| Track length: | 206.2 km |
| Moving time: | 8:32 |
| Average speed: | 24.16 km/h |
| Total ascent: | 1855 m |
| Total descent: | 1870 m |
| Difficulty Level: | 3/5 - Medium | |
| Categories: |  |
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| Terrain: | Public access | |
| Hits: | 1846 | |
Gairloch to Ullapool Scottish Highlands
Always plan your road trip when touring Scotland by car camper or motorbike, so you don't miss out any of Scotland's beautiful, ever-changing scenery, incredible attractions and welcoming towns and villages.
This route will take you through some of the most speculator and wild country in Scotland, full of ancient history, tribal Celts and ancient face-painted Picts, Roman conquerors and audacious red-headed Vikings, fallen monarchs and powerful warrior-royals, mysterious standing stones, fine castles and lavish stately homes, striking architecture, derelict fortresses, food and drink, song and dance, all waiting for you to experience, on an adventure, of a breathtaking and awesome road trip.
Cross the Beauly Firth over the Kessock Bridge in Inverness and hit the A835 heading north and west for Ullapool, after around 25 miles, when you get to Loch Garve, look for the A832 for Gairloch and start heading west, through Achnasheen and along past Loch Maree, the views are stunning as you head along to Gairloch. After Gairloch and Inverewe continue on the A832 passing Aultbea and the picture postcard Gruinard Bay with its chalk white beach and turquoise waters.
The name Gairloch comes from the Gaelic "ghearr loch", meaning short loch - referring to the relatively short sea loch that runs along the coast here, the surrounding area includes many small communities that functioned as separate villages for many years, Gairloch is one of the principal villages on the North Coast 500 route, in Wester Ross, in the North-West Highlands of Scotland, a popular tourist destination in the summer months, here you will find a golf course, a small museum, several hotels, a variety of shops, the harbour is quite busy, with boat trips and fishing boats, there are some very good walks and beaches in the area,
Continue along to the A835 to Ullapool alongside the spectacular Loch Broom. Ullapool is a important port and tourist destination, the town is the main terminus for the ferry to Stornoway in the Outer Hebrides off the west coast of Scotland, composed of islands, Lewis, Harris, North Usi, South Usit, Eriskay and Barra. these islands have much to offer from white beaches and Atlantic waves, dark moorland and rugged mountains, amazing wildlife and a rich and vibrant culture.
The Summer Queen boat in Ullapool runs fantastic sea cruises from the harbour and takes you through the head of Loch Broom and out to the Summer Isles through the Minch, here you can see dolphins, porpoises, basking sharks and Scotland’s only Orca (Killer whale) pod are often spotted in these waters, look above and spot a white tailed sea eagles and all manner of birds that will be pointed out by the knowledgeable crew, once back on the road you will find ever-ending back roads, wide meandering country tracks and beautiful bends through some of Scotland's finest coastal scenery and the freedom of the long open road, from Ullapool the North coast 500 carries on.
