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Ullapool
The harbour town on Loch Broom sits on a flat shingle point, and the CalMac ferry to Stornoway leaves from its pier. The sandy beaches lie further along the coast. Achnahaird, on the Coigach peninsula, has a wide bay of pale sand backed by dunes. Achmelvich, in Assynt, has white sand and clear water beside a small campsite. Closer to town, the Loch Broom shore runs to pebbles and rock pools. You’ll need a car. Roads north of town turn single-track, with passing places for oncoming traffic, so give yourself extra time. Sea temperatures stay low even in July and August, so keep within your depth.
Where are the beaches near Ullapool, and what are they like?
Ullapool sits on the shore of Loch Broom, a fishing town laid out on a grid by the British Fisheries Society in 1788. Its own waterfront is shingle and harbour wall, not sand. For a beach, you’ll need to drive north on the A835.
- Ardmair Beach, 5km north, is a curved bay of pale stones facing Loch Kanaird and Ben More Coigach. The bay is sheltered, with rockpools at low tide and a campsite beside the shore.
- Achnahaird Bay in Coigach has sand and dunes, about 40 minutes from town. The last stretch is single-track road, so pull into passing places to let cars by.
- Summer Isles boat trips leave from the harbour in season and head out through Loch Broom. Seals, porpoises, and eagles often appear around the islands.
Back in town, the sea front is where you’ll find fresh seafood, cafés, and the CalMac terminal. Ferries cross to Stornoway on Lewis twice a day, taking 2 hours 40 minutes. Book a car space in summer. The local museum sits in an early 19th-century church on West Argyle Street, and Inverness is roughly 1 hour 15 minutes away by road.
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Ullapool is the mainland ferry terminal for Caledonian MacBrayne sailings to Stornoway on the Isle of Lewis — a direct maritime link that frames the village as a gateway to the Outer Hebrides.
Ullapool seafood and places to eat
Locally caught fish runs through Ullapool’s food, from a small takeaway counter to a dining room above an inn. At Seafood Shack, the dishes are simple and well prepared, and you can carry a takeaway down to eat by the pier. For plated mains, head upstairs to Shore Restaurant above The Arch Inn, where shellfish and daily catches sit alongside a selected wine list. Beside the harbour, Rhidorroch Distillery Cafe has cakes and coffee by day, then light plates and drinks in the evening. Its snug upstairs room suits small groups. At Ceilidh Place Ullapool, you’ll find a light-filled dining room, homely lounges, and a compact bookshop with an honesty bar. It’s dog and cycle friendly. Staff at the inn share local knowledge, so ask them about the coast and shoreline walks near town before you head out.
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Founded in 1788 as a planned herring port by the British Fisheries Society, Ullapool’s tidy grid of streets still reflects that late‑18th‑century layout and its fishing‑village origins.
Ullapool beaches and boat trips
Loch Broom laps right up to the town, and Ullapool Sea Front puts the harbour, the breakwater, and a stony beach within sight of Ullapool’s cafés and shops. It’s a simple, accessible spot for watching the tide move across the water. The Arch Inn sits on the same waterfront, with rooms, a bar, and a separate restaurant upstairs. A small beach and the harbour are a short walk from the door. Out on the loch, Shearwater Summer Isles cruises run with a skipper and on-board commentator who bring decades of local knowledge and WiSe accreditation. Indoor seating helps if the weather turns, and the open decks suit photos. For something faster, Seascape Expeditions runs RIB trips of 1 to 3 hours around Loch Broom and the Summer Isles, looking for seals, dolphins, and sea eagles. All-weather overalls and life jackets are included. Dogs can come along too.
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An Teallach, the jagged massif a short drive south of Ullapool, contains two Munros — including Bidean a' Ghlas Thuill at 1,062 m — and is renowned for dramatic corries and ridge scrambles prized by experienced hillwalkers.
Places to visit in Ullapool, Scotland
Ullapool Museum sits in a Category A listed former church, with displays on crofting, fishing, and the emigrant ship Hector. Its archive and genealogy resources help visitors tracing Lochbroom family roots, and an audio tour links each exhibit to the village outside. Close to the waterfront, The Bothy Coffee Shop has all-day full breakfasts, filled rolls, and traybakes, plus a wood-burning stove and takeaway. Ullapool Village Hall doubles as a local hub, with a post office counter, book browsing, and occasional craft stalls. On a wet day, Lochbroom Leisure Centre has a swimming pool, a compact gym, and family sessions such as inflatables and climbing. Staff are known for being helpful. Ferries to the Outer Hebrides leave from the terminal run by Caledonian MacBrayne, which takes foot passengers and vehicles. Check sailing times on the CalMac website before you drive to the pier, as vehicle space on each crossing is limited.
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Ullapool sits on the shore of Loch Broom within the North West Highlands UNESCO Global Geopark, an area noted for some of Europe’s oldest rocks (Lewisian gneiss) and classic features of the Moine Thrust, which give the landscape its rugged character.