Things to Do in Ullapool: Loch Broom, Walks and Boat Trips

Why Ullapool works as a base, not just a ferry stop

Many visitors pass through on the North Coast 500 or pause only long enough to board the ferry to the Hebrides. That misses the point of the place, because Ullapool sits within easy reach of beaches, waterfalls, geology trails and a 612 m mountain, and the town itself has a food scene and a cluster of galleries worth an afternoon. Treat it as a hub and day trips become short hops rather than long drives.

The trade-off is that the best of it is outdoors and weather-dependent, so build slack into the plan. Keep one indoor option in reserve, and put the boat trip early in the stay so you can move it if the loch is choppy.

Start on the seafront: Shore Street and West Shore Street

Begin with a wander along the high street, which runs along the seafront facing Loch Broom. The busier stretch near the start holds the shops and the boat-trip booking points, and past the ferry terminal the road narrows into West Shore Street, where whitewashed cottages sit against a rocky shoreline. Carry on to the end of the road for the widest views, especially towards sunset.

This is the cheapest and easiest hour in Ullapool, and a good way to get your bearings before committing to anything else. If browsing is your thing, the independent shops and galleries reward a slower pass, and our guide to shopping in Ullapool picks out where to look for Scottish art, books and locally made ceramics.

Summer Isles cruise from Ullapool Pier: what you get

A cruise out of the harbour gives you the village from the water and a look at the Summer Isles, the scattered group offshore whose largest island is Tanera Mòr. Shearwater Cruises runs trips from Ullapool lasting approximately 2 hours 15 minutes, covering Loch Broom and the Summer Isles, with wildlife along the way. Seals are the reliable sighting; seabirds, dolphins, porpoises and the occasional sea eagle are the bonuses.

Reported fares are around £47.50 for adults and £35 for children under 16, so check the current price and sailing times when you book. Spaces go quickly in busier months, so reserving ahead is sensible rather than optional. The full range of operators and routes is covered in our guide to Ullapool boat trips, which is worth reading before you commit to a date.

Ullapool Hill and Meall Mòr: the short, steep climb from town

For a view over the whole village and Loch Broom, walk up Ullapool Hill to the summit of Meall Mòr at 270 m. The path starts near Broom Park and climbs steadily; allow around two hours for the return from town. Benches on the way up give you an excuse to stop, and the panorama from the top covers the loch, the harbour and the hills beyond.

There is a gentler alternative for anyone who would rather not sweat: drive south along the A835 and follow the road up the Braes of Ullapool to park near the transmitters, from where it is a short walk to the summit. Either way, the climb is steep enough to justify proper shoes rather than trainers you care about.

Ullapool Museum and the village's fishing-station history

Ullapool Museum occupies the old Thomas Telford church, keeping original features alongside collections on the fishing and agricultural trades that grew up after the village was founded as a fishing station in 1788. Local archives and genealogy records are available for anyone tracing family connections to the area. Entry carries a small fee and the museum opens Monday to Saturday from April to October, so it is a seasonal stop rather than a year-round one.

Pair it with a look at how the town was planned in the first place; the story behind the grid of streets and the harbour is set out in our history of Ullapool.

Riverside Walk: the gentle option on a busy day

When the seafront is heaving, the network of paths along the river gives you a quiet escape without leaving the village. The walk is short and level, following the water through trees, and the character of it changes with the weather: after rain the river is a rushing torrent, and in a dry spell it can almost disappear. It is a pleasant way to spend an hour with seasonal flowers and the chance of spotting wildlife.

Rhue Lighthouse and Ardmair Beach by the A835

Take the A835 north out of Ullapool and turn off at the sign for the Rhue Art Gallery to reach the car park for Rhue Lighthouse, roughly three-quarters of a mile on foot from the road. The lighthouse is small, but the headland setting at the mouth of Loch Broom is superb, with views across to Beinn Ghoblach and out towards the Summer Isles. It is one of the best sunset spots in the area.

A little further along the coast, Ardmair Beach is a curve of pebbles with parking right beside the bay and views over to the islands. Seals are often in the water and otters are a luckier sighting, and the adjoining campsite makes a scenic overnight stop. Both stops are free to wander and need no booking, which makes them good fillers around a fixed boat-trip time.

Knockan Crag National Nature Reserve: geology trails and the Moine Thrust

Knockan Crag National Nature Reserve, about 13 miles north of Ullapool, explains one of the oldest landscapes in Europe. The reserve tells the story of the Moine Thrust, the feature created when ancient forces pushed older rock up over younger rock, and it forms part of the North West Highlands Geopark. Three waymarked trails feature sculptures and poetry, with viewpoints over the mountains.

The paths are short and the reward is out of proportion to the effort, which makes this an easy stop on the way north to Assynt. Good footwear helps on the rougher sections, and the exposed position means a windproof layer earns its place even on a bright day.

