Ullapool Hill – Loch Broom from the Cairn
About 4 miles on foot.
Ullapool Hill rises straight out of the back of the village, and a waymarked loop climbs it from the Clock Tower and comes down through young native woodland.
It's a short, steep pull with benches all the way, and the views open out over the white houses and Loch Broom to Ben More Coigach and the hills of Assynt. It fills a morning or an afternoon, with the summit cairn as an optional extra.
- Time
- About two and a half hours for the 4-mile (6.5 km) loop with the summit.
- The path
- A steep, rocky hill path, uneven in places; not for wheelchairs or pushchairs.
- Where to start
- In the village where the signs show how long you can park; the walk starts at the Clock Tower.
- When to go
- All year in daylight; from November to February set off by 12.30pm.
- Dogs
- Dogs are welcome: mind the wildlife and keep to the paths.
- Children
- Short but steep: fine for children used to walking, with benches all the way.
- Toilets
- None on the hill.
- Before you set out
- The path is rocky and slippery when wet; the summit path is steep, uneven and can be unstable.
The walk
The walk starts at the Clock Tower in the middle of Ullapool, so leave the car in the village where the signs show how long you can park. From the edge of the village the waymarked path climbs through gorse, with Loch Broom opening out behind you and plenty of benches for a breather. Higher up it turns rocky, and slippery in the wet.
The Mountain Indicator Board names every peak in view, and a steep, rough path goes out and back to the summit cairn, 270 metres up, for the widest view of all. The loop comes down with Ben More Coigach and the Assynt hills ahead, through native trees planted by the community. The whole loop, summit included, is 4 miles (6.5 km): allow about two and a half hours, in boots.
Dogs are welcome, and the phone signal is good throughout. From November to February set off by 12.30pm, and leave the summit path for a calm day.
If it rains
The path is rocky and slippery when wet and the views go in low cloud: on a wet day leave out the summit path, or save the walk for a clearer day.
Before you go
Where to eat
Cult Cafe, a café in Ullapool.
Ceilidh Place, a café in Ullapool.
For further reading, before you go.
Photograph by steve hughes via Google