Ullapool
Ferry port and fishing town on Loch Broom — the mainland gateway to the Outer Hebrides.
Plan your visit
CalMac sails from here to Stornoway on Lewis, and the road north opens up the Coigach peninsula, Achiltibuie and the Summer Isles. A working harbour with a good range of pubs, restaurants, hotels and boat trips.
Ullapool sits on the eastern shore of Loch Broom in Wester Ross — the largest settlement in north-west Scotland north of the Black Isle and the mainland departure port for the Outer Hebrides. CalMac's Stornoway ferry sails twice daily in summer, and the busy harbour, white-painted Telford terraces and seafront pubs give the town its distinctive character.
Getting there
By car on the A835 from Inverness, about an hour and a quarter. By CalMac ferry from Stornoway on Lewis (twice daily in summer), for which Ullapool is the mainland port. Citylink coaches run Inverness–Ullapool connecting with the ferry.
When to go
Busiest from Easter to October, with the Stornoway ferry, the Summer Isles boat trips and the NC500 traffic all peaking in July and August. The harbour pubs and restaurants stay open year-round, but some seasonal businesses close in winter. Late spring and early autumn are the best balance.
Plan your trip
Take the printed map with you.
The Ullapool & Western Isles 2026 (2026) edition covers Ullapool, Wester Ross, Isle of Lewis, Isle of Harris, North Uist, Benbecula, South Uist and Isle of Barra — full-colour, OS-grade, and free where you travel. The same maps you've found at ferry ports and visitor centres for over 20 years.
Around Ullapool the road and coast open up rapidly. North on the A835, Ardmair, Achiltibuie and the Coigach peninsula lead to the Summer Isles and the Inverpolly nature reserve. Inland, Leckmelm and the head of Loch Broom open the way south-east toward the Beauly–Inverness corridor. South, the A832 swings around through Wester Ross proper toward Gairloch and Poolewe.
Frequently asked questions
Where does the Ullapool ferry go?
CalMac sails Ullapool–Stornoway on Lewis, twice daily in summer, taking about two and a half hours. Ullapool is the mainland port for the Outer Hebrides.
What is there to do around Ullapool?
Boat trips to the Summer Isles, the Coigach peninsula and Achiltibuie to the north, and the harbour pubs and restaurants. It's also a key stop on the North Coast 500.
How do I get to Ullapool?
By car on the A835 from Inverness, about an hour and a quarter, or by Citylink coach from Inverness connecting with the Stornoway ferry.