Building work is now well underway on the giant arena at Bught Park which will be at the centre of this weekend’s Inverness Highland Games & Gala festivities.
Traditionally staged on one of the busiest weekends of the year in the Highland Capital, this year’s programme features two new additions – Proud Ness, the Highland’s biggest ever pride event and Ruff Ness, the world’s first ever ‘Highland Games for Dogs With Attitude’.
The festivities kick off on Friday at 6pm with performances on the lawn outside Eden Court Theatre featuring the City of Inverness Pipe Band, the Elizabeth Fraser School of Highland Dancing and members of the Inverness Branch of the Royal Scottish Country Dance Society.
On Saturday at Bught Park visitors can enjoy a day of excellent competition including in the Highland Dancing, Solo Piping and Heavy Events.
After an overnight transformation from its Games Day layout; Sunday’s Gala Showfield will open at noon when the Exclusively Highlands Craft Fair, Traders Village and Funfair reopen. The day will start with a Junior Shinty Festival in the main arena organised by Inverness Shinty Club before all eyes will turn towards the Riverside and the arrival of participants in what could be one of the biggest parades seen in Inverness for many a year.
To accommodate the large crowds expected over the weekend a number of temporary road restrictions and restrictions for pedestrians and cyclists over the Infirmary Bridge will be in place. Here is the list in full:
- Bught Road, Inverness, closed from its junction with Bught Avenue to its conjunction with Ness Walk Upper 10am on July 19 to 7pm on July 21.
- Ness Walk Upper, Inverness, closed from its junction with Bught Road to its junction with Ballifeary Lane 10am on July 19 to 7pms on July 21.
- Bught Avenue, Inverness, closed from its junction with Bught Lane to its junction with Bught Road 10am on July 19 to 7pm on July 21.
- The Infirmary Bridge will be closed to cyclists and pedestrians from 10am to 7pm on July 20 and 21.
- Kingsmills Road, Inverness, closed from its junction with Union Road to its junction with Midmills Road 12:50pm to 1.05pm on July 21.
- Stephens Street, Inverness, closed from its junction with Midmills Road to its junction with Stephens Brae 12:55pm to 1.10pm on July 21.
- Stephens Brae, Inverness, closed from its junction with Stephens Street to its junction with Eastgate 1pm to 1.10pm on July 21.
- Eastgate, Inverness, closed from its junction with Crown Road to its junction with High Street 1pm to 1.15pm on July 21.
- High Street, Inverness, closed from its junction with Eastgate to its junction with Bridge Street 1pm to 1.20pm on July 21.
- Bridge Street, Inverness, closed from its junction with High Street to its junction with Ness Bridge 1.05pm to 1.20pm on July 21.
- Ness Bridge, Inverness, closed from its junction with Bridge Street to its junction with Young Street 1.05pm to 1.25pm on July 21.
- Ness Walk, Inverness, closed from its junction with Young Street to its junction with Ardross Terrace 1.05pm to 1.25pm on July 21.
- Ardross Terrace, Inverness, closed from its junction with Ness Walk to its junction with Bishops Road 1.10pm to 1.30pm on July 21.
- Bishops Road, Inverness, closed from its junction with Ardross Terrace to its junction with Ness Walk Upper 1.10pm to 1.30pm on July 21.
- Ness Walk Upper, Inverness, closed from its junction with Bishops Road to its junction with Bught Road 1.15pm to 1.35pm on July 21.
- Bught Road, Inverness, closed from its junction with Ness Walk Upper to its junction with Bught Avenue 1.20pm to 1.45pm on July 21.
