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Looking across Loch Ewe with Isle of Ewe on the left and the village of Aultbea on the right

Aultbea & Beyond

Aultbea is a small, seaside village on the shore of Loch Ewe, situated along the North Coast 500 route, one of several villages and hamlets of varying sizes scattered along a stunning part of the west coast.

Despite our remote location, the area is blessed with not only jaw dropping scenery, but also enterprising people who having made their homes here, apply their knowledge and enthusiasm to offer all kinds of activities, dining experiences, crafts & facilities for us all to enjoy. This creates a wonderful individuality to the businesses on offer.

So when you eat out, go shopping or go on a trip you are likely meeting those owners and are supporting sustainability in the local community.

Go you!

Things to do in Aultbea, Poolewe & Gairloch area

Find out everything you need to know to make the very most out of your fabulous Highland Holiday at Aultbea Lodges!

Read about the Activities, Food, Art & crafts, & the Wellness, Pampering & Self-care options on offer in our unique part of the world. You will soon see why this is a place to stay a while

Activities

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Aultbea based Ewe Canoe kayak and canoe with a friendly, qualified and experienced instructor offering individually tailored trips for all abilities around the area.

You can walk down to the rocky shore and we have 2 sandy beaches within a short drive, otters are often spotted along the shore. From the lodges you have direct access to ‘prime wild land’ where you can walk for miles, taking in Loch Fada and even to Fionne Loch, enjoy the stunning views, or fish in the many lochs (with permit). Laide & Aultbea Community Wood offers a lovely walk.

The Arctic Convoy Museum is just a couple of minutes walk from the Lodges; learn how Loch Ewe played an important role in the Second World War

The Aultbea Community Hub housed in an old church a few minutes walk away, hosts a Thursday cafe, cinema nights, along with various music, activities & craft events through the year

Other Activities and Attractions in the area

Hill walking, many beautiful beaches, whale watching, bird watching, fishing (sea, trout and salmon), mountains, pony trekking, boat trips, boat hire, Munro hiking (guided available), geology tours, climbing, ceilidh dancing, dog activity, talks, Gairloch Museum, Inverewe Gardens, Corrieshalloch Gorge, Benn Eighe National Reserve, Torridon Mountains, Fisherfield Munro's, bicycle hire, ebike hire, golf, paddle boarding, coasteering, guided wildlife walks, historic house tour, archery, falconry.....

Our fabulous location means we are a day trip distance away to explore further to Assynt, Torridon, Inverness

The big question is will your holiday be long enough?

Highland Games

Join in the fun at local Highland Games - 2026 Dates

3rd & 4th July Gairloch Highland Gathering

11th July Inverness Highland Games also on facebook

18th July Locharron Highland Games also on facebook

14th August Assynt Highland Games (Lochinver)

TBC August Strathpeffer Highland Gathering

Other events, news & tunes

Do check out our facebook page for day to day events happening in the area

TBC August Aultbea Not the Raft Race (it's a Flotilla)

Our local paper The Gairloch & District Times is also available in digital form, via an online subscription

Listen online to Radio Wester Ross

Activity Providers

Boat trips Gairloch Marine Wildlife Centre, Hebridean Whale Cruises (open fast RIB), Glass Bottomed Boat, Cubbie Roo, Shellfish Safari, Inverewe Garden
Boat hire Glendale Boat Hire
Archery & Falconry Falconry Scotland
Pony Trekking Gairloch Trekking Centre,
Rock Climbing, Scrambling, Munro Walking Go Further Scotland (beginner to advanced)
Geology tours & talks North West Highlands Geopark
Canoe & Kayak Ewe Canoe
Paddleboarding (SUP), Coasteering, Canyoning, Mountain Biking, Munro Walking Climb, Ride, Explore
Kayak & Bicycle Hire & woodfired sauna with plunge pool Gairloch Kayak Centre
Nature Walks, talks, activities with Highland Rangers (Highland Council) Ross-Shire Ranger
Nature Walks, craft activities at Corrieshalloch Gorge
Guided nature walks Wild Ewe Safaris
Guided archaeology walk Gairloch Museum
Mantrailing (with your dog) Highlands K9 Mantrailing Group
EBike Hire Badachro Inn
Ceildih's Poolewe Ceilidh Partnership (Wednesday's July 15th to Aug 19th), Sands Camp Site (Friday's Jul &Aug
Music Events West Coast Arts
Paint your own Pottery & Spinning wool Prickly Fish
Art Class Lynn Bennett-Mackenzie at her studio in Gairloch
Historic House Tour Pool House (spooky tour on a Thurs)
Distillery Tour & Tasting Experience Badachro Distillery
Golf Gairloch Golf Club
Swimming Pool Poolewe Swimming Pool

