According to the Scottish Government in 2016, the village had a population of 1,520 people, making it the largest settlement in Wester Ross.

On the east shore of Loch Broom, Ullapool was founded in 1788 as a herring port by the British Fisheries Society.

[9] The village was historically in Cromartyshire, a county made up of many separate enclaves scattered across northern Ross-shire.

These summits are referred to as periglacial enclaves, a term used to describe areas that were adjacent to glaciers and impacted by cold climates.

This geological feature spans a considerable distance from Loch Eriboll in the north, extending southwards to the Isle of Skye.

The Moine Thrust Belt represents the western margin of the Caledonian orogeny which took place during the Palaeozoic era.

[25][26] Throughout the year there are many small fèisean and music festivals in the local halls and hotels, especially in the Ceilidh Place and the Arch Inn.

The Ullapool Guitar Festival takes place in early October each year, attracting performers at several venues over the weekend.

[30] Since 2023, the village has hosted Scotland's "most remote club night", called baile/baile, which showcases local and national DJs.

[34] Ullapool is referenced in the multiplayer video game Team Fortress 2 as the hometown of Tavish DeGroot, known in-game as the Demoman,[35] and in the name of an in-game melee weapon that the Demoman can choose to have in his loadout, the "Ullapool Caber",[36] a german type 24 stick hand grenade.