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Coordinates: 57°54'01?N 5°09'56?W? / ?57.90038, -5.1656
Ullapool (Ullapul or Ulapul in Gaelic, the "U" pronounced like the "U" in "sea gull") is a small town of around 1,300 inhabitants in Ross and Cromarty, Highland, Scotland. Despite its small size, it is the largest settlement for many miles around, and is a major tourist destination of Scotland.
[edit] History
On the east shore of Loch Broom, Ullapool was founded in 1788 as a herring port by the British Fisheries Society.[2] It was designed by Thomas Telford. The harbour is still the centre of the town, used as a fishing port, yachting haven, and ferry port. Ferries sail to Stornoway in the Outer Hebrides.
Many of the pivotal discoveries of the Victorian era that contributed to the development of the concept of plate tectonics were made in this area, and there are still regular international geological conferences.
The UK parliament granted permission in the 1890s for a railway from Ullapool to the main Highland network at Garve, but insufficient funds resulting in the scheme being abandoned.
[edit] Culture
A view of Ullapool from a nearby hill
Ullapool has a strong reputation as a centre for music, the arts and performance.
The town boasts a small award winning museum housed in a Telford Church, An Talla Solais an arts centre with constantly changing exhibitions and workshops, a swimming pool and fitness centre, and plenty of pubs (including the newly re-furbished Arch Inn on the shores of Loch Broom), bed and breakfasts including the newly opened Riverview, restaurants and hotels. It is a centre for walkers, wildlife enthusiasts and other holidaymakers in the area and is situated in a spectacular and remote part of the United Kingdom.
In May every year there is the three day Ullapool Book Festival attracting a diverse range of writers and with work in both Scottish Gaelic and English. There is also The Macphail Centre which has a theatre hosting a regular programme of musical, dance and theatrical performances, many by the Scottish national companies but some work from smaller reps and travelling Edinburgh Fringe performers. Often the sheer number of performances in any week will overspill to the village hall and other venues.
Ullapool is home to the shinty team Lochbroom Camanachd. The town is also significant for being the birth place of the Demoman in Team Fortress 2.[citation needed]
Throughout the year there are many small fèisean and music festivals in the local halls and hotels - especially in The Ceilidh Place. The Ullapool Guitar Festival takes place in early October every year, attracting high-calibre performers at several venues over the weekend. The Loopallu Music Festival, first held in 2005, was very well received and has become a major regional annual event, effectively doubling the size of the village during the festival. In 2007 it attracted several extremely popular bands including The Saw Doctors, Dreadzone and had world reknowned Franz Ferdinand headline on the second night. There are also fringe events at local bars. The Pigeon Detectives are soon to be playing and Amy MacDonald played The Ceilidh Place early 2008.
Ullapool also has its own radio station called Loch Broom FM on 102.2.
[edit] Nearby places
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- , 2001 Population of Main Highland Towns & Villages. UK Government. Retrieved on 2008-05-14.
- , History. Ullapool Harbour Trustees. Retrieved on 2008-05-14.
[edit] External links
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(Source: Wikipedia) |