Birchgrove Bed & Breakfast

Common Grazing grounds & cattle grids ......

by scottishvisitor

Common grazing grounds are areas where local crofters share land with Estates. Here they can raise a few sheep or many this is why you will notice many different breeds grazing together. The sheep are free to roam (free range sheep) and are controlled only by cattle grids. Funny name really as there are few cattle around these parts due to the rough landscape and lack of medows. Cattle grids are almost always accompanied by kissing gates and they have one more reason for being here - not only the sheep are controlled but also wandering deer are prevented from grazing in the locals gardens.

Eddrachillis Bay

by keeweechic

Eddrachillis Bay - is up near Scourie on the west coast north of Ullapool where we were staying at the time. From the headland you will see the many islands dotted in Eddrachillis Bay.

Take the A894 from Ullapool.

Scottish West Coast

by lnalba

"Ullapool"

This is a view out of the small village of Ullapool, which is on the west coast of Scotland. Remote may be the first thing that comes to mind, and the journey there takes a while, but the road are far better than they were a few years ago. If you leave from Inverness, you can get there in about an hour!

The area is packed with things to do - walking, climbing and absailing, museum visiting, shopping, tours and cruises to nearby islands, nature watches (including dolphin and whale watching), fishing and sea angling, gardens, golf, mountain biking, distilleries.....!!!

There are regular boat trips (during the warmer seasons) out to the Summer Isles, where you can see seals and other creatures.

There is also a car ferry which regularly leaves for Stornoway.

It is well worth the effort to visit. The scenery is wonderful - picture postcard views. I visited when there was beautiful weather, though it isn't always like this!

"Adventures and accommodation"

Distant as it may seem, Ullapool has a decent-sized supermarket, plenty of shops of the food, souvenir and clothes variety. There are also plenty of B&Bs, hotels and restaurants.

For those of you who prefer the outdoors, there is a very adequate campsite with probably one of the best views in the world.

I cannot emphasise enough the importance of being prepared for four seasons in one day, especially if you venture into the hills. Take warm clothing, waterproofs, good walking boots, some food and water, a map, and a mobile phone if you have one (though they may easily get out of range).

If you have these things, you should be fine. Do not, under any circumstances, phone the mountain rescue unless it is a genuine emergency - that means life or death, not "I'm tired".

"Transport"

If you don't have your own transport, getting around can be a problem. As the roads are quite quiet, your own transport can easily include a bike or your own legs. I kept passing a man on a three-wheeled reclining bicycle, so anything goes!

However, due to the terrain, trains do not make it to Ullapool. It is possible to hire a minibus or a car if you need it. (Ewen's taxi & minicoach hire in Ullapool seems to be pretty good - tel. 01854 612966)