Ullapool harbour has long been a focal point of the village for tourists, situated, as it is in the centre of Shore Street and also now the ferry terminal for Stornoway. For over 200 years fishing has played an important role in the economy of the village, which is hardly surprising when one considers that Ullapool was founded as a fishing station in 1788 by the British Fisheries Society! In those days the main species, herring, were netted by local fishermen from small sailing ‘dipping luggers’ and ‘Zulu’ class fishing boats and during the season Ullapool was transformed into a hive of industry as boats and herring gutters arrived from all parts of Ireland to take part in the frantic processing of the ’silver darlings’. It is said that much of Ullapool is built on shingle and soil brought over as ballast in the Irish boats, which then filled up with barrels of salt, dried or smoked herring.