Ullapool is a beautiful town, planned out by famed Scottish architect and engineer, Thomas Telford. Nestled in the north-west Highlands, the town almost seems to float upon the surface of Loch Broom. The surrounding scenery is breath-taking, with towering mountains, sprawling wilderness, and dense woods. It is truly something magnificent to behold and the ideal place to plan a walking holiday.
While there are plenty of challenging walks around this part of Scotland, the area does offer some easier routes which are ideal for first-timers and families. So, if you’re spending your holidays near Ullapool, and want to make the most of the scenery, try one of these walks on for size.
1. Rhue Lighthouse
This easy stroll takes you from the car park on the Rhue public road and along a grassy path that skirts the coast, affording great photo opportunities of Loch Broom as you head towards the lighthouse. From here, you can see the Summer Isles across the sea, or look back over the loch at the imposing mountains of Beinn Ghobhlach and Ben More Coigach.
2. Lael Forest Garden
Lael Forest Garden is home to over 200 species of tree, and the circular pathway that leads through it allows for a gentle, meandering stroll among the varied woodland. With waterfalls, plantations, and a cosy picnic area to rest your legs for a while, this is a delightful way to while away an afternoon.
3. Corrieshalloch Gorge
This is a slightly more demanding walk, but well worth the extra effort. The path to the gorge is clear and easily navigable, but it can get steep in parts. There is a bridge crossing the gorge, from where you can look down at the spectacular Falls of Measach as it cascades to a lower point in the gorge. For an even more impressive view, there is a viewing platform that pokes out over the gorge. Those with vertigo may want to give this a miss, but otherwise you will get one of the most breath-taking natural sights in the country.
4. Ardessie Falls
The path here is less distinct than the other walks, and has quite an incline in some parts, however, as it follows the natural flow of the Allt Airdeasaidh there’s no danger of getting lost. You see the falls first, which is a treat in itself, but when you scale the upwards path that leads you by the side of the river, you get to see the fast-running Allt Airdeasaidh in all its glory, filled with miniature falls, twists and drops as it makes its way to the waterfall below. Aside from the river and the waterfall, you get another great view of Loch Broom and its environs, from a totally different angle.
5. Ullapool Hill and the Braes
A steep climb along well-maintained pathways, this walk takes you to the top of Meall Mor, which stands some 270m above sea level, and offers incredible views of Loch Achall and Loch Broom. The walk takes you through fields of heather as you make the sharp incline, and there are minor roads to make the return journey that much easier, just when you need it.
Alternatively, instead of returning to your hotel or cottage straight away, you can head inland from Meall Mor, descending towards Loch Achall, where you’ll be able to see another beautiful Scottish waterfall before turning back and returning to Ullapool along the river, itself a charming area of natural beauty.
6. Scoraig from Badrallach
This easy walk along the cost to the Scoraig peninsula is notable not for its pleasant pace, or pleasant scenery (although it certainly enjoys both of those) but for the alternative off-the-grid community that has made its home there since the end of the 1950s. The community is powered by wind and solar energy, and they grow all their own produce on the peninsula.
The walk to Scoraig can get a little rocky in parts, but it is along a clear path for most of the way, and you get wonderful views of loch and mountain as you approach the self-sufficient community. Scoraig itself is a fascinating place, with plenty of information boards detailing its history, and its inhabitants.
The return walk at sunset is even more beautiful with the shadow of the mountain cutting into the landscape.
Ullapool is a wonderful place to visit, with each step seeming to bring ever-more beautiful sights to behold. We offer a range of luxury accommodation ideal for family self-catering holidays in this enchanting part of the world. Get in touch today, and see what we have to offer you.
