The inaugural Highland Haggis Festival proved to have the recipe for success after exceeding organisers’ expectations.
The festival, staged in Spean Bridge on Saturday, celebrated Scotland’s iconic national dish and showcased its versatility.
The programme of free events at the local primary school included haggis cookery demonstrations and tastings by world-renowned Haggis producer Macsween’s resident chef Colin Bussey.
There were also demonstrations from local chefs from Spean Bridge’s own Russell’s Restaurant and The Old Station Restaurant.
The children’s haggis recipe competition was won by five-year-old Sarah Burton, of Spean Bridge, who designed “Pan Haggissy”, which involved sliced carrots, potato, onions and a layer of haggis baked in the oven.
Part of her prize included the thrill of seeing Mr Bussey cook her recipe.
Some of the other haggis recipes demonstrated by Mr Bussey included vegetarian haggis empandas, Scotch eggs. and burgers.
There was also a haggis hunt for youngsters, a haggis hurling competition staged by Lochaber Ladies Shinty Team, and a ceilidh.
Glen Wilson, one of the organisers from the Glen Spean and Great Glen Tourism Group, said yesterday: “It was a really good weekend. It was the inaugural Highland Haggis Festival and it really exceeded expectations with the numbers that turned up on the day.
“We were pleased with the response. With it being so new, it was difficult to gauge if people would come, but they certainly did.
“The ceilidh with Skipinnish performing in the evening was sold out.”
James Macsween, joint managing director and owner of Macsween, which supported the event, said: “As it is our mission to showcase the versatility of haggis we were delighted to be involved in this lovely event.”