Ullapool to launch brand new Ulluminate Festival focussing on science, arts and culture

Ullapool is gearing up for the first ever instalment of a brand new festival, Ulluminate, with tickets now on sale.

The festival, taking place between May 10–12, is said to feature activities and events focussing on science, arts and culture.

One of the events featured is When Mountains Meet, an immersive multicultural gig which tells the true story of how acclaimed Ullapool musician Anne Wood travelled from Scourie to the Himalayas in search of her father. The show was a hit at Celtic Connections, and features musicians from Scotland and Pakistan. When Mountains Meet will be showing on the Friday and the Saturday of the Ulluminate Festival.

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For the Saturday, there will be a "day of learning, discussion and music". Some of the topics include: Over the Hills and Far Away - the challenges of bringing broadband to remote, rural communities; Learning From Old Ways - the value and validity of indigenous knowledge hidden in Gaelic literature with a performance by the Gaelic Community Choir; Science in Fiction - the impact of reading about science in novels and poetry; and more.

On the final day of the Ulluminate Festival on Sunday, there will be free activities organised in different locations around Ullapool. Some of the activities include: What’s in the loch with Ullapool Sea Savers, how to survive in the wild with West Edge, the 150 year-old bridge over Corrieshalloch Gorge with National Trust Scotland, and the rocks and flora of the north-west Highlands at Knockan Crag.

Organisers of Ulluminate Festival said: "Our first Ulluminate Festival will include activities over three days with a schools focus on the Friday, our main speaker programme at Ullapool Village Hall on Saturday, and exciting activities at local sites of interest on Sunday working with several community groups."

A Saturday day ticket for Ulluminate Festival is £75.88 (including booking fee) for an individual, with up to two children under 13 going free when accompianied by a full-price paying adult. A concession Saturday day ticket costs £37.94 (including booking fee) for students, senior citizens, low and unwaged persons, and those with disabilities (carers go free).

Organisers have also said there will also be a special ticketed event on Sunday evening at the Ceilidh Place, with details yet to be announced. The organisers also say they are working to "pin down" the final details of the programme, and will make further announcements soon.

Ulluminate CIC is a non-profit local social enterprise, and says they have a commitment to channel profits back into the community.

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