RAIN MIGHT have threatened to dampen spirits, but up on the Top Field at Cowal Highland Gathering on Saturday, the crowds were treated to a rollicking day of music, laughter, learning and spectacle that showed just why this corner of the event has become a firm favourite in recent years.
Once little more than a quiet adjunct to the main stadium, the Top Field has now carved its own reputation as a family- friendly haven where young and old alike can dance, sing, learn, laugh – and even watch a flock of ducks navigate an obstacle course.
Radio host Derek McIntyre kept proceedings flowing smoothly as compère, ensuring there was never a dull moment, whether on the main stage, in the music tent, or among the craft and cookery demonstrations.
And while the athletes and dancers competed with intensity below, up the hill it was smiles, song and a good dose of community spirit.
The headline act, without question, was the newly- crowned Grade 1 World Champions, Inveraray & District Pipe Band. Normally heard under the stern scrutiny of competition judges, this time they performed purely for pleasure – and it showed.
Led by the peerless Pipe Major Stuart Liddell, the band filled the Top Field with precision marches, strathspeys and reels, balanced with sweeping, dramatic tunes that held the audience spellbound. The world champion drummers, under Lead Drummer Steven McWhirter were every bit as polished – their award- winning flair dazzling young and old alike.
“You could hear a pin drop during the slow airs,” remarked one spectator, “then the place just erupted at the end.”
Even seasoned pipers from other bands stood in awe, their applause mingling with that of fans seeing Inveraray live for the first time. Free from the pressures of competition, band members grinned broadly, clearly relishing the chance to entertain. For many, it was the musical highlight of the entire Gathering.
