Ullapool Cruise Port
Ullapool, United Kingdom · Northern Europe
Cruise ships anchor offshore in Ullapool — tenders ferry passengers to the port.
Tender port: most ships anchor in Loch Broom and tender to a pontoon at the harbour pier, 200 m from the village centre. Small ships (up to about 110 m) can berth alongside the same pier. The museum, shops and seafood are a 2–5 minute walk; the gorge and the Assynt scenery need a pre-booked taxi.
At a glance
Port summary
Ullapool was laid out in 1788 by the British Fisheries Society as a herring port, and its neat grid of white houses still faces Loch Broom. Cruise ships usually anchor in the loch and run tenders to a landing pontoon at the harbour pier, next to the CalMac ferry terminal for Stornoway. Smaller expedition ships can tie up alongside the pier itself. Either way you step ashore on Shore Street, with the village centre about 200 metres away. The harbour trust sets up a welcome area with local information and often a piper on cruise days. Tenders can pause briefly while the Stornoway ferry arrives or leaves. The village itself fills a relaxed half day. Walk the shorefront, visit Ullapool Museum in a Thomas Telford church of 1829, browse the bookshop, galleries and the Highland Stoneware pottery, and eat fresh langoustines or crab at the Seafood Shack. For the view, climb Ullapool Hill (Meall Mòr) on a steep path from the north end of the village; allow 1.5–2 hours there and back. The real draw is the landscape around the village, but public transport is very thin. Book a taxi, a tailored tour or a hire car well before your cruise; the harbour trust warns that taxis are often fully booked on ship days. Corrieshalloch Gorge, with its suspension bridge over the 45-metre Falls of Measach, is 20 minutes south. Knockan Crag, where you can touch the Moine Thrust, is 20 minutes north. Ardvreck Castle on Loch Assynt is about 40 minutes away, and Lochinver and the white sand of Achmelvich Beach are about an hour. Inverewe Garden at Poolewe is about 75 minutes each way, so it fills most of a day. From May to September you can also take a 2-hour boat trip from the pier to the Summer Isles to look for seals, porpoises and seabirds. Weather rules the day here. Bring waterproofs and warm layers in every month, keep an eye on the forecast, and in summer pack midge repellent. In strong winds tender operations can be suspended, so the ship may skip the call or bring the last tender forward.
Cruise dock
Ullapool Harbour Pier — Tender Pontoon & Cruise Berths
The harbour pier on Shore Street, beside the CalMac ferry terminal. Larger ships anchor in Loch Broom and tender to the 40 m landing pontoon here; ships up to about 110 m can berth alongside. The village centre is about 200 m away.
Latitude: 57.895573, Longitude: -5.158439
See dock on port map →Getting to Ullapool
From the cruise terminal to the city centre
Map & things to do
Money & payments
A card covers almost everything; carry about £20 in cash for small purchases or honesty boxes.
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Inside the British Isles collection
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Typical weather
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Excursions compared
4 comparedCorrieshalloch Gorge, Falls of Measach and Gruinard Bay coastal drive
≈ 4.5 h · sold by 1 cruise line
Cruise line
€180$201
Do it yourself
€40$45
Save ≈ €140Save ≈ $157 (78% off)
Tender to the pontoon at the harbour pier on Shore Street and meet a pre-booked taxi at the top of the pier (there is no rank; Ullapool Taxis and Ullapool Taxi Service are the local firms). The gorge car park is 12 miles south on the A835, about 20–25 minutes and roughly £25–35 per car each way on the Highland meter; entry is free, and the short, steep path leads to the suspension bridge and viewing platform. Ask the driver to return at a fixed time; adding Gruinard Bay turns this into a 2–3 hour taxi hire.
See the DIY plan →
Inverewe Garden at Poolewe via the Wester Ross coast
≈ 4.5 h · sold by 2 cruise lines
Cruise line
€125$140
Do it yourself
€182$204
Similar cost — pick on convenience
Tender to the harbour pier on Shore Street and meet a pre-booked taxi for the 50-mile run via Braemore Junction and the A832 coast road, about 70–75 minutes each way; there is no practical bus. Agree a fixed return price with waiting time before you sail (Highland meter rates put it at roughly £250–270 per car). Garden entry is £16 adult (£9.50 child), and Osgood's Café on site is open until 31 October.
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Frequently asked questions
- Where does my cruise ship dock in Ullapool?
- Ullapool is a tender port: your ship anchors offshore and passengers transfer to shore by small boat.
- Can I walk from the cruise port into Ullapool?
- Yes. Ullapool is walkable from the cruise port — many cruisers reach the city centre on foot.
- How do I get from the cruise port to Ullapool centre?
- Typical options include On foot, Taxi, Ferry, Car rental, Local bus. Durations and costs are listed in the transport section above.
- How much time do I need in Ullapool?
- Plan for at least 2 hours ashore to see Ullapool independently and return to the ship with a safe buffer.
- What currency is used in Ullapool and are cards accepted?
- Ullapool uses the Pound sterling. Carry some cash for markets, taxis, and smaller vendors — cards aren't accepted everywhere.
- Is there Wi-Fi at the cruise port?
- Wi-Fi isn't reliably available at the Ullapool cruise terminal. Consider a local SIM or your cruise line's data package.
- When should I be back at the ship?
- Cruise lines usually require all passengers on board about 30 minutes before scheduled departure. Confirm the exact all-aboard time on your daily programme.
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