Wester Ross Unesco Biosphere

13/10/2026

🌌 It's October, the nights are drawing in, and that means the Wester Ross Dark Skies Festival is just around the corner! ✨

From 23 October – 1 November, we're looking forward to activities celebrating our incredible night skies.

But dark skies aren't just for one week of the year, and we're delighted to see events like this one at Ulluminate on 7 November🌟

💫 Would you like to organise an event?

We'd love to hear from businesses, community groups and individuals interested in getting involved, whether during our main week of activities or at another time. Events don't have to be about astronomy – anything that celebrates or explores the world after dark is welcome!

Find out more about the festival and how to get involved:

https://www.wrb.scot/sustainable-development/wester-ross-dark-skies-festival

An exciting indoor and outdoor day of activities, ending with our finale Dark Skies Event. Refreshmens available. More info at: www.ulluminate.org Ticket site coming soon or pay on the door,

11/10/2026

📣 A wee reminder -
Come along this Wednesday and help shape the future priorities of the Wester Ross UNESCO Biosphere.

We’d love to hear what matters to you and what you’d like to see us focus on over the next ten years. 💬

06/10/2026

As we develop our next Strategic Plan, we want to hear from people across the Biosphere about what matters to them and what our priorities should be for the next ten years.

Our Chairperson, Iain Turnbull, will be hosting a drop-in session at Balmacara, where you can come along, find out more and share your ideas.

📅 Wednesday 14 October 2026
⏰ 7–9pm
📍 Steadings Gallery, Balmacara Square, Kyle of Lochalsh, IV40 8DJ

There’s no need to book — just drop in at any point between 7 and 9pm.

For more information, contact [email protected]

30/09/2026

Gàidhlig ann an Ros an Iar 💙

Tha an clas Gàidhlig do luchd-tòiseachaidh a’ dol air adhart an-dràsta, le daoine air feadh Ros an Iar a’ tighinn còmhla air-loidhne gach seachdain. Tha a’ bhuidheann seo air tighinn còmhla às dèidh pàirt a ghabhail ann an cùrsa roimhe – tha e math gu bheil daoine a’ leantainn orra ag ionnsachadh agus a’ cleachdadh na Gàidhlig.

Gaelic across Wester Ross 💙

Our current Gaelic beginners’ class is now underway, with people from across Wester Ross coming together online each week. This group has continued on from a previous course, and it’s great to know that people are continuing to learn and use Gaelic.

If you’re interested in learning Gaelic and would like to hear about future online classes please get in touch ([email protected]) and I can add you to our waiting list. Whether you’re a complete beginner or have taken part in a previous course, we’d be very happy to hear from you.

This class is supported by Bòrd na Gàidhlig as part of our work to support and develop Gaelic across Wester Ross.

21/09/2026

**Seiseanan còmhraidh Gàidhlig ann an Ulapul**

Mar phàirt den obair agam mar Oifigear Leasachaidh na Gàidhlig le Tearmann Bith-Chruinne Ros an Iar, le taic-airgid bho Bhòrd na Gàidhlig, tha mi a’ coimhead ri sreath de shia seiseanan còmhraidh Gàidhlig a chur air dòigh ann an Ulapul aig àm air choreigin san àm ri teachd.

’S e am beachd cothrom socair, neo-fhoirmeil a chruthachadh do dhaoine aig a bheil beagan Gàidhlig coinneachadh, cabadaich agus a’ Ghàidhlig a chleachdadh còmhla. Bhiodh e fosgailte do luchd-ionnsachaidh agus do luchd-labhairt a tha airson barrachd chothroman fhaighinn gus a’ Ghàidhlig aca a chleachdadh.

Bhiodh sinn airson gum biodh na seiseanan an-asgaidh do chom-pàirtichean, ged a dh’fheumas mi maoineachadh a rannsachadh gus seo a dhèanamh comasach.

Tha mi a’ coimhead air Ulapul an toiseach, ach ma tha ùidh ann an àiteachan eile, bhiodh e math cuideachd rudeigin a chur air dòigh ann an sgìrean eile ann an Ros an Iar.

Ma tha ùidh agad, no ma tha beachd agad air dè bhiodh feumail, cuir post-d thugam aig [[email protected]. Bhiodh e math beachd fhaighinn air cia mheud duine aig a bheil ùidh agus dè tha daoine a’ sireadh.

Aig an ìre seo, chan eil mi ach a’ feuchainn ri ùidh a thomhas agus faicinn dè dh’fhaodadh a bhith comasach.

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**Gaelic conversation sessions in Ullapool**

As part of my role as Gaelic Development Officer with Wester Ross Biosphere, funded by Bòrd na Gàidhlig, I’m exploring the possibility of setting up a six-week block of informal Gaelic conversation sessions in Ullapool at some point in the future.

The idea is simply to create a relaxed opportunity for people with some Gaelic to meet up, have a chat and use the language together. It would be open to learners and speakers who would like more opportunities to use their Gaelic in an informal setting.

The aim would be for the sessions to be free to participants, although I’ll need to investigate funding to make this possible.

I’m looking at Ullapool initially, but if there is interest elsewhere, I’d also be happy to explore the possibility of organising something in other parts of Wester Ross.

