March down the glen heralds the coming of Highland games event

A century-and-a-half of tradition will be marked by the return of a traditional Highland games march down an Angus glen this week.

First staged in 1856, the Glenisla gathering takes place in the natural amphitheatre of the Forter Haugh at Glenisla, between Kirriemuir and Glenshee.

Traditionally, the games saw competitors from the north-west of the glen compete against those from the southeast.

Today an international influx of competitors and spectators join glens residents, and the 150th games on Friday will see Dundee City Pipe Band lead a march from Meikle Forter to the games Haugh, reflecting a custom of the event’s first 100 years.

As well as a full schedule of traditional games events, runners will tackle the testing Mount Blair hill race which brings the curtain down on the competitive programme each year.

The day of celebrations if rounded off by a dance in Glenisla Hall.

The arrival at the games field around 1pm will see the presentation of ceremonial banners to the Airlie family as a token of the Glenisla Highland and Friendly Society’s gratitude for their patronage of all 150 games.

Society secretary Katy Blair said: “Since its founding, Glenisla Highland Games has been an important community event.

“Staging our 150th games is a major milestone, particularly for a games of our size.

“It is testament to the hard work and enthusiasm of committee members down the decades that we are doing so.”