About Poolewe and Wester Ross

  Contents:(Click on headings)
  - About the Surrounding Area
- Scenery pictures
- Gairloch

-
Ullapool
 
 

Poolewe:
Poolewe is a small village in Wester Ross at the head of Loch Ewe where the very pretty River Ewe flows into the sea loch from Loch Maree. It is surrounded by magnificent scenery and also boasts the world renowned Inverewe Gardens.
Poolewe is 6 miles from Gairloch and 70 miles from Inverness, the nearest city and airport.

Click on a picture to enlarge it.

 
  Caberfeidh from Poolewe Village Green Main Street Poolewe Poolewe Village Green River Ewe and Poolewe Village Green Mouth of River Ewe
  Caberfeidh from Poolewe Village Green
Main Street Poolewe
Poolewe Village Green River Ewe and Poolewe Village Green Mouth of River Ewe
 
River Ewe evening light
fields by Poolewe
From inverewe looking over
Gorse and poolewe
The war memorial poolewe
  River Ewe and evening light in April
fields by Poolewe Looking over from inverewe Gorse and Poolewe The war memorial in Poolewe
 


Shops and Amenities in Poolewe:


Groceries/Post Office: There is a Post Office combined with the licensed village shop, including a small bakery, a couple of minutes walk down the street. The shop normally stays open till 8pm during the summer months. It is closed on Sundays.

Hotel Bar and Restaurant: The Poolewe Hotel which is a few minutes totter from Caberfeidh, has a bar stocking a wide range of malt whiskies and beers as well as local ales. They also serve bar snacks and and have a restaurant open to non-residents.

Coffee Shop/Art Gallery: There is also a very friendly coffee shop selling excellent coffee, homemade soups, light meals and cakes etc. a few doors down the street from Caberfeidh; it has an adjoining, small gallery with pictures, jewellery etc from Scottish artists and craftspeople.

Mobile Shops: There are various vans which serve the village, including the mobile Bank of Scotland and Royal Bank.

Swimming Pool:
In the village there is an excellent small public indoor heated swimming pool, some two minutes walk from Caberfeidh.

 
 
  Inverewe Garden:
About half a mile from the house, round the head of Loch Ewe, is the remarkable and beautiful Inverewe Garden (pronounced Inver-Ewe) which is in the care of the National Trust for Scotland. Its Ranger service runs guided walks to various interesting local places on summer weekdays. There is a good Information Centre and NTS shop and restaurant at the Garden.
National Trust for Scotland
 
Large leaves of Gunnera manicata
Tree Ferns at Inverewe
Rhododendrons in June
 
Looking into the Walled Garden at Inverewe
Huge leaves of Gunnera manicata
Blue Himalayan Poppy in the Walled Garden
Tree Ferns at Inverewe
Rhododendrons in June
 
 
 
The rare Variegated Turkey Oak
Rhododendron 'Christmas Cheer' in February
Autumn colour: Birch trees
View from walled garden
  Click here for more Inverewe Pictures  
 
  The Surrounding Area:
The village is a particularly good base from which to explore Wester Ross with all it has to offer. This includes excellent sandy beaches nearby ( though not in the village), exceptional opportunities for hill walking and climbing; bird watching; hill loch, river and sea fishing; wind surfing and sailing, to mention the more energetic pursuits.
 
 
 
  Scenery Photos:
     
  Click here for more Scenery Pictures
Loch Maree
Gairloch beach and mountains
Kernsary Loch and Loch Kernsary to Beinn Airigh Charr
 
  Gairloch:
The very pleasant larger village of Gairloch is six miles to the south. In addition to its fine beach and view over to the north end of the Isle of Skye, it has a Tourist Office, a supermarket, the small but very good Gairloch Heritage Museum, a golf course, a range of shops and restaurants and the Bank of Scotland with an auto-bank. There is also a marine life centre operating short two hour cruises from Gairloch Pier.
  View down to Gairloch Gairloch Main street Gairloch Main street View over to Gairloch Gairloch  Shoreline
  Looking down onto Gairloch Gairloch Main Street Gairloch Main street Looking over Loch Gairloch to the town (Free Church in foreground) Gairloch rocky shore beside Main street, Gairloch
  Gairloch beach Porpoise on Marine Trip Gairloch Porpoises seen from boat on Marine Trip Gairloch View out to Skye from airloch View across Gair Loch to Slioch
  Gairloch beach Porpoise on Marine Trip Gairloch Porpoises seen from boat on Marine Trip Gairloch Looking out to Skye from Gairloch shoreline Looking over Loch Gairloch to Slioch and Beinn Eighe Mountains
  Gairloch beach Gairloch Golf Course    
  View to Skye and Gairloch Viewpoint looking over to Gairloch beach Gairloch Golf Course beside beach    
 

Other attractions:
For those wishing to explore further afield, to the south is the Beinn Eighe Nature Reserve and Torridon; to the north there is the small fishing port of Ullapool with the car ferry to Stornaway in the Outer Hebrides. A few miles beyond Ullapool is the National Nature Reserve at Knockan Crag and which is also situated on the edge of the spectacular Assynt area.

  Updated 23/02/09
© 2006 Flora McArthur