Last Updated on August 3, 2022
Although it is a town in the Scottish Highlands, Ullapool is a Norse name, a fact that further demonstrates the closely associated history between Scandinavia and the British Isles.
As in the Orkney Islands, there’s lots of evidence in Ullapool that humans have inhabited these regions for millennia…evidence like Neolithic stone huts and forts. Also consistent within the whole region, Ullapool relies on fishing for a healthy economy. Herring (“Silver Darlings”), mackerel, prawn, crab, and whitefish are among the fish and seafood caught in this region. Standing on the Ullapool dock, our tour guide pointed out a huge commercial fishing boat that indiscriminately vacuums fish right out of the water! Maybe it’s a cost-effective method, but it requires no skill or precision. Just sayin’. Wonder if they throw the unmarketable fish back into the water.
On our walk around Ullapool, we noticed that this town is an environmentally aware and civic minded community. Near the sidewalk, a small rowboat had been dragged onto a bed of gravel. The boat was filled with dirt, and various herbs were growing in it! A nearby sign says, “Welcome/ULLAPOOL/Visit-Stay-Enjoy/COMMUNITY HERB BOAT, Pick Your Own.”How nice is that? Further along, we passed a large, clean, prominently displayed trash/recycling bin situated near the water’s edge. The signs on it read, “LITTER/ ULLAPOOL HARBOUR TRUST/INVESTING IN OUR COMMUNITY/Recycle Newspapers & Magazines, Drink Cans, Plastic Bottles.” No wonder so many people like to vacation in Ullapool. In the winter, Ullapool is a village with 1,500 residents. In summer, the population swells to 20,000 with tourists vacationing in B&B’s, campers, guest houses, etc. Nice, friendly place to visit.
Interesting historical factoid: About 250 years ago, the wealthy lairds of Scotland decided that rather than using the land for farming, it would be more profitable to use it for grazing sheep. (The wool industry was booming.) So they drove out all the small farmers! These farming families had nowhere to go, so they emigrated to Canada and called their settlement…guess what? Nova Scotia! (“New Scotland”)
Julie Helms