Welcome to the Ullapool News

COMPETITION LAUNCHED TO NAME BEAR SCOTLAND GRITTER FLEET

BEAR Scotland is inviting the public to put their creativity to the test by submitting winter-themed names for gritters operating across the South East and North West trunk road networks.
The competition opens on Monday 24 August with family-friendly entries accepted until Friday 11 September via an online form.
The winning names will be displayed on BEAR Scotland gritters which are part of a 115-strong winter fleet which helps keep Scotland moving throughout winter, operating around the clock to treat roads ahead of frost and ice, and helping clear snow.
Previous competitions have produced a host of memorable gritter names, including Snow Scotland Snow Party, I’ve Grit A Crush On You, Basil Salty, Gritty Gritty Bang Bang,
Sir Andy Flurry and Brine Freeeeze.

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Highland bus service improvement plans

The Highland Council’s Economy and Infrastructure Committee has endorsed plans to launch a 12-week public consultation on a proposed Highland Bus Service Improvement Partnership (BSIP), giving communities, passengers and stakeholders the opportunity to help shapethe future of bus services across the region. The consultation will seek views on draft proposals developed by The Highland Council in partnership with HITRANS and bus operators to improve the operational performance, accessibility, attractiveness and consistency of bus services across Highland.

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The Variations Scotland String Quartet Challenge 2026-27

Variations, a Highlands based music group, is launching Scotland’s first competition for amateur classical chamber music musicians – its String Quartet Challenge. Open to amateur musicians aged between 18 and 40 based in Scotland, the winners of the String Quartet Challenge will be awarded free places – each worth over £1000 – at Variations’ annual course in Ullapool, coached by the renowned professionals of the Edinburgh Quartet.

Variations has been running a week-long chamber music course with the Edinburgh Quartet in residence in Ullapool each July for over 20 years. According to its Chair, Gordon Adam, although the courses are thriving, the average age of participants has steadily increased.

“Younger players are joining amateur orchestras, but fewer seem to be playing chamber music – we hope this Challenge can help change that.

The Challenge is not open to professional musicians or music conservatory students – it is for amateurs. “There are a number of competitions in the UK and internationally for young professional string quartets, but as far as we know this is the first in Scotland – and possibly the UK – for amateurs”, according to Sadie Fields, leader of the Edinburgh Quartet. Variations hope the profile for amateur chamber music will be raised in a similar way as the

BBC highlighted amateur orchestral playing in their televised “All Together Now” challenge of 2016.  The Challenge invites interested groups to submit recordings made on a smartphone of two pieces: any movement

of a Haydn string quartet and any other contrasting movement from a quartet from the romantic era or later.  The four finalists will play a quartet of their own choice at a public concert in Perth’s St John’s Kirk on 27th February 2027, in association with the Perth Chamber Music Society, when the winner will be selected by the Edinburgh Quartet. They will work on a string quartet of their choice at Variations 2027 in Ullapool, which they willbe invited to perform.

However, the winners do not take all. The Challenge aims to encourage other promising participants, and for them there will be two additional one-day workshops provided free at the Marryat Hall in Dundee during March 2027.  These sessions will be open to the public.

“The bottom line is that the String Quartet repertoire contains some of classical music’s finest works of the past 250 years”, according to Sadie Fields. “They are hugely satisfying to play and deserve to be played – and listened to – more. We hope the Variations Challenge will play a small part in achieving this”.

The deadline for entries to be submitted is 31st December this year. Further information and application forms are on the Variations website www.variationsscotland.co.uk

25 Years of the Ullapool Flower, Craft and Produce Show!
Come along and be amazed by the locally grown flowers, fruit and vegetables, baking, jams and preserves, crafts, paintings and photographs!
Entry by donation please
Soup, sandwiches, home baking, teas and coffees provided by the Ullapool Fairtrade Group, celebrating its 20th anniversary! (Refreshments by donation).
Saturday 22 August
Ullapool Village Hall
Market Street
Open 12 – 3

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Introducing the Single Care Model:

Ullapool and Lochbroom have been chosen to take part in an exciting new project called the Single Care Model.  This two-year pilot aims to explore new ways of supporting people of all ages in rural communities.  Living in a rural area can bring unique challenges when it comes to accessing care and support. The Single Care Model looks at how care services can be delivered in a more flexible and better connected way in remote and rural communities, helping meet the needs of local people and families while creating new opportunities for employment and training in the care sector.

For more information, please contact scam@ullapoolcommunity.org.

This project is in conjunction with the Scottish Government Child Poverty Accelerator Fund, Highland Council, Poverty Reduction delivery Group – Highland Community Planning Partnership, CALA (The Care and Learning Alliance) and supported at a local level by the Lochbroom and Ullapool Community Trust (LUCT).

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