All things Eating & Drinking

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Super Village Shops

We are very fortunate to have fantastic village shops in Aultbea, Laide, Poolewe & Gairloch. These independent businesses serve us all year round & stock many items that you won't find elsewhere.

Carefully curated, you will find an excellent range of food, alcoholic beverages, papers & convenience items, alongside gifts, postcards, midge accoutrements, games, toys...

Look out for locally produced beer by Ewe Brew & gin, whisky & vodka by Badachro Distillery), Ritchies' Aultbea haggis, black pudding & white pudding & croft grown veggies. Shellfish can be purchased from local Creel Fisherman and dotted around the village you may come across local honey, eggs (quail, duck, chicken), home made jams, chutneys. Order a traditional & delicious Lochewe Clootie Dumpling. Fresh fish can be purchased from visiting fish vans. In Gairloch there is Kenneth Morrison Butcher . Farm & Garden in Gairloch have a great range of fresh (and frozen) fish landed from a local business, tasty treats, gifts, fishing rods & gear and a whole lot more! Locally made cakes galore, sour dough bread can be ordered in Poolewe.

Suffice to say you can get everything from welly boots to champagne!

Please note the village shops are not open in the evening and most are closed on Sunday's.

Aultbea Stores / Laide Post Office - General Store and Filling Station (fishing permits, cash withdrawals & with 24hr fuel facility) Poolewe Village Store & Post Office / The Shop at the Pier (fishing permits & open Sunday)

Aultbea has a repair garage & Doctor's Surgery

(As of Dec 2024 we have a new Co-Op Store in Gairloch, this does open in the evenings and on Sunday's)

Eating Out

In Aultbea we have Oran Na Mara Cafe - adjacent to the Lodges, choose from a fine selection of homemade cakes and snacks in a friendly day time cafe (Fri-Mon) with spectacular views across Aultbea .

The Aultbea Hotel is a 10 minute walk away, is open Wed-Sun from 1200 and serves evening meals & The Ocean View in Laide has a very nice Pizza menu.

More day and evening dining & takeaways can be found in Poolewe 6 miles, Gairloch 13 miles and various places around about. With menus ranging from locally sourced shellfish, seafood & meats, hand made pizza and caribbean delights. With vegan and vegetarian options in most places, there is sure to be something for everyone.

There are limited evening dining options so booking is recommended

We are happy to help with recommendations & you will find information about all the options in your Guest Book

Crafts & Gifts

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The Tuesday market in Poolewe hosts a range of craft, food & drink stalls. Markets also take place in Ullapool (Sat), Elphin (Wed), Torridon (every other Thurs), Lochinver (Fri). Use these links to get to know the local crafts on offer. As you travel about you'll come across more local talent displayed in the museums, cafes and hotels, including handmade soaps & skin care products, made right here in Aultbea by Perfume Studio. Right next door to the Lodges we have Falling Leaf Designs, The Highland Wood Turner & Krockewe Arts & Crafts can be found in the village and I love Kimberley's baby knits at the cafe next door. Take part decorating pottery or learn to spin/dye wool with Prickly Fish in Laide. Be sure to have a browse in Painted Horse Antiques for your next vintage find