Round Britain Cruise - Ullapool Page

Monday August 19th 2013

Up at 0715, a sensible time but, as Ullapool is an anchor port, meaning we have to use the lifeboats to get ashore, it took a long time & the coach did not leave until 10. The left (West) end of the town is on the glacier moraine at the seaward end of Loch Broom, which is a fjord.

We drove to Knockan Crag, had a look at the Visitors Centre & climbed up the fairly steep path. Avis gave up after a while, as it was also cold & very windy. When I got to the top, I was glad she had, as it was extremely windy up there. We went past the important geological features, where the Moine Schist (1,000M year's old) lies over the newer underlying rock like Durness Limestone, thanks to being thrust over by tectonic action. (When I got my late night cuppa, I chatted to a 'young' couple (50-ish?), he a geology graduate who had mapped the Assynt area as a post-graduate job).	Loch Broom looking inland	Stac Pollaidh from the East
Knockan Crag	Knockan Crag Visitors' Centre	Moine Schist discontinuity
View South	Our ramblers on the way up	Your cold webmaster & view North

There was quite view from the top. We walked along the cliff & down another way.

Then, we were driven to Lochinver for no particular reason, where we just had time for a hot chocolate (£5.90), getting back to Ullapool & on the ship at 1445. However, they had kept lunch going. Avis had a hair-do while I went back to the town for photos, getting the last lifeboat back at 1550.

Lochinver

"Braemar" from the tender (lifeboat)

Ullapool from the end of the moraine

There was an Oceans Club cocktail party (people who have spent 50+ = silver or 100+ = gold nights on a Fred's ship). Jamie asked me to be ready for a 'phone call at sail-away tomorrow, as he wants a talk. We had dinner later in the Palms because of the late lunch. The MIT Band had a better audience tonight.