Poolewe

{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2019}} {{Use British English|date=August 2025}} {{Infobox UK place | country = Scotland | official_name = Poolewe | scots_name = | gaelic_name = Poll Iù | static_image_name = Poolewe view.jpg | static_image_caption = View over Poolewe from Cliff Hill | map_type = Ross and Cromarty | os_grid_reference = NG8580 | population = 230 | coordinates = {{coord|57.765|-5.604|display=inline,title}} | civil_parish = Gairloch | unitary_scotland = Highland | lieutenancy_scotland = Ross and Cromarty | constituency_westminster = Inverness, Skye and West Ross-shire | constituency_scottish_parliament = Caithness, Sutherland and Ross | post_town = ACHNASHEEN | postcode_district = IV22 | postcode_area = IV | dial_code = 01445 }}

'''Poolewe''' ({{IPAc-en|'|p|uː|l|j|uː}} {{respell|POOL|yoo}};<ref>{{Cite web |title=Loch Ewe |url=https://www.visitwester-ross.com/userfiles/file/Wester%20Ross%20by%20Car.pdf |url-status=live |access-date=28 December 2025 |website=Visit Wester Ross |page=10}}</ref> {{langx|gd|Poll Iù}}) is a small village in Wester Ross in the North West Highlands of Scotland, about {{convert|75|mi|km|round=5|abbr=off}} northwest of Inverness, by Loch Ewe. The River Ewe, one of the shortest in Scotland, joins the sea less than {{convert|1|mi|km|round=0.5|abbr=off|spell=in}} from Inverewe Garden, renowned for its subtropical plants. The village is surrounded by mountains and the sea.

The village has an indoor heated swimming pool, a coffee shop, a hotel and a shop. Most of the arts events in the area take place in the village hall, as do the village markets.

The town was an important port for the Arctic convoys of World War II bringing supplies to Soviet Union via the northern route.

Poolewe was the birthplace of Hector Urquhart, gamekeeper of Ardkinglas and collector of folktales, who in 1860 devised the adage in English that "one man's rubbish is another man's treasure,"or, as Americans may now say it, "one person's trash is another person's treasure."<ref>{{Cite book |last=Campbell |first=J.F. |title=Popular Tales of the West Highlands, orally collected |publisher=Alexander Gardner |year=1890 |edition=new |location=Paisley |pages=vi}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Jewels or Junk. What is intentional collecting? |url=https://www.selwynfoundation.org.nz/informing/information-about-ageing/jewels-or-junk-what-is-intentional-collecting/ |access-date=2025-08-02 |website=www.selwynfoundation.org.nz |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-08-10 |title=One Person's Trash Is Another Person's Treasure |url=https://learningenglish.voanews.com/a/one-person-s-trash-is-another-person-s-treasure-/7733886.html |access-date=2025-08-02 |website=Voice of America |language=en}}</ref>

==Origin of the name== Literally the name means "the pool on the Ewe river". William J. Watson, in his 1904 ''Place Names of Ross and Cromarty'', records the name as "Abhainn Iù, Ewe River", which he suggests may be Irish or Pictish in origin.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gordon-c-harrison.co.uk/About-Folder/Scottish-Place-Names/Place-Names-M-Z |title=Place Names M - Z |publisher=Gordon C Harrison |date= |accessdate=16 August 2015}}</ref>

==Climate== Poolewe has a mild climate for its latitude, due to the warm waters of the North Atlantic Drift. The Met Office operates a weather station at Poolewe for which 30-year averages are available.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/climate/uk/networks/images/map3.gif |publisher=MetOffice |title=Station map}}</ref> As with much of the British Isles and Scotland, Poolewe experiences a maritime climate with cool summers and mild winters, with snow lying only a few days per year. Its low-lying situation on the west coast tends to afford it some shelter from the harshness that can afflict the adjacent Highlands during the winter months.

The Northern Lights are visible on occasion, depending on the weather and time of year; most often in winter when skies are darkest.

{{Weather box|width=auto |location = Poolewe, 6m asl, 1971–2000 (Extremes 1950–2014) |metric first = Yes |single line = Yes |Jan record high C = 14.7 |Feb record high C = 13.2 |Mar record high C = 18.1 |Apr record high C = 23.4 |May record high C = 27.3 |Jun record high C = 28.8 |Jul record high C = 29.2 |Aug record high C = 28.5 |Sep record high C = 25.0 |Oct record high C = 20.3 |Nov record high C = 18.5 |Dec record high C = 14.7 |year record high C = 29.2

|Jan low C = 2.1 |Feb low C = 2.0 |Mar low C = 2.9 |Apr low C = 3.9 |May low C = 6.4 |Jun low C = 8.8 |Jul low C = 11.0 |Aug low C = 10.9 |Sep low C = 9.0 |Oct low C = 7.0 |Nov low C = 4.0 |Dec low C = 2.7 |year low C = 5.4 |Jan record low C = -9.5 |Feb record low C = -10.7 |Mar record low C = -9.6 |Apr record low C = -5.2 |May record low C = -2.8 |Jun record low C = -0.3 |Jul record low C = 3.5 |Aug record low C = 2.8 |Sep record low C = 0.4 |Oct record low C = -6.3 |Nov record low C = -9.4 |Dec record low C = -11.5 |year record low C = -11.5 |Jan sun = 24.3 |Feb sun = 62.2 |Mar sun = 95.9 |Apr sun = 144.2 |May sun = 177.0 |Jun sun = 148.8 |Jul sun = 127.1 |Aug sun = 128.8 |Sep sun = 94.7 |Oct sun = 69.6 |Nov sun = 32.3 |Dec sun = 16.0 |year sun = |source 1 = YR.NO<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.yr.no/place/United_Kingdom/Scotland/Poolewe/statistics.html |title=Poolewe 1971-2000 averages (1958-2014 Extremes) |publisher=YR.NO |access-date=1 November 2011}}</ref> |date=Nov 2011 }}

==Notable residents== In August 2015, the BBC genealogy documentary series ''Who Do You Think You Are?'' revealed that Donald Mackenzie, great-great-great-grandfather of celebrity chef Paul Hollywood, had been a crofter in Poolewe.<ref>{{cite web |author= |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0664g25 |title=BBC One - Who Do You Think You Are?, Series 12, Paul Hollywood |publisher=Bbc.co.uk |date=13 August 2015 |access-date=14 August 2015}}</ref> * Finlay MacKinnon (1863–1931), illustrator and watercolorist * Hector Urquhart (fl. 1860), originator of the saying that "one man's rubbish is another man's treasure"

==Gallery== <gallery> File:Poolewe seal statue.jpg|Seal statue File:Poolewe Arctic Convoy plaque.jpg|Arctic Convoy plaque File:Poolewe sheeps.jpg|Sheep in Poolewe </gallery>

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== * [https://web.archive.org/web/20110811043636/http://www.poolewetuesdaymarket.co.uk/ Poolewe Tuesday Market]

Category:Populated places in Ross and Cromarty