22 August 2015 - Lonach Highland Gathering (or Many Men in Skirts!)

What a fantastic opportunity we had in going to the 174^th Lonach Highland Games near Strathdon, Aberdeenshire.  About 2 kms before the oval where the games were held, the traffic started moving slowly.  We were directed to park on a freshly mown field and fortunately didn’t get bogged!  For 32 pounds for the whole family, it was a unique Scottish experience and the sound of bagpipes and drums are still ringing in our ears.

Strathdon - beautiful setting

Lonach is in the heart of the Cairngorms, a really pretty little spot by a stream.  Once a year, on the 4^th Saturday in August, the clans gather.  The weather was mostly fine and we weren’t the only international visitors.

Scottish dancer ready for her competition

 I have never seen so many men in skirts and wearing them with pride – from wee bairns to elderly men in motorised wheelchairs.  The grand parade in from the mountain included the Gordon, Wallace, Forbes and Tweedie clans to name a few – and a horse and “kert”.  Some played in the Pipe Band and others carried various weapons – a solemn collection who’d apparently stopped for the traditional 7 drams of whisky en route as they visited the village inns on their way back to the arena.

I wouldn't argue with this guy.

Huntly Pipe Band

Kenny,,,where were you?

  The Lonach Highlanders are a society which values "the preservation of Highland Dress and the Gaelic language"; and they "support loyal, peaceable manly conduct and the promotion of social and benevolent feelings among the inhabitants of this district." (Lonach Highlander Society) They also manage a fund for distressed members and their families.

The Lonach Highlanders march into and around the arena

 

The Wallace Clan

The compere, in his broad Scottish accent recited a poem about the men of Lonach which gave me goose bumps.  The pipe bands were amazing.  The three different bagpipe tunes by lone pipers in various competitions was grating at times and Tim had a headache before the day was over.

The Forbes Clan dominated the march.

 It was a day where clearly the locals met and had their annual clan get together.  We watched with a degree of amusement and amazement at the caber tossing, the light stone throwing and the hammer throwing and a few other traditional athletic sports.  Some of the men were huge but still the challenge of hurling a 20 kg weight over a 17 foot bar demanded accuracy and strength.

Athlete's uniform:  Kilt and black shirt with Glenfiddich Whisky logo!

 The caber toss involves throwing a 79kg pole of larch so it flips over and lands at 12 O'clock.  The length thrown doesn't count, just the precision.  The "Stone Put", like a shot put was a 20 - 30 lb rock thrown over a distance.  And the hammer toss, so deftly demonstrated by Miss Trunchball in the movie of Roald Dahl's book, Matilda,  looked lethal.  Needless to say, the damp ground of the sports oval was pitted with large holes from all of the athletic events!

Carrying the 79 kg caber

 The re-enactment group of Jacobites indicates their cause didn’t die with Culloden.  There were many dogs who had Scottish bandanas tied around their necks and the drinks tent were brimming over with men in kilts.

Jacobites re-enacting their passions!

Jacobites

There was a festive atmosphere with stalls for local charities and plenty of good cheer. The kids were keen to join in the races but somehow we missed the start time and they missed out.  Annika was particularly miffed as she would have definitely got some of the prize money in her race as there were few competitors and money for the first 6 place getters! 

Best dressed Highlander competition!

A Fox Sporran - in this man's family for several generations

 We indulged in some locally made cakes: “Millionaires’ shortbread” which we know as Chocolate Caramel Slice and some delicious gingerbread men.  We found a standing spot by the arena and grazed through our picnic as we watched the events.

On the way home we went through Tough and passed Tough School - that would look good on a CV!

Dinner, for those who wanted it, was haggis! Luke and I love it!  The others had Scottish pies which are not quite the same as our Aussie Meat Pies but fun to try in any case!