Pipertakesleapoffaith over Perthshire river

Daredevil played Scotland The Brave as he was catapulted through the air

A piper took his instrument to new heights as he played while being launched 50 metres across a Perthshire gorge.

Roddy Garden played Scotland The Brave as he was sent flying through the air over the River Garry at Killiekrankie.

The 49-year-old was sent off by the crew from Highland Swing, who were launching Britain’s first harnessed bridge swing – an adrenaline activity taking Europe by storm.

Describing his 15-metre free-fall then arcing swing as “awesome”, the Helensburgh Pipe Band player is now planning fresh feats of daredevil chantering, following his super-charged catapult.

“I thought I would be really nervous,” he said. “I’d seen videos of people doing these swings before, but not as high as this one.

“When the platform went back and I was suspended in the air with just my pipes, I realised the distance I was going to be travelling, but I didn’t have time to think too much before the crew pulled the cord and I was off across the gorge.

“I had decided beforehand to stick to Scotland The Brave because I didn’t know if I’d be losing the will to live and I wanted my fingers to keep working so I could keep the tune. It was difficult during the free-fall but it was great. Awesome.”

The thrill-seeking piper’s exploit was filmed at the opening of Highland Swing, brainchild of adventure sport entrepreneur Murray Trail, who has added the project to his company’s outdoor offering in Scotland.

Trail was one of the founding partners of Highland Fling Bungee, whose two sites at Killiecrankie and the Titan Crane in Clydebank have attracted more than 40,000 jumpers since 2011.

“Roddy did his bungee jump with us at Killiecrankie. He is a real character, up for anything with his pipes and it was great to see him have a go at the swing as well,” said Mr Trail.

Roddy Garden plays his pipes as he is launched across the gorge.