Destinations > Scotland > Highland > Northern Highlands

Northern Highlands

Ullapool

Ullapool is a busy transport hub with travellers coming here to catch the ferry to the Isle of Lewis.

Practical Information

Ullapool Tourist Information Centre

Argyle Street, Ullapool

Tel (01854) 612 135

Open Apr-Jun Mon-Sat 9am-5pm, Sun 10am-4pm; Jul-Aug Mon-Sat 9am-6pm, Sun 10am-5pm; Sep-Oct Mon-Sat 9am-5pm, Sun 10am-4pm

Coming & Going

Scottish Citylink coaches from Inverness connect with Caledonian MacBryane (tel (01854) 612 358; website www.calmac.co.uk) ferries to Stornoway on the Isle of Lewis.

Accommodation

TOWN CENTRE

Ullapool SYHA

Shore Street, Ullapool
Tel (01854) 612 254 or 0870 004 1156

Ullapool Tourist Hostel (West House)

West House, West Argyle Street, Ullapool IV26 2TY
Tel (01854) 613 126

NEAR ULLAPOOL

Achininver SYHA

Achiltibuie, Ullapool, IV26 2YL
Tel (01854) 622 254 or 0870 004 1101

Sights

Ullapool Museum

This small museum features exhibits about local history dating back to Viking times.

7-8 West Argyle Street, Ullapool

Tel (01854) 612 987

Website www.ullapool.co.uk/museum.html

Admission £2

Open Jan-Feb Wed-Thu & Sat 11am-3pm; Mar Mon-Sat 10am-3pm; Apr-Oct Mon-Sat 9.30am-5.30pm; Nov-Dec Wed-Thu & Sat 11am-3pm

Thurso

Bustling Thurso is the major town on Scotland's north coast. There isn't a lot to see here, but it boasts a surprisingly good surf beach. Most travellers visit Thrust to catch a ferry to the Orkney Isles, which departs from nearby Scrabster.

Practical Information

Thurso Tourist Information Centre

Riverside Road, Thurso

Tel (01847) 892 371

Open Apr-May Mon-Sat 10am-5pm; Jun-Sep Mon-Sat 10am-5pm, Sun 10am-4pm; Oct Mon-Sat 10am-5pm

Coming & Going

Scottish Citylink and Highland Country buses (routes 58 and 958) operate coaches between Inverness and Thurso, via Wick.

Northlink Ferries (tel (01856) 851 144; website www.northlinkferries.co.uk) depart Scrabster, 4km east of Thurso, for Stromness in the Orkney Islands.

Accommodation

Sandra’s Backpackers

24-26 Princes Street, Thurso KW14 7BQ
Tel (01847) 894 575

Thurso Youth Club Hostel

Old Mill, Millbanks Road, Thurso KW14 8PS
Tel (01847) 892 964

John o' Groats

If you're not into bird watching, Great Britain's most northerly point doesn't have a lot to offer. However it attracts lots of tourists – who also have Lands End (Cornwall) on their itinerary – who come here to say they've made it to the top of mainland Britain.

Coming & Going

Highland Country bus route 77 runs between Wick and Thurso, stopping en route at John o' Groats.

John O'Groats Ferries (tel (01955) 611 353; website www.jogferry.co.uk) sail to Burwick in the Orkney Islands. A cheaper alternative is the ferry service run by Pentland Ferries (tel (01856) 831 226; website www.pentlandferries.co.uk) that sails from Gills Bay, which is just a few kilometres west of John o' Groats.

Accommodation

John O’Groats SYHA

Canisbay, Near Wick KW1 4YH
Tel (01955) 611 424 or 0870 004 1129