Submitted by Owen McCafferty on Fri, 2009-12-04 
The Durness Highland Gathering Association are members of the Scottish Games Association and registered to accept both amateurs and professionals since the event was re-constituted in 1970. This was recommended to me by two young ladies that I met whilst in Durness. It is held on the last Friday of July each year, and as well as seeing Scottish Highland games with Highland dancing and Pipers, solo piping tug-o-war, light field events, heavyweights and running. There are competitions and races and an end of games dance in the local hall. During the holiday season many faces appear and disappear but towards the end of July, familiar groups of folks start to emerge and mingle ready for participation in the most northwesterly mainland Highland Gathering. Durness bustles with a roused anticipation. The topics of conversations nearly always end with concern and prediction about the weather on Games Day.
It’s a day of homecoming too, and the beer tent will be busy as the community’s exiles reminisce fondly over a dram or two about byegone days with those still fortunate enough to live in Durness. For many though it is the sight of massed pipe bands and Scottish dancing that provide the true flavour and sound of a Highland gathering, with their fine display of traditional Highland attire, tartan kilts.
Entry to all competitions is free and these, especially in the piping and heavy events, will inevitably attract a welcome and growing quota from overseas.
In addition to an excellent sports programme for adults and youngsters, the gathering will as usual offer helicopter rides and a flypast by RAF Tornado fighters, weather permitting, a climbing wall, donkey rides, a resident clown, a bouncy castle and numerous side stalls.
A tradition of annual sports days in Durness goes back to well before the Great War, while the Highland Games in something like today’s form seem to date to between the wars, as buses and the motor car brought the rest of the Highlands closer to Durness.
DURNESS HIGHLAND GATHERING TROPHIES
- ROBERT MORRISON MEMORIAL TROPHY for Jnr. Piping under 15 years –
- ROBERT MORRISON MEMORIAL TROPHY for Jnr Piping 15 yrs – under 18 years
- J.& J MATHER MEMORIAL SHIELD for Junior Piping (confined to north west Sutherland)
- HUGH MACKAY CUP Jnr. Piping (Confined to County of Sutherland)
- LEWIS CUP for Professional Pipers
- ANDREW MACKAY GUNN MEMORIAL TROPHY for Piobaireachd
- BANK OF SCOTLAND TROPHY for most promising piper (Confined to Sutherland)
- DEWAR TROPHY – Highland Dancing 12 & under
- SANDEMAN CUP – Highland Dancing 13 – 15 years
- JULIA MACKENZIE TROPHY For dancers 12 yrs & under confined to Sutherland & Ross-shire
- CABERFEIDH CUP – Highland Dancing 16 yrs & Over
- CAPE WRATH HOTEL CUP for Open Track Events
- RISPOND TROPHY for open heavy events
- McCOUBREY TROPHY for Heavy events (Confined to Sutherland)
- KEEP-FIT TROPHY – Best Snr. Male Athlete from Durness Parish
- KEEP-FIT TROPHY – Best Senior Female Athlete from Durness Parish
- MARJORIE CAMPBELL SHIELD – Track, Field & Fun Events Boys & Girls 16 – 18 yrs Open
- FERGUSSON CUP Boys 16 – 18 Confined to Sutherland
- KINLOCH SHIELD – Track, Field & Fun events, Girls 12 – 16yrs (Confined to Sutherland)
- BURTON CUP, boys 12 – 16 yrs (confined to Sutherland)
- ANN, DUCHESS OF WESTMINSTER CUP for girls under 12 from Durness Parish
- MONTOMERY CUP for boys under 12 from Parish of Durness
- HAIG TANKARD – Hill Race
- RIDGWAY TROPHY – Hill Race 35 yrs & Over
- RIDGWAY TROPHY – HILL RACE 65 YRS & OVER (New trophy presented 2003)
- MARIE CHRISTINE RIDGWAY TROPHY – Hill Race Ladies
- DURNESS YOUTH CLUB TROPHY, Hill Race Boys under 18
- DURNESS YOUTH CLUB TROPHY, Hill Race Girls under 16
- KEEP FIT TROPHY – hill race (confined to Durness)
- BARR CUP Overall Champion from Parish of Durness
- CARRIE CUP for Snr Champion in Open Athletics
- RICHARD MACKAY MEMORIAL SHIELD – Tug O’War
- QUEEN’S GOLDEN JUBILEE TROPHY Overall winner, Under 8 confined to Durness Primary School
How to get there:
Ferry trip to Cape Wrath: Take the ferry across the Kyle of Durness then the 11 mile bus ride to the North-West tip of Scotland. It is possible to walk or cycle.
Contact Durness Highland Gathering Phone: 01971 511338
Email: secr…@durnesshighlandgathering.co.uk
Website: http://www.durnesshighlandgathering.co.uk/
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