spring and early summer, Hebridean Whale Cruises has trips to the enchanted Shiant Isles, home to many thousands of puffins, guillemots, razorbills and other seabirds.
Boat trips are available on Loch Maree, to view Viking graves and the famous Money Tree visited by Queen Victoria – www.lochmareehotel.co.uk
Regular boat trips sail from Ullapool and Achiltibuie to the glorious Summer Isles. www.summer-isles-cruises.co.uk / www.summerqueen.co.uk

Fishing

Evening sea fishing trips are available on the ‘Kerry’, from Gairloch Harbour - www.hebridean-whale-cruises.com.  Sea fishing from the shore is possible all round the coast and there are slipways for launching a boat at Gairloch, Melvaig, Inverasdale and Laide. Fishing tackle can be bought or hired from Gairloch Chandlery on Pier Road, Gairloch.
There is good trout fishing in the many hill lochs and some river fishing for salmon and trout. Permits are available from Gairloch Chandlery, The Anchorage, K Gunn’s, Sheildaig Lodge Hotel and the Post Office, Laide.

Golf

There are 9 hole golf courses at Gairloch, Ullapool and Lochcarron

Gairloch Golf Club – a challenging and scenic 9-hole course set on the shore of Loch Gairloch – www.gairlochgolfclub.com

Lochcarron Golf Course – 9-hole course in magnificent location by the shore of Loch Carron – www.lochcarrongolf.co.uk

Ullapool Golf Course – a professionally designed 9-hole course – www.ullapool-golf.co.uk

Pony Trekking

Pony treks can be arranged at Gairloch Trekking Centre in Flowerdale, Gairloch.
www.gairlochtrekkingcentre.co.uk

Bike Hire

Mountain bikes, children’s bikes and a tandem are available to hire at Birchwood, overlooking Gairloch Harbour.

Other Sports

Pitch and putt course in Strath, Gairloch
Swimming pool in Poolewe
Leisure Centre, Gairloch – where activities include badminton, short tennis, table tennis, archery, trampolining and an indoor climbing wall.
Lochbroom Leisure Centre, Ullapool – swimming pool, multi sports hall and fitness suite

Gardens

Your holiday in Wester Ross would not be complete without a visit to Inverewe Gardens at Poolewe. Now owned by the National Trust for Scotland, it is home to hundreds of exotic species of plants from around the world, all thriving in the warm, humid climate of Scotland’s west coast. www.nts.org.uk/gardens

Other smaller, but equally impressive gardens can be found at: -

Attadale, near Achnasheen  www.attadale.com
Leckmelm, on the A835 between Braemore junction and Ullapool
The Hydroponicum, Achiltibuie – a magnificent array of plants, including bananas, growing in an indoor garden. www.thehydroponicum.com

Museums & Visitor Centres

Gairloch Heritage Museum – Award winning museum – www.gairlochheritagemuseum.org.uk

Applecross Heritage Centre– www.applecrossheritage.org.uk

Ullapool Museum – a rare insight into a Highland community – www.ullapoolmuseum.co.uk

Torridon Countryside Centre & Deer Museum – visit Torridon with its breathtaking scenery – www.nts.org.uk

Beinn Eighe National Nature Reserve– boasting some of Scotland’s finest mountain, pinewood and lochside scenery – www.snh.org.uk

Hotels, Bars & Restaurants

There are many high quality establishments in the area to cater for all tastes and budgets, with seafood being a speciality of the area.

The Old Inn, Gairloch Harbour – a real ale oasis in the Highlands and good food too – www.theoldinn.co.uk

The Creel Restaurant, Gairloch Harbour www.charlestonhouse.co.uk

Arts, Crafts & Local Industries

Amora Perfumes & Soaps– The only working perfume studio in Scotland at Mellon Charles – www.aromasciences.com

Aultbea Woodcraft – woodturning workshop and shop – www.eweview.com

Highland Stoneware, Ullapool –working pottery and shop – watch the craftspeople make and paint these distinctive ceramics - www.highlandstoneware.com

Summer Isle Foods, Achiltibuie– traditional salmon and kipper smokehouse – www.summerislesfoods.com

The Studio, Achnasheen – the largest selection of contemporary jewellery in the Highlands – www.studiojewellery.com

Atlantic Bears – traditional collector’s bears made in Gairloch – see them in The Treasure Chest, Gairloch – www.atlanticbears.com

Travel Guides & Information

Visit the Scottish Highlands - www.camusnagaul.com
Scotland Travel Guide - www.visitourscotland.co.uk
Guide to Scotland - www.scotland.visitandtravel.com

Miscellaneous

West Highland Hawking, Kinlochewe – falconry courses.

Lochcarron Camanachd –come and watch the traditional Highland Gaelic sport of shinty played – www.shinty.com/clubs/lochcarron

Ullapool to Stornaway Ferry  –Ullapool is the ferry terminal for Stornoway and the Western Isles – www.calmac.co.uk

Photos of the Scottish Highlands by professional landscape photographer – www.gordon-c-harrison.co.uk

More lovely photos of the Scottish Highlands, many of Wester Ross – www.scotlandframed.co.uk