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We had a marvelous day today in Ullapool. The rainy weather stayed away and we even saw the sun for a bit this morning. We're anchored today and had to use the ship's tenders to get shore. Happily we were close enough that it was only about a 10 minute ride and the tenders ran continuously.
We ventured ashore just before 10 am. We arrive in port most days around 8 am, however since very few stores/restaurants are open at that hour, we usually sleep in a bit, enjoy our coffee and head ashore after all the folks headed on tours have left.
Ullapool is a lovely coastal and walkable town. Once ashore we realized that there were several hikes available around and/or up to the top of Ullapool's hill. So we chose to do the hill hike - listed as 1 hour and 45 minutes. Ullapool and indeed some of Scotland reminded me of past trip to Fogo Island, Newfoundland, during covid.
The hike up the hill, following the stone paths, surrounded by blooming heather was simply magical. Exactly the way I had envisioned a hike in Scotland might be. It was a decent climb and we were excited to get some real exercise in. The weather held and we had a wonderful dry trek up the hill and back down.
Once back in town we hit the shops and then the Seaforth Restaurant for some authentic, albeit very expensive, fish and chips. The prices here are very high and the exchange just adds insult to injury.
We were back on board for our 3 pm High Tea - this tea was for those of us doing the full 80 day voyage - there are 12 of us. We started with the ships cocktail of the day, followed by our choice of hot tea and scones with clotted cream and jam, finger sandwiches and all kinds of cakes, cookies and a truly exceptional lemon macaron. Having just had lunch we decided dinner was off table for tonight - so to speak.
Adrian has bad knees from a lifetime of hockey and other activities and his fall in Bergen didn't help one of them - however the hot tub on the ship, along with the cocktail of the day served at the tea both went a long way to making him feel better. We're off to Oban tonight. So far we've had pretty good seas and winds, fingers crossed tonight is the same.
We ventured ashore just before 10 am. We arrive in port most days around 8 am, however since very few stores/restaurants are open at that hour, we usually sleep in a bit, enjoy our coffee and head ashore after all the folks headed on tours have left.
Ullapool is a lovely coastal and walkable town. Once ashore we realized that there were several hikes available around and/or up to the top of Ullapool's hill. So we chose to do the hill hike - listed as 1 hour and 45 minutes. Ullapool and indeed some of Scotland reminded me of past trip to Fogo Island, Newfoundland, during covid.
The hike up the hill, following the stone paths, surrounded by blooming heather was simply magical. Exactly the way I had envisioned a hike in Scotland might be. It was a decent climb and we were excited to get some real exercise in. The weather held and we had a wonderful dry trek up the hill and back down.
Once back in town we hit the shops and then the Seaforth Restaurant for some authentic, albeit very expensive, fish and chips. The prices here are very high and the exchange just adds insult to injury.
We were back on board for our 3 pm High Tea - this tea was for those of us doing the full 80 day voyage - there are 12 of us. We started with the ships cocktail of the day, followed by our choice of hot tea and scones with clotted cream and jam, finger sandwiches and all kinds of cakes, cookies and a truly exceptional lemon macaron. Having just had lunch we decided dinner was off table for tonight - so to speak.
Adrian has bad knees from a lifetime of hockey and other activities and his fall in Bergen didn't help one of them - however the hot tub on the ship, along with the cocktail of the day served at the tea both went a long way to making him feel better. We're off to Oban tonight. So far we've had pretty good seas and winds, fingers crossed tonight is the same.
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