Hebridean Hop 1: Glasgow to Ullapool
Saturday 28th July 2018
So when did Scotland’s beautiful summer weather decide to break? The night before we went on holiday of course! Thunder, lightening and torrential rain – I was quite worried about flooding on the car journey ahead of us. In the end, it wasn’t too bad – stormy in parts, but we survived. Our destination was Ullapool on the northwest coast from where we would catch a ferry the following day to Stornoway on the island of Lewis.
Because we were there for such a short time, we booked a simple motel room. We arrived, had a cup of tea and set off for dinner in the beautiful Ceilidh Place.
The evening stayed dry, but when we came out of the restaurant the wind was gusting, as predicted by the weather forecast. The app for CalMac ferries warned of possible delays and disruption. Would we even get to Stornoway the next day? Read on to find out!
The Glasgow Gallivanter 
Gusting wind is one of my least favourite weather conditions. The restaurant looks very cosy though. 🙂
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It was quite a bizarre morning with the strong wind yet perfect blue sky.
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Now I know what you were doing on my birthday. 🙂
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I think that John’s smile could brighten any stormy day. Off to read the next post to see if you ran into any ferry delays on your visit.
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As you’ve now found out, we did but nothing like as bad as feared. I wish I could go with the flow (pun intended) more easily, but I always worry about what *might* happen and rarely does. John, as you cane see, just smiles and doesn’t let it bother him.
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We could probably all learn a bit about mellowing out from John 🤗
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We’ve never been to the Scottish islands, I’m ashamed to say. We really ought to visit before to long – before I’m too old and knackered. But it’s always been the weather that’s put me off as you worry your precious holiday would be ruined. I was thinking of arranging a trip next year – I’m not so sure reading this!!!!!
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It’s a chance you take and you need to go prepared, which I know you would. In 3 weeks we had only two days with no rain at all, but only two days where it rained most of the day. Other days we had showers which weren’t problematic – those emergency waterproof trousers that we bought never got worn. Keep reading and you might be surprised!
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My final comment was tongurpe in cheek!
I’m looking forward to read the rest of your posts on your trip. They’re bound to give me some ideas for my own trip 😊
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Well, it is a worry! I did wonder myself what we would do if it rained solidly for 3 weeks!
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Tongurpe? Clumsy fingers!
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I did notice, but was too polite to say 😉
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But of course 😉
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I have good memories of Ullapool when we visited in the 90s (can’t remember exactly when). One of my memories is of two Russian sailors drinking vodka steadily for a complete evening while we were having a quiet night at the pub. It was quite something to watch them down huge amount of vodkas though they never became aggressive or obviously drunk! (Suzanne)
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Yes, I remember the big Russian fish factory boats that used to come into the bay, though we never met any vodka swilling sailors!
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Hi Annabel – that’s life isn’t it … travels and we never know what will happen. Dinner looks fun though – cheers Hilary
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We had lots of fun dinners – one of the best things about being on holiday!
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I trust Calmac to get you there 🙂
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They are usually pretty good …
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I totally get how a ferry can control your destiny. Fingers crossed that you made you!
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Indeed! We had four ferries in this trip, and I was a little anxious before all of them. It’s not like a city airport where there are it’s of big hotels they can whisk you off to
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That motel certainly does look spartan. I hope the bed was comfortable.
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It was simple but comfortable – fine for one night, but not spacious enough if we’d stayed longer.
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I bet you do! 🙂 🙂 Never been to Ullapool. Would love to visit those islands.
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You might be right, or you might not! Ullapool is lovely, we’ve had a few nice visits there. Loved the Hebrides and, as usual, ask myself why we haven’t been more often. Too much gallivanting abroad.
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Lovely place Ullapool, Used to go there a fair bit hillwalking and have a pint in that hotel, a classier place than the sea front bars and not as claustrophobic if busy.
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Yes, we’ve also been a fair bit on various jaunts. I get seduced by the bookshop too!
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