Joy was written all over the faces of the crowds lining the streets 10 years ago as the Olympic torch relay made its way round the north and north east.
The relay began in Land’s End on May 19 2012 in the safe hands of triple Olympic gold sailor Ben Ainslie and reached Scotland for the first time on June 8.
An average of 115 torchbearers per day carried the Flame of Athens northwards until the famous relic of Greece arrived in Glasgow to cheering crowds.
Some carriers had been practising at home with everyday household objects to feel more at ease on the big day as they embraced the honour of carrying the torch.
Borne by 92 torchbearers, the flame travelled 169 miles from Glasgow to Inverness along the banks of Loch Lomond, into Fort William and across Loch Ness.
More than 60,000 lined the streets to cheer on the torch bearers across the Highlands.