Saturday, April 2, 2022
This morning we were still sailing along the west coast of Great Britain.
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| Now we know what they mean by the Scottish Highlands! |
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| We arrived at Ullapool about noon, but had to anchor in Loch Broom |
We wanted to tender into Ullapool an hour early to see things on our own, before the included shore excursion of a one-and-a-half hour town stroll at 15:45. However, the tenders were not acting as shuttles, and we waited over an hour. By then, we had to meet for our guided tour.
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A view back at the Viking Venus, but, oh,
what's that black dot in thewater? |
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The black dot was Sammy, the seal, who knows to
come to the dock for fresh fish |
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| The tender near the seaweed covered beach of Ullapool |
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| A young boy was picking up the seaweed to fling it a few feet |
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| The locals were out enjoying the sunny day (KSS) |
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| The harbor with small fishing vessels |
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Shore Street with whitewashed buildings
and the occasional red sandstone building (KSS) |
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| Shore Street in the other direction with the Ferry Boat Inn |
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We took steps up to Argyle Street, where a family
parked their dinghy by the front door |
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| A smaller whitewashed house had something to sell |
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| Selling locally-dived sea shells (KSS) |
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| A neat little red sandstone cottage (KSS) |
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| A larger red sandstone house |
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The languages of Scotland are English and
Scottish Gaelic, which is distinct from Irish where the
language is not called Gaelic, rather the people and
culture of Ireland are Gaelic (confused yet?) (KSS) |
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Ullapool is known for its Cordyline australis/
New Zealand cabbage trees |
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The Highland Wildlife Hospital Trust was founded
in 1985 by Beatrice & Mike Brinkler;
we were told Beatrice was once an actress |
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| Flier for a seed swap (KSS) |
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| Ullapool Clock with street sign |
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The Ullapool Village Clock (1899, in memory
of Sir John Fowler; with plaques added to honor
his two sons killed in action during World War I) |
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Lochbroom Free Church (1909) of the Free Church
of Scotland, an evangelical Calvinist denomination,
with a food truck (KSS) |
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| Ullapool Primary School (1929) |
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A mural by the primary school children indicates
they "know from where their food comes" |
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Buildings along an inland street were named Riverside,
and then we saw the Ullapool River far below |
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| The Ullapool River flows into Loch Broom, a sea loch/an arm of the sea |
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| On the shore of the loch is Ullapool Golf Club course |
In Scotland, golf is not an elitist sport, and is affordable and easily accessible, "in line with the country's egalitarian tradition."
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| Succisa pratensis/Devil's Bit Scabious |
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| Looking back along Loch Broom at the Summer Isles |
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| Memorial bench with a view |
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Ceilidh Place Hotel and Restaurant began when actor
Robert Urquhart opened a café in a boatshed and
invited musicians to play in exchange for a meal |
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Someone or something is climbing the walls
at Ullapool Outdoors (KSS) |
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Former Telford Church (1829, by Thomas Telford, the same
engineer of the Holyhead to London road) is now a museum |
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The Seaforth Restaurant hosted Viking passengers
for tea or coffee and biscuits, and tablets |
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| The spread |
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The biscuits were shortbread cookies, and the
Scottish tablets were a sugary confection like a
grainy vanilla fudge; originally made with sugar
and cream, now sugar and condensed milk or butter |
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| We caught the last tender at 17:00 |
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| Departing from Ullapool, where there is now a ferry |
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| Fishing boat and dinghy |
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| More of the Scottish Highlands |
Next: Kirkwall, Orkney Islands.
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