STRATHDON BELLABEG LONACH GATHERING

Today was my first time back to Bellabeg since 2005.

Bellabeg is the roadside village located in Strathdon Aberdeenshire Scotland. It hosts the LONACH GATHERING every year on the 4th Saturday in August.

Today was its 175th Lonach Games. It's a huge tradition here in Scotland. The highlanders March from 08:00-13:30 when they set off and march through Strathdon stopping for a dram & a toast throughout this part of the land then making their final stop at the arena here in Bellabeg.

Billy Connolly brought quite a lot to the games accompanied with the likes of Robin Williams, Judy Dench, Steve Martin and Eric Idle over the years increasing the public attendance quite a lot. He recently sold his home in these parts a couple of years ago but it was lovely to see the public still love the highland tradition without having to celebrity spot.

This photo above is of myself (right) and Granda Bob Watt (left) outside the Bellabeg Spar enjoying the best coffee you can get out here that's from a shops coffee machine before our crowd entered the Lonach Games area.

It was a cracking day with the sun pouring Ray's down the whole time. The games were fantastic along with the highlanders, Scottish pipe bands and the awesome public crowd. As far back as I can remember my family and I would attend the Lonach. After 11 years absence it made me realise how much I truly missed the event and that part of Scotland. It'll be back in yearly tradition for me staring from this day. 175th anniversary.

Have a great weekend Blippers.