West Highland Week,  Scotland’s Second Largest Yachting Event

Dancers were taken into the Chief’s household for entrainment as were pipers. The dancers and pipers composed tunes and dances to extol the virtues and victories of the Chief. Neighbouring clans, when at peace, would match their best in competition: to win was to honour the clan thereby increasing its standing in the area.

The first sporting contest between the Scots and English was held when an envoy of Henry VIII brought with him a team of athletes. Competitions were arranged with local athletes as they travelled around Scotland.

Whenever large groups of Scots gathered, athletics, music and dancing were common results. Horse fairs and markets often ended with Games, the largest gatherings being that of the military.

Bagpipe music stirred the Scottish soldier to greater glory and some of the best bands of pipes and drums are to this day found in the armed forces. The kilted Highland regiments in the First World War earned the German nickname “the ladies from Hell” with the skirl of the pipes enhancing this reputation. The failure of the 1745 Rebellion brought a period of savage repression to Scotland with anything Highland being banned. However by the 1820s gatherings similar to those held today were again being celebrated in Scotland. Under the patronage of Queen Victoria, Highland Games went from strength to strength and are now held all over the world wherever Scotsmen gather. Several ancient Scots sports such as the Hammer Throw & the Shot Putt are now part of the international circuit. This indicates the role of Highland Games in influencing world sport.”
Source: http://www.taynuilthighlandgames.com/

To plan a trip to Oban and Taynuilt check out our list of Oban Hotels, Self Catering, Bed and Breakfast and hostel accommodation.

Duncan is passionate about the Scottish landscape as well as Gaelic culture, traditions and music. He has spent many years enjoying what Scotland’s outdoors has to offer and has a keen interest in photographing the grandeur of the Scottish Highlands and islands.

If you’re interested in buying any of Duncan’s work you can do so via his website.

For information on accommodation in and around Oban areas photographed by Duncan, get in touch with us or check out our list of Oban hotels.

We were out filming at the Lorn Farmers & Crafters Market in Benderloch and stopped to get a few snaps on the way, couldn’t resist the heavy dramatic skies!  Well worth a visit and when the tide is out, and if you’re quick, you can get in pretty close for some amazing photographs.