If this sounds like something you’d be interested in, or you have an idea about what would be useful, please feel free to email me at [email protected] It would be great to get an idea of numbers and hear what people might be looking for.

At this stage, I’m simply gauging interest and seeing what might be possible.

07/09/2026

🌿 CLAS GÀIDHLIG AIR LOIDHNE – AON ÀITE AIR FHÀGAIL! 🌿

Tha aon àite air fhàgail anns a’ chlas Gàidhlig do luchd-tòiseachaidh air loidhne, airson daoine a tha a’ fuireach ann an Rois an Iar.

Tha an clas gu sònraichte airson daoine a ghabh pàirt ann an aon de na clasaichean luchd-tòiseachaidh ceithir-seachdainean againn roimhe, ged a bhios an clas seo fhathast aig ìre luchd-tòiseachaidh. Bidh sinn ag ath-sgrùdadh na priomh rudan bhon a’ chiad seisean no dhà, agus mar sin ma tha beagan Gàidhlig agad mu thràth ach tha thu fhathast gad mheas fhèin mar neach-tòiseachaidh, dh’fhaodadh an clas seo a bhith freagarrach dhut.

📚 8 clasaichean air loidhne
💷 £65
📅 A’ tòiseachadh aig deireadh an t-Sultainn.
👥 Feumaidh 8 daoine clàradh airson an clas a dhol air adhart.

Chan eil ach aon àite air fhàgail. Ma tha ùidh agad, lìon am foirm ghoirid.

👉 Foirm: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/L6GQXTJ

Rinn mi mo dhìcheall fios a chur chun a h-uile duine a bha air an liosta-feitheimh roimhe.

Taing mhòr do Bòrd na Gàidhlig airson maoineachadh a thoirt don dreuchd agam mar Oifigear Leasachaidh Gàidhlig aig Tèarmann Bith-chruinne Ròis an Iar.

🌿 ONLINE GAELIC CLASS – ONE PLACE LEFT! 🌿

We have one place left on our online Gaelic beginners’ class for people based in Wester Ross.

The class is primarily intended for people who have previously taken part in one of our four-week beginners’ classes, although it will still be a beginners’ class. The first one or two sessions will focus on revising the basics, so if you have a little Gaelic already but still consider yourself a beginner, you may be a good fit.

📚 8 online classes
💷 £65 for the full block
📅 Starting at the end of September
👥 We need 8 people signed up for the class to go ahead.

There is just one space available, and this will be first come, first served. If you’re interested, please fill in the short survey.

👉 Survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/L6GQXTJ

I’ve done my best to contact everyone who was previously on the waiting list.

Many thanks to Bòrd na Gàidhlig for funding the role of Gaelic Development Officer.

02/09/2026

A great opportunity to work at the heart of one of our Biosphere communities 👇

Torridon District Community Association are looking for an Operations & Events Manager to help develop Loch Torridon Community Centre and its role as an important community hub.

Job Vacancy – Operations & Events Manager
Salary: £30,810 (Pro Rata £23,115) based on 28 per week average

Do you want to make a difference to the communities in and around one of the most scenic parts of Scotland? Do you have the skills and energy to lead Torridon District Community Association (TDCA) and Loch Torridon Community Centre (LTCC) to the next level, supported by an engaged Board of Directors?

This is an exciting opportunity to develop the community centre, diversify its range of activities and increase income. The job is very varied involving both public facings aspects and long term strategic thinking to enhance the community centre and its role as a key hub for the community.

And of course, you will never be far from the sea or mountains and you will be working alongside people who share a passion for the landscape, environment and long-term sustainability of the community. If successful and you need to relocate, we would engage with the community to help you find accommodation.

For further information see: https://goodmoves.org/vacancy/a4sP1000001vyuvIAA/operations-events-manager

28/08/2026

Our Directors are continuing to get out and about over the coming weeks, hearing from communities as we look ahead to the next 10 years.

Next up:📍Aultbea, where our Director Matt Larsen-Daw will be holding three informal drop-in sessions. Come along for a chat about what you’d like to see happen, and where you think the Biosphere could make a difference.

Wednesday 2 September
☕ 4pm–5.30pm – The Jam Jar, Aultbea Hotel
☕ 7.30pm–8.30pm – The Jam Jar, Aultbea Hotel
Saturday 5 September
🌿 10.30am–3pm – Aultbea Market, Aultbea Hall

23/08/2026

Wester Ross Biosphere is 10! 🎉 We're looking to the future – and we want to know what matters to you.

We’re kicking things off in Gairloch, where one of our Trustees, Peter Cunningham, will be hosting an informal drop-in session.

📅 Tuesday 25 August
⏰ 5.00–6.30pm
📍 The Shieling, Gairloch

Drop in for a chat, take a look at our plans for the next 10 years and tell us what you think.

This is the first of a series of sessions across our region, with more dates coming soon.

Can’t make it? You can still have your say through our community survey:
👉 https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSelJR3M_-R1jGDWvhX18F1zg2yuX9sqs9oA53jWW86xehKutQ/viewform?usp=sharing&ouid=106380635985075908296

24/05/2026