The Ham Nomads

19 Jul 2014. <GB-SCT> Attadale, Wester Ross —

Lochcarron Highland Games day! We made a fairly early start, and got to Attadale by about 9.15. Unfortunately the parking attendant didn't! No worries. We paid our entrance/parking fee (£12), were given a program and shown into the grounds. With no parking attendant, we finally worked out where to park from the program itself, which had a plan of the site, including parking.

We had not really breakfasted, so we did that once we had parked. Then we had a walk around. Things were getting moving. There were numerous stalls around the grounds, selling anything that could even remotely have a highland flavour!

Things started to get underway at about 11.30, with the Local Heavy Events — that is, locals who wanted to compete in shoe put or hammer throw. We got our first glimpse of the highland hammer — not the one you see at events around the world! This one has the usual 16 pound weight attached to what could pass for a broom handle — none of the high-tech improvements you see at the Olympic Games! Instead of holding onto a handle and spinning in the launching area, the competitors hold onto the hammer and, without moving their feet, rotate it three times around themselves before launching it into the arena.

Then there was a formal opening by the Chietain Ewan MacPherson (the same Ewan MacPherson who gave Kay and Suzie a gentlemanly lift back from the golf club the other day!). Then there were events running, many simultaneously, throughout the day. Must say that these games are very much a community and family occasion — there are even novelty events for the kids, such as sack races and egg-and-spoon races. One of the 'highlights' of the day (throughout the day) was that a group of girls were on a hens' party, and they came along dressed in track gear and tutus determined to take part in as many events as possible — and they did a good job of it!

A couple of highlights of the games — you can't have a highland games without the caber toss. Huge kilted gentlemen throwing a telephone pole around is really something to see!

Hill Race Start

Climbing the Hill

Chunky coming home

And the hill race — this really was incredible. The competitors (and there were about 80 of them) set off from the ground, round past the Attadale Gardens, and straight up a nearby hill, at the top of which each collected a token to prove they had reached the top, and then came straight back down to the finish line. The fastest time was 19 minutes 30 seconds, by Chunky Liston, the son of Kay and Wang who we have been visiting. But the thing that blew us away about the hill race is that children as young as 8 and 9 took part, and finished! As we have said before, the Scots are a hardy breed!

The last event of the games is the traditional tug-of-war. This was a hot competition, and the girls from the hens' party took part. Great fun was had by all, but the main result was that losers and winners all adjourned to the beer tent to celebrate/commisserate.

After the games were over, we departed to a layby nearby to settle in for the night. Our plans for tomorrow revolve around the Isle of Skye!

Distance driven — today, 6 miles ( 10 km ); to date, 4,596 miles ( 7,407 km )