Stac Pollaidh: the 612 m circuit and the car-park crunch

Stac Pollaidh rises about 14 miles from Ullapool and tops out at 612 m, just short of Munro status, which makes it more accessible than its jagged profile suggests. The circular trail around the base takes around three hours at a reasonable pace, and the views over lochans, peatland and the Assynt peaks are the reason to come. Reaching the true summit involves a scramble that should be left to experienced climbers with proper equipment.

The car park is small and fills quickly; arriving early in the morning is the difference between a relaxed start and queuing for a space. Even the lower circuit is relentlessly steep in places, so allow for stops and save it for a day when the cloud is above the summits.

Corrieshalloch Gorge and the Falls of Measach suspension bridge

About 12 miles south of Ullapool, Corrieshalloch Gorge National Nature Reserve protects a mile-long box canyon cut by the River Droma, with the Falls of Measach dropping 45 m into it. A short walk from the car park brings you to a Victorian suspension bridge that gives a fine view of the waterfall below, and the visit takes around an hour. The falls are at their most dramatic after heavy rain and less impressive in a dry spell, so treat the forecast as part of the planning. Those with a head for heights should continue past the bridge to the viewing platform jutting out over the gorge.

Ardvreck Castle in Assynt: a ruined tower on Loch Assynt

Ardvreck Castle is a tower house on the banks of Loch Assynt, built around 1490 by the MacLeods in two phases, with a 16th-century extension. The MacKenzies took it after a siege, abandoned it within a few decades, and much of the building was later destroyed by lightning; stone from the ruin went into a nearby mansion. Only a fraction still stands, so come for the loch-and-mountain setting and the turbulent story rather than an intact visitor attraction.

Come for the landscape and the story rather than an intact visitor attraction: there are no tours or rooms to explore. For more ruined towers and tower houses within reach of the village, see our guide to castles near Ullapool and plan a day that strings two or three together.

Isle Martin: the community ferry from Ardmair

Isle Martin was gifted to the communities of Lochbroom and Coigach in 1999 and has had no permanent residents since 1949, though centuries earlier it hosted a herring curing station, crofts and a flour mill. A community ferry runs from April to September and is summoned by telephone from the jetty at Ardmair, with a suggested minimum donation of £10 for an adult crossing. The crossing takes about five minutes.

On the island, a little museum in the old school records some of the previous tenants, and walking trails lead over to a quiet beach facing the Summer Isles. A full circuit involves proper hill walking and would take the better part of a day, but an hour or so around the old buildings and the museum is enough for a short visit. There is basic accommodation if you want to stay longer.

Bone Caves and the Coigach Peninsula for a longer day

About 30 minutes north of Ullapool, the Bone Caves sit high on a cliff face where bones of Arctic fox, wolf, lynx, brown bear and even polar bear have been found. The walk in follows a scenic trail through a limestone valley, mostly easy going until a short, steep pull up to the caves themselves. The return route is just under three miles and takes around 90 minutes, with supportive footwear needed for the rocky ground.

For a full day, drive the Coigach peninsula, which stays refreshingly quiet even when Ullapool is busy. The single-track road passes Stac Pollaidh and Achnahaird Beach, a broad expanse of golden sand backed by rugged mountains, and runs through settlements such as Reiff, Polbain and Achiltibuie.

Independent shops, galleries and Highland Stoneware

The village has a strong cluster of independent businesses along and just off the main street. An Talla Solais is a community-led arts charity showing contemporary exhibitions, RhueArt displays work by landscape painter James Hawkins, and the Ullapool Bookshop concentrates on Scottish writing and travel reads. Highland Stoneware is the one to visit if you want to watch the pottery being hand painted before you buy.

Small galleries and craft shops here sell original work rather than souvenirs made elsewhere, so budget accordingly and expect opening days to vary with the season. Our shopping in Ullapool guide maps out the rest of the street if you want a deliberate route rather than a browse.

Practical trade-offs: weather, seasonal hours and booking ahead

Ullapool's best days are outdoor days, and its indoor options are limited, so plan around the forecast rather than a fixed itinerary. Boat trips run through late spring and summer, Ullapool Museum opens seasonally from April to October, and the Isle Martin ferry runs from April to September, so a winter visit is about landscapes and long lunches rather than cruises. Book the cruise and any restaurant you have set your heart on before you travel, and check current opening days for the seasonal sites directly.

How long to allow and how to fit it together

With three days or more, give Stac Pollaidh a full morning with an early start for the car park, then use another day for the Bone Caves and the Coigach peninsula. The distances are short in miles but slow in time on single-track roads, so plan two or three stops a day rather than five.

Plan Your Visit

Ullapool is at its best when you give it time: a boat trip on Loch Broom, a steep hour on the hill, a ruined castle in Assynt and a gorge walk on the way south. Mix the free outdoor stops with one paid indoor site and one booked cruise, and the village becomes a proper base rather than a pause on the road north.

If your trip runs on into other UK cities, our guides to things to do in Aberdeen and things to do in Birmingham are useful for balancing Highland landscapes with museum-and-gallery days.