The Viking raiders have arrived again
THE VIKINGS are back pillaging on Loch Fyne.
Five villages along Loch Fyne have been preparing for raids, with the first expedition yesterday (Thursday) taking the nautical Nordics from Tarbert to Inveraray then back to home base in Tarbert.
As part of the Loch Fyne Viking Festival, Ardrishaig, Lochgilphead, Portavadie and Tarbert are also running events until this Sunday July 9.
The Viking fleet has expanded for this year’s invasion.
There are now two Magnus Viking longships from Northern Ireland and an Arran longship as well as Freydis – Tarbert’s wooden replica longship, which is one of UK’s very few wooden Viking vessels. These ships will be manned by almost 100 local and visiting Viking volunteers, with some from as far afield as Norway and Sweden.
Today, Friday July 7, the longships will sail to Lochgilphead, where the Big Day Out for young people from Argyll and Bute will meet the Loch Fyne Viking Festival in a special programme organised jointly with the MS Centre in Lochgilphead.
As well as the raids in the villages, Glasgow Vikings will erect Viking settlements for the public to visit and will also re-enact Viking battles, with a running commentary explaining Viking fighting strategies. Causeway Archers (Northern Ireland) will also give archery demonstrations and will offer the public the opportunity to try the sport for themselves.
Medvind (Sweden) will perform musical storytelling during all the events. Tønsberg Vikings (Norway) will visit each event, dressed in traditional Viking costumes and carrying traditional Viking weapons.
During the local event in Tarbert tomorrow, Saturday July 8, Magnus Barfot’s longship portage from West Loch Tarbert to East Loch Tarbert will be re-enacted, using Freydis, Tarbert’s own 40ft wooden replica Viking longship. A Viking village will be erected on the marina’s amenities area and archery demonstrations will take place at the castle.
Part of the evening entertainment will be an open stage concert in the marina marquee on the Saturday night, featuring local and visiting musical talents of all ages and levels, plus ceilidh dancing. Exciting Swedish band Medvind will also perform at this concert.
On the final day, the Viking fleet will sail across to Portavadie and back. During a Ting – a Viking summit – international guests, Vikings, local authorities and community councils will explore options for Loch Fyne Viking Festival’s future.
Each day is sure to be fun and action-packed with loads of activities for all the family.