Poolewe

Poolewe is a small Village in northwest Scotland, 75 miles northwest of Inverness, popular for Inverewe Garden, WWII Museum, camping, fishing, boat trips, Loch Maree viewpoint, Walks in the area including hiking to 792m / 2,595ft, and the beach 6 miles north with camping.

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Camping & Touring Parks in area

The image top right is of Inverewe Garden on the east side of Poolewe, the top attraction in the area, also where the Boat Trips around Loch Ewe depart from.

The image second top is of the Camping and Touring Park at the east side entrance to Poolewe.

Poolewe Village Hall is by the campsite, built from 1964, extended in 2004, where events are held, also with a restaurant.

The Salmon and Otter carved bench at the Hall is said to have been carved by Tommy Craggs.

The WWII Headquarters building is in the village centre just along from the Hall, built in the 1600s as a Hunting Lodge for Clan Mackenzie, used as a Royal Navy Headquarters at Loch Ewe during WWII, now has a WWII Museum and Cafe.

The Bridge over the River Ewe gives good views up towards Loch Maree and Beinn Airigh Charr mountain at 792m / 2,595ft.

You may see people wading in the River fishing for Salmon and Trout.

Poolewe Free Church 1889 is next to the River, St Maelrubha's Episcopal Church 1965 is by the village centre signs, and the Parish Church 1828 is on the Main Street next to the Poolewe Hotel.

St Maelrubha's Church is in a Cow Barn that was converted to a Church in 1965.

Poolewe Park is next to the Bridge where the River Ewe runs into Loch Ewe.

Poolewe Main Street starts at the Bridge with a small shop, post office, cafe, hotel and Parish Church.

Poolewe Hotel is at the top end of the Main Street, built from 1570 as a Travelers Inn.

Poolewe Parish Church is across the road from the Hotel, built by Thomas Telford in 1828.

Firemore Beach is six miles north of Poolewe out past the Poolewe Hotel via a single lane road, a top Beach in the area with vast grassland for campers and tents.

The Loch Maree viewpoint is a half mile south of Poolewe heading for Gairloch, with a small car park half way up the hill leading out of Poolewe, 200 yards past the private road down to Loch Maree, this car park is easy to miss as there are no signs for it.

Poolewe History

1200s -.the Earls of Ross were in control of the land from Dingwall on the east coast to Poolewe and Gairloch here on the west coast, known as Ross-shire, with their main Castle being at Dingwall.

The Earls of Ross used Clan MacLeod to control the area around Poolewe and Gairloch with them having fortifications at Gairloch Beach, and on an Island in Loch Maree.

1494 - Clan Mackenzie took most of the land here from Clan MacLeod after a series of battles.

1570 - a Travelers Inn was built at Poolewe, a time there were no roads, just cattle droving trails and trading boats traveling around the coastal villages and towns. This in is now the Poolewe Hotel.

1600s - Pool House was built as a Hunting Lodge for Clan Mackenzie in Poolewe.

1600s - Poolewe had an Iron Works powered by Charcoal produced from the surrounding ancient woodlands. There is almost no ancient woodland in this area today, why the Iron Works did not last long?

1760s - the first Military Road was built from Inverness to Poolewe but was never fully completed, it could not be used by carriages.

1700s late - post was delivered from Inverness to Poolewe on foot by Post Runners.

1700s late - sail vessels were used between Poolewe and Stornoway on the Isle of Lewis for mail, passengers, and cattle.

1828 - Poolewe Parish Church was built by Thomas Telford, with the Telford Churches funded by the State.

1843 - Poolewe Free Church was built as people wanted Churches free from State interference.

1849 - the first Paddle Steamer named Marquis of Stafford began running between Poolewe and Stornoway on the Isle of Lewis.

1851 - the first proper Road was completed between Inverness and Poolewe.

1862 - Osgood Mackenzie bought the Inverewe and Kernsary estate at Poolewe, building a Mansion and world renowned Gardens.

1870 - the Inverness to Kyle of Lochalsh railway line was completed, with the Achnasheen Railway Station on that line 34 miles southeast of Poolewe.

1870 - Mail Coaches began running up to Poolewe from Achnasheen Railway Station, also carrying passengers.

1940s - Loch Ewe was used by the Royal Navy as a secure base for its Warships during WWII, and for assembling convoys of ships to supply the Soviet Union during their war with Germany.

There could be up to 95 navy and merchant ships assembled here at one time, getting ready to travel around Norway to Murmansk and Archangel.

In 1942, 24 ships were sunk from one of these convoys by German submarines and aircraft off the coast of German occupied Norway.

1965 - a Cow Barn in the centre of Poolewe was converted to St Maelrubha's Church, this being a Scottish Episcopal Church governed by Bishops, seen by some Scots as the true Church of Scotland as it is linked back to saints Columba and Ninian.

2025 - Poolewe Parish Church was put up for sale, with many of these Churches in Scotland being converted to homes.