Ullapool – a Summer Isles Cruise, Then the Ceilidh Place
A few hours.
The route
Shearwater Cruises sails out of Ullapool harbour and down Loch Broom to the Summer Isles, a scatter of islands off the Coigach coast where dolphins, porpoises, seals and sea eagles are often seen.
The boat is a roomy catamaran with a seat for everyone, a lounge and a toilet, and well-behaved dogs can come too. Lunch afterwards is a short walk up the street at the Ceilidh Place.
Before you go
Book accommodation nearby
If you are staying over: here are ours nearest where the day starts and ends.
Book a Shearwater Cruises sailing from Ullapool harbour online (a small fee) or on 07713 257219, or try the booking office on Shore Street on the day.
The day
Ullapool
A couple of hours out among the islands at the mouth of Loch Broom, watching for fins and eagles, then a slow lunch by the woodburner.
About three and a half hours
Shearwater Cruises
Shearwater Cruises' booking office is at the head of Ullapool harbour on Shore Street, and the boat sails from the harbour beside it. Park in the council car park on Latheron Lane, where the signs set the charge, and walk down. The Shearwater is a 15-metre catamaran licensed for 30, with a seat for everyone, an indoor lounge and a toilet. The cruise takes about 2 hours 15 minutes, out along Loch Broom to Annat Bay and on among the Summer Isles and the Coigach coast. Common dolphins, porpoises, minke whales, seals and sea eagles are seen regularly, and the crew report every sighting to the Hebridean Whale and Dolphin Trust. It's £47.50 an adult and £35 for under-16s at the time of writing, and well-behaved dogs are welcome. Book online, with a small fee, or ring 07713 257219. The season's dates aren't published, so ring to check it's sailing; times can shift at the start and end of it. Bring warm, waterproof clothes and binoculars.
About 4 min on foot
Ceilidh Place
Lunch
Lunch is a few minutes' walk up from the harbour at the Ceilidh Place on West Argyle Street, Ullapool's white-harled hotel, café-bar, bookshop and music venue. Food is served every day from noon until 8pm, and the café has a woodburner. The restaurant, café and bar are all pet friendly, so the dog can come in too. If it's busy, Cult Cafe by the head of the harbour usually opens every day until 4pm.
If it rains
The Shearwater has an indoor lounge, but the trip is called off in bad weather, with a full refund. The Ceilidh Place's café and bookshop are a warm place to wait it out.
Ceilidh Place, a café in Ullapool.
Cult Cafe, a café in Ullapool.
Photographs by Debbie C and Brenda Littlefair via Google