Ullapool in the Sunshine

Looks too big to fit!

We woke up this morning to a cloudy sky (no raining) - it was cooler than yesterday and the forecast was for rain, but we decided that as we are tough northerners we would dress for sunshine - but take jumpers just in case - we are so glad we did as it got hotter and hotter - to the point it was full on sunshine - much the same as yesterday!

Great boat!

Today, after finally finishing off our game of Trivial Pursuit (Tom won in the end - both of us were impressed with his general knowledge - shame he knows nothing about the Spice Girls or he would have won two days ago!) we headed into the 'village' of Ullapool.  Now officially it is a village with a population of 1,500 (500 less than Ingleton) but it has the services of a town - being the biggest place round here by quite some way - so it has a Tesco, a swimming pool, high school, loads of shops, restaurants, a museum, petrol station, 2 banks, a post office and an industrial estate.  Makes Ingleton look very amateur! Anyway we got there in time to watch the ferry leave the harbour to Stornoway, so we headed to the pebbly beach and skimmed stones etc until the ferry left.  It is a grand site - the loch is so scenic with mountains rising all around, the loch water is crystal clear and the boat, nice and new and looking slightly out of place.

Once it had headed around the corner, we walked along the streets of Ullapool and looked in its shops.  Mainly tourist shops on the front - lots of tartan, coos, Nessies, westies etc.

Top of the hill

I managed to find a patch for Tom's blanket - very important task for a holiday and Tom found the perfect hat for the rest of the holiday...a Nessie hat!  As soon as he saw it, he was in love, and although it is as tacky as anything, it was his money he was spending, so we couldn't say no.  He really does love it - he kept it on all day, and as I said, it got pretty hot in the afternoon!

Nessie admiring the view

Once we had 'done' the front street, we walked along the parallel street - which was more galleries, and local shops.  We were just wondering where to go for lunch when we happened across a place called the Seafood Shack - it looked good - a cabin serving take away food - but the menu was amazing - no battered fish and chips, but dishes like macaroni cheese with local smoked trout (Matt and Tom had this), mussels in creamy sauce (I had this), herring salad, home made mackerel pate, spicy fish soup etc etc.  It had an air of class about it and a queue was forming before it was even open.  This was definitely our lunch stop and it was amazing, the food did not disappoint and it was reasonably priced.  Turned out it won 'the best street food in Britain' in 2017 and I'm not surprised.  I have a feeling we will be back.  Apparently the menu changes daily according to what fish is available.  I'm hoping for langoustines...

After lunch we went back to the car, re-arranged ourselves and then headed for a walk up to a view point over the town.  First thing we found was a beautiful Highland Pottery which had loads of very expensive, but absolutely beautifully painted crockery - all with highland designs: seascapes, mountains, heather, puffins, etc etc.  I would happily have spent the best part of £1000 there.  However, we left empty handed.  They had a fab pottery clad boat outside (that's what drew us in) so I took a photo.  We might be back...

Panorama from the top

Not a bad spot for a rest

Back to the walk, it was pretty hot and sweaty again and the path was, once again a relentless up up up path (not quite as high as yesterday) to the top of Meall Mor, we were rewarded with some pretty special views and once again we were surrounded by non English speakers - mainly German today.

Nessie is real

After drinking in the view for a while we headed back down and found ourselves popping out by the harbour.  First stop was an ice cream and sit down.  We then wandered down the jetty for a paddle in the crystal clear sea to refresh our legs and feet before heading to a pub for a pint each.

When we came out of the pub, it was almost time for the ferry to arrive again, so we headed back to the beach for a spot of skimming, then the boys got competitive with a throwing competition (Matt won, but it won't be long before Tom gives him a run for his money!)  and then the ferry came round the corner, so we watched it come in, and then headed to Tesco  to get more food and more importantly, more beer (my new favourite: Brew Dog's Quench Quake).  Then back home, shower, tea and relax.

Someone's big birthday tomorrow...