By Elissa Stevenson

This year’s Gala started a day early on Wednesday 12th August with a Brunch hosted by the Kyle of Sutherland Development Trust. Thursday had a kids baking session, a Golf Competition for members of Bonar Bridge Ardgay Golf club, Roller Disco and the Pipe Band Parade & Crowning. Ardross Pipe Band played a fantastic set of tunes and marched from the Hall over the bridge to Stonehenge where the crowning took place. It was great to have some stalls and Highland Patissier attending too. Kayleigh Chalmers was crowned as Salmon Queen by Kay Morrison along with her attendants Maisie Green, Bea Masson and Elowen McInnes.


The rest of the weekend was packed with a variety of events; bookbug, a book fair, family badminton, teens treasure hunt, music events, pet show, flower and veg show, duck race and the popular Pub Quiz and the Grand Raffle was drawn that evening too.


The Sunday saw a few new events: Family Forest Trail hosted by Culrain Hall Committee which was a lot of fun. Also Family Highland Games in partnership with the Kyle of Sutherland Development Trust with funding from the National Lottery Community Fund Scotland. Opened by 2 local pipers, Gilly & Ruby, Neil and his team of volunteers led 5 different events for children and adults alike. The Bonar Bridge Football Club also had their Giant Foosball available which everyone enjoyed. The event ended with the Colour run which was pretty messy but everyone had a great time! Miele’s Gelateria were in attendance keeping everyone in ice cream and waffles! The day finished with Sunday Songs at An Tobar.


The final day on Monday had a kids film and the Kyle of Sutherland Joggers social run and walk. Despite the wet weather, about 30 people attended and enjoyed the tea and cakes at the end!


The Gala committee is very small so they are really proud of the programme put together and appreciate all the partnership with the various groups who ran an activity during the weekend. Also all the local businesses and people who donated a prize for the raffle.


Funding is greatly appreciated from Creich and Ardgay & District community councils. This funds the majority of the running costs and allows the Gala events to be low cost or free.
A big thank you to the volunteers who helped at the events, their support is invaluable.
Here’s to 2027!

Family Highland Games bring colour and community spirit to Gala Week

A Family Highland Games was added to the Kyle of Sutherland Gala Weekend programme this year. The event was held at Migdale Park on Sunday 16th August along with Bonar Bridge Football Club’s inflatable foosball game with the afternoon ending with a Colour Run.

By Neil Graham

This was the first time The family Highland Games had been included in the programme. The Gala committee had worked hard with community partners to plan the afternoon and were hopeful the event would be well attended and the weather would be favourable. 


On Sunday 16th August Migdale Park was set up with various events including shot put, caber toss, welly wanging and a heavy weight throw. Bonar Bridge FC set up their foosball and Miele’s ice cream van arrived from Inverness.


The stage was set and now all that was needed was folk to arrive and the rain to hold off.


Families started to arrive just after 1pm, making their way to the registration tent where they were issued with the Highland Games number and made aware of the timings of the events. There were three age categories with 10 and under the most popular.


With 50 kids and adults registered The Kyle of Sutherland Family Games were opened by two local pipers, Gillian Sutherland and Ruby Stevenson.
Tossing the caber was the first challenge, with competitors attempting to flip it end over end and land the perfect “12 o’clock” throw. Volunteers were on hand throughout, offering clear instructions and plenty of encouragement as everyone tried to secure the maximum 12 points.


Welly wanging followed, with competitors choosing their preferred welly before testing both their strength and technique. The damp conditions added an extra challenge, but several participants quickly mastered the event and collected valuable points.


It soon became clear that some parents and adults were no longer content simply to watch from the sidelines. Many decided to join in, adding to the fun and friendly spirit of the occasion.


The shot put came next, with weights ranging from 1kg to 5kg. By this stage, the competitors were fully focused, not only on earning points towards becoming their age-group champion, but also on winning spot prizes for categories including best technique, best dressed and most enthusiastic participant.


At the end of each event, the judges delivered their results to the registration tent, where another dedicated team of volunteers carefully recorded the scores and kept the competition up to date.


The final event was the heavy-weight throw, where technique proved just as important as strength. Competitors watched one another closely, adapting their approach and offering plenty of encouragement along the way.


Before the medal presentation there was the small matter of a colour run.


This year everyone had come prepared, wearing old clothes, swimming googles or sunglasses. All the runners made several circuits of the course with very willing volunteers throwing scoops of various coloured paint powder over every runner.

With all competitors now covered in various colours of paint our amazing Salmon Queen Kayleigh Chalmers presented all participants with medals along with the prize money for all ages categories.


Although at times the weather was less than kind everyone looked as if they enjoyed themselves whether it was playing foosball with their friends on Bonar FC’s amazing foosball game, taking part in the Highland Games events, getting powder paint thrown at the them or standing in the never ending queue for an amazing ice cream of Miele’s ice cream van. Let’s hope the Family Highland Games becomes a regular feature of the Kyle of Sutherland Gala Week.


A huge thank you to all the amazing volunteers Joss, Pam, Leanne, Michelle, Malcolm, Kirsten, Gilly Bee, Valerie and Caroline.


The amazing afternoon only happened due to the work of the Kyle of Sutherland Gala Committee, Bonar Bridge Football club, Kyle of Sutherland Development Trust, The National Lottery, and amazing support from local companies, Ardgay Game, Highland Broadband, Migdale Smolt, Migdale Transport, First Tea, Bidwells, Coached from the Croft and Miele’s Gelateria.