Ullapool in August?

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KevinV

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I find myself in the Ullapool area with nothing in particular to do and nowhere particular to stay from 10th - 17th August. Does anyone want some crew for the week? I'm a terrible cook, but handy enough with the tools and enjoy being busy. Tolerably fit at 51.

I could take the motorbike up for a tour - lovely area for it, but I've done that before - a bit of sailing, or fishing, or whatever would be fun. A week helping on a commercial fishing boat would be fun too - I last did that on a trawler when I was 13 😁
 
KevinV said:
I find myself in the Ullapool area with nothing in particular to do and nowhere particular to stay from 10th - 17th August. Does anyone want some crew for the week? I'm a terrible cook, but handy enough with the tools and enjoy being busy. Tolerably fit at 51.

I could take the motorbike up for a tour - lovely area for it, but I've done that before - a bit of sailing, or fishing, or whatever would be fun. A week helping on a commercial fishing boat would be fun too - I last did that on a trawler when I was 13 😁
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Not much fishing out of Ullapool. Lochinver has boats, but they go out a long way. Not many local crew when I was based there.

Can you dive? Scallops?
 
dgadee said:
Not much fishing out of Ullapool. Lochinver has boats, but they go out a long way. Not many local crew when I was based there.

Can you dive? Scallops?
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Shame about the fishing, and I can't dive, so back to plan A - a bit of sailing... Google says there's a club up there, I'll drop them a line.
 
Did a weeks sailing course around the Summer Isles in a pocket cruiser that I thought was a development of the Wayfarer dinghy and called Seafarer, but Google doesn't find it. Anyway, it was pretty minimal for 4 people, with a cockpit tent for two of them.

Soviet block "Klondyker" fishing fleet were in after mackerel, with a couple of big USSR factory ships anchored off, that got buzzed by USN aircraft fairly regularly. I got friendly (though not quite as friendly as I'd have liked) with a couple of cute German girls in the youth hostel, and we used to send them down to the quay with a big carrier bag for free fish, hence I can no longer eat mackerel.

Its probably quite different now.

So long, and thanks for all the fish.
 
ducked said:
Did a weeks sailing course around the Summer Isles in a pocket cruiser that I thought was a development of the Wayfarer dinghy and called Seafarer, but Google doesn't find it. Anyway, it was pretty minimal for 4 people, with a cockpit tent for two of them.

Soviet block "Klondyker" fishing fleet were in after mackerel, with a couple of big USSR factory ships anchored off, that got buzzed by USN aircraft fairly regularly. I got friendly (though not quite as friendly as I'd have liked) with a couple of cute German girls in the youth hostel, and we used to send them down to the quay with a big carrier bag for free fish, hence I can no longer eat mackerel.

Its probably quite different now.

So long, and thanks for all the fish.
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Seagull or Seamew perhaps? Both from the same designer as the wayfarer with chined hulls.
 
dunedin said:
Ullapool in mid August will be heaving with tourists. And rammed with motor homes.
If planning to stay there make sure booked accommodation well ahead, as don’t think a huge supply.

I would suggest taking a pushbike and jumping on the ferry to Stornoway.
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True. That North Coast 500 takes up most of the available accommodation.
 
dgadee said:
True. That North Coast 500 takes up most of the available accommodation.
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It's been great for tourism, but I much preferred it when most didn't go north of the Great Glen - the NC500 is now just a procession of campervans, and the resulting risky overtakes - hence considering doing something else while up there.
 
We were anchored in Loch Erribol when a Dutch motor cyclist had an accident on the single track road above us. Helicopter brought in to take him out. The screams echoed down the loch as they put him into the ambulance to take him down to the helicopter.

Not great roads and probably worse now with all that traffic.

Lovely part of the world, though, if you like a bit of wildness. And sail there.
 
As in all of the immediate posts above, the NC500 has changed everything at that time of year. I'd recommend your few days in Inverness then; great city with loads to do and easy buses to get around, but accommodation is virtually impossible as it's all taken up, unless you've a tent. Going to the Western Isles is a similar tale, but with the added issue of being able to get on a ferry. (Seriously).
 
dunedin said:
I would suggest taking a pushbike and jumping on the ferry to Stornoway.
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If you wind up in Stornoway and want to get out sailing, get in touch with the lovely people at the Falmadair trust, who run a small fleet of traditional dipping luggers on a non profit basis. Last time I checked it was £10 for a day membership. Sailings depend on crew and skipper availability so there's no particular schedule but it's always worth asking.
 
KevinV said:
It's been great for tourism, but I much preferred it when most didn't go north of the Great Glen - the NC500 is now just a procession of campervans, and the resulting risky overtakes - hence considering doing something else while up there.
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I might well be up there around then for further exploration of the Summer Isles, send me a PM if interested.
 
As mentioned before, Ullapool has a sailing club with plenty of Flying Fifteens. There’s also 2 or 3 coastal rowing boats based there. Quite vibrant in the summer but a tourist trap. Foot passenger availability to Stornoway is only an issue around the Heb Celt festival in July, vehicle needs booking well in advance any time after Easter. Accommodation anywhere in the Highlands and Islands in the summer I think is hard to find on the day. If you like hiking and have a car, there are special places and mountains to explore around Ullapool
 
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