Highland Culture takes centre stage during Scotland's Highland Homecoming

The jam-packed programme, running from September 1 to October 31, is an integral part of Homecoming Scotland 2014 and will include a series of unique events which will showcase the best of Scotland’s contemporary art, literature, sport and music, as well celebrating the country’s expansive heritage and tradition.

 

Visitors can look forward to enjoying the excitement of special competitions such as the 2014 World Sheepdog Trails in Tain, where 240 competitors from 24 nations will compete over three days, with the Trails taking place in Scotland for the very first time. The Masters World Championship Highland Games will see over 100 International “Heavies” compete on the 150th anniversary of the world’s oldest Highland Games Stadium.  The event will see an ambitious Guinness Record breaking attempt as the Inverness Highland Games Committee aims to record the largest number of heavy event athletes tossing a caber at the same time at any event in the world.

 

For the music lovers, Highland Homecoming will include the Royal National Mod; scheduled to be hosted in the Highland capital, Inverness, October 10 – 17.  A fantastic celebration of Gaelic music, the Royal National Mod is sure to charm with the lyrical beauty and musical talent of a range of performers competing over various disciplines including Gaelic music and song, highland dancing, instrumental, drama, and literature.

 

Sport will be a main theme of the festival with the Scottish game of shinty taking centre stage on September 13 for the Camanachd Cup.  The event is very much recognised as shinty’s big day out with thousands of spectators turning out to watch the two top teams in the country in a game which is broadcast live on the TV, radio and internet.  The Baxter’s Loch Ness Marathon and Festival of Running will feature an exciting enhanced programme of activity alongside the popular Loch Ness Marathon, which will include the Run Home Clan Challenges and a Run Home Whisky Festival, guaranteeing a fun day out for the whole family on September 28.

 

Events scheduled to take place during Highland Homecoming:

 

2014 World Sheepdog Trials

Fearn farm, By Tain, Ross-shire

 

3-6 September 2014

The competition which takes places for the very first time in Scotland will welcome over 240 people from 25 countries, and will be dedicated to showing the care, skill and dedication of this wonderful and much-loved working dog.

 

Highland Military Tattoo

 

Fort George

4 – 7 September

 

Bringing together a mix of local, military and international acts, the Tattoo will showcase to visitors and local people alike the best of traditional and contemporary Highland culture from fiddlers to pipe bands, Highland dancers to Gaelic singers. Starting with the RAF Typhoon fly past, this will be a memorable evening, culminating in a spectacular fireworks display.

 

Blas Festival

 

The Highlands, Scotland

5-13 September 2014

 

The Blas festival (5-13 September) will take place across numerous venues including Inverness, Kingussie, Golspie, and Ullapool and will include a new commission this year interpreting Duncan Bàn MacIntyre’s epic Moladh Beinn Dòbhrain (In Praise of Ben Dorain) in Mìorbhail nam – one of the greatest nature poems composed in the Gaelic language.  The finale to Blas 2014, will be a Ceòl nam Fèis concert – a showcase featuring the best of the young musicians and singers coming through the Fèis movement from across Scotland.

 

Culloden Homecoming

 

Culloden Battlefield Visitor Centre, Culloden Moor, Inverness,

6-7 September

 

There are big things happening at Culloden on the 6th and 7th of September 2014. The Battlefield weekend will bring together living history, music, and dance! Visit the ancestry tent and find out about your family history, wander through a Jacobite camp and discover what life was really like in the 18th Century. From kid’s activities to traditional music – this is an event for the whole family.

 

Inverness Highland Meeting and The Masters World Championships

Northern Meeting Park, Ardross Street, Inverness

12-14 September

 

Everybody is welcome as the Highland clans meet by the River Ness to witness an unforgettable Highland Games. The Masters World Championships will feature over one hundred international heavies. Organised by Scottish Masters International based in Illinois USA, the MWC attracts athletes from around the international Highland Games circuit with competitors from as far away as New Zealand and Japan expected to join their counterparts from North America and Europe.

 

The Inverness Highland Meeting will also open with the arrival of Highland Clans who are being invited to play a leading role in a spectacular celebration to mark the 150th Anniversary of the opening of the world’s oldest Highland Games Stadium Northern Meeting Park.

 

The Camanachd Cup Final

Bught Stadium, Bught Park, Inverness

13 September 2014

 

The Camanachd Cup Final is shinty’s big day out, attracting thousands of spectators and you're invited! The event celebrates the two top teams in the game competing for one of Scotland’s oldest and most iconic sporting trophies.

 

The Baxters Loch Ness Marathon & Festival of Running

Fort Augustus To Bught Park, Inverness

28 September 2014

 

As part of Homecoming Scotland 2014, the Baxters Loch Ness Marathon & Festival of Running, which is now in its 13th year, will feature an exciting enhanced programme of activity alongside the popular Loch Ness Marathon, 10K, 5K and Wee Nessie races and Baxters Food & Drink Fayre. This will include the Run Home Clan Challenges and a Run Home Whisky Festival.

 

Am Mòd Nàiseanta Rìoghail (The Royal National Mòd)

Inverness

10-18 October 2014

 

Now in its 122nd year, the event will feature competitions in Highland Dancing, Gaelic Music and Song, Sport, Literature and Drama, offering Gaelic speakers of all levels to compete.  Highlights include a Torchlight Procession, street theatre, the Fiddlers’ Rally at Eden Court and performances by Skerryvore, Ewen Henderson, Barluath, and renowned clarsach player Catriona Mackay.

 

WEMBO World Solo 24Hr Mountain Bike Championship

Nevis Range and the Leanachan Forest Trails, Fort William

11-12 October 2014

 

With entries coming in from all corners of the globe, including current World Champion Jess Douglas from Australia and entries from Lithuania, USA, France and New Zealand, Forth William is getting ready to well and truly welcome the world at this thrill seeking event.  With at least half of the event taking place in the dark, the course has been designed to be ride-able for the full 24 hours regardless of weather conditions.

 

Blazin’ in Beauly

Beauly, Scotland

11 – 18 October 2014

 

Blazin’ in Beauly will once again welcome thousands of people to the little town of Beauly for the Blazin’ Fiddles experience!  With top class tutors including Blazin’ Fiddles themselves; concerts, ceilidhs, sessions, masterclasses, comedy and plenty opportunity to delve into some good Highland craic, this is an experience both locals and visitors to the area are not going to want to miss!

 

Year of Ancestors Festival

Caithness Horizons Museum, Thurso

24 -25 October 2014

 

The unique Pictish and Norse heritage of the Far North of Scotland will be celebrated at Caithness Horizons Museum in Thurso until 25 October.  During the weekend of the 24th and 25th October the Museum will be running a Norse themed “Vetrablot” or harvest festival event with storytelling, talks and cookery workshops.

 

Dark Skye Star Party

Clan Donald, Ardvasar, Isle of Skye

25 October 2014

 

Calling all Gazers – enjoy an awesome evening of star gazing with the help of keen amateurs and professional astronomers. Planetarium, presentations and refreshments at the Clan Donald Centre Dark Sky Discovery site, Armadale, Isle of Skye – should be stellar!