Welcome to Ullapool

Things to do today

Monday 9 June 2025 – SEABOURN SOUJOURN

Here in the visitor pavilion we’re more than happy to help out so please don’t hesitate to come and talk to us!

Ullapool Village Map

ULLAPOOL MUSEUM

Explore our tiny museum on West Argyle Street. ​​​​​Located in a former Thomas Telford Church, learn ​​​​​about Ullapool’s rich fishing heritage, emigration and ​​​​​our own local story of the Clearances. The museum ​​​​also hosts a highly regarded genealogy service. A small ​​​​retail area at the entrance has an array of Scottish/local ​​​​produce including internationally renowned Highland ​​​​Stoneware and a range of locally made textiles.

ART at AN TALLA SOLAIS

On Market Street just behind the Village Hall you’ll find An Talla Solais, Community Art Gallery showing an exciting programme of local and international art exhibitions.  The gallery shop has a wide selection of beautiful handmade paintings, ceramics and prints by local artists.  Entry is free from 10am to 4pm with a lunch break from 1:30pm to 2:00pm.

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FOOD & DRINK

Directly opposite the harbour entrance, The Seaforth serves up special fish and chip taster cones to cruise passengers.  This is the perfect opportunity to enjoy local fish and chips without consuming enormous portions of food.  While you’re at The Seaforth you can also try out locally crafted beer from their sister distillery in Inverness – just ask them about it.

The Highland Liquor Company on Shore Street just opposite the harbour is home to an array of whisky, gin and other goodies – their locally-distilled gin is selling in vast quantities around the globe.  Sadly (for all of us) our newest family-owned locally produced gin distillery Rhidorroch Distillery just further doesn’t open till July – we cannot wait.

We love The Ceilidh Place, our local go-to cultural space.  This lovely old white building at the very end of West Argyle Street boasts a café, restaurant, bookshop and bar – its laid-back atmosphere will give you a real flavour of Highland life.  Locals and visitors alike feel at home here.  JoJo’s Cafe on West Argyle Street is definitely worth a look – she stocks ingredients sourced from local estates and she also makes her own chocolates.  Cross the road to the Seafood Shack (opens noon daily) where local pals Fenella and Kirsty serve up food fresh caught from Kirsty’s husband’s boat. Across on Argyle Street you’ll find West Coast Deli, renowned among cheese-lovers.  Opposite the deli is Cult Cafe – we really like their coffee.

SHOPPING

The Captain’s Cabin (upstairs just opposite harbour entrance) in one of Ullapool’s oldest buildings is great for gifts, pottery, clothing, textiles and an array of other gifts. On the seafront, the West Highland Woollen Company stocks cashmere, Harris tweed and tartan textiles together with a range of whiskies and gifts and Ceol na Mara sells more great gifts, clothes and Scottish jewellery. Check out the cute little tea store and gift shop Tea By The Sea down on the shore front too; visitors love their cake.  There are two terrific bookshops – one just off the harbour entrance on the hill (below the Captain’s Cabin), the other at the Ceilidh Place. Check out the Ceilidh Place reception and restaurant walls for current exhibitions – they open from 8am daily.   Definitely worth a visit is newly opened Havørn right on the corner of West Argyle Street.  Owners Sara and Pete recently moved into this newly fitted out premises and continue to impress with Scottish art and hand-crafted items.  Havørn means ‘sea eagle’ in Norwegian, a nod to our Viking roots.  Next door to Havørn is Ullapool’s newest shop Noost Knit Co. – a must visit for lovers of wool, textiles and design.  Be sure to pop in and say hello to Amy, Dougie and baby Peigi and wish them well on this really exciting addition to Ullapool’s creative offer. There are a bunch of other cute little gift shops on West Argyle Street too. Opposite the Ceilidh Place you’ll find Ullapool Outdoors with a fantastic range of quality outdoor clothing and footwear.  Highland Stoneware shop and artist’s studio (closed Sunday) is located on North Road – about a 10-minute walk from here. Famous around the world for its distinctive pottery, you’ll more than likely find artists painting the freshly thrown stoneware if you visit.  Hugh Penney moved to Ullapool last year and has opened a brand new pottery shop and gallery with outstanding views across the Minch – definitely worth a visit and a chat.  If the weather is clement, he’ll set up his potter’s wheel outside his studio for visitors to see the process. His business, Handknitted Pottery, is located on West Terrace.    Pretty much every shop in our wee village is family-owned; our retailers love interacting with visitors and are genuinely happy to help.

Everywhere you go you’ll find the locals are really friendly and delighted to chat so dive on in!

OTHER

If you’re reading this, you’ve picked up a map in our welcome pavilion.  For anyone with a further interest in the area, you will find copies of local guidebook – This Is Ullapool in Ullapool Bookshop just across the street from the harbour.

There are rest rooms in the welcome pavilion, the ferry terminal just beside it and at the Seaforth bar and restaurant just opposite the harbour entrance.

Need cash?  There are two card machines – one at RBS on Argyle Street (second right on leaving the harbour and first left after Ullapool Deli) and at Tesco at Latheron Lane (that’s the fourth left at the harbour exit).

Tesco stocks a good range of basic medicines and Boots the Chemist is right across from the harbour entrance.

Would you like to experience just a taste of life beyond our Highland village?  You don’t have to go too far and trips can be managed to suit your schedule.

Taxis:  Our local taxi company will happily take you on mini trips, pass on their local knowledge and take you to see some stunning scenery including the amazing Corrieshalloch Gorge and old Victorian Leckmelm Gardens, allowing you plenty of photo opportunities.  We have some suggestions to enable you experience a truly authentic slice of life here in or near Ullapool:

For art lovers, we definitely recommend a visit to James Hawkins Art Gallery at Rhue, less than a 10-minute drive outside Ullapool.  James and his wife Flick will welcome you to their beautiful gallery, showcasing James’ extraordinary work which uniquely and unmistakably reflects the landscape of the North West Highlands.  You can browse original artwork and prints here.  Rhue is a tiny settlement dating back to at least the Bronze Age and affords stunning views past the lighthouse to the Summer Isles and the surrounding land and seascape offer glimpses into the inspiration for James’s lifelong work.

Always wanted to meet a Highland Cow?  Just outside the village resides a Highland Cow Family and our taxi drivers know where they are, where they might be grazing and while they’re at it they’ll tell you about the uniquely Scottish way of crofting.  There are some really special sheep from Soay too alongside our regular, run of the mill sheep friends.   This is a great opportunity to get close to the most beautiful cows on planet earth. For a fact.

Call +44 7795 622 627 and arrange for pickup at the cruise pavilion or ask one of the Welcome Team to call on your behalf.

Whatever you do, whatever the weather, this is Ullapool and we hope you experience some of the loveliness that life has to offer here in our very beautiful Highland home.