U
llapool’s history has centred on fish and sea trade. In this 360-degree view of today’s village, our conversations reveal how capitalising on opportunities coupled with a strong, can-do community provides inspiration and a rich future for its younger generation. Ullapool High School in Northwest Scotland has the largest catchment area in western Europe. If you were one of the pupils attending the school, especially one of those with a daily 60-mile round trip, you might be forgiven for harbouring pessimistic thoughts about continuing to live in a rural area when schooldays are over.
FINDING REASONS TO STAY LOCAL
And you would not be alone. Indeed, assuming a continuation of recent trends, The James Hutton Institute projects that the population of Scotland’s sparsely populated areas - over 40% of the country by area – will decline by over 18% between 2018 to 2043. For the working age population, the estimation is a higher rate of decline – their predictions total over a quarter
WORDS ELLIE STROHM
www.ruralyouthproject.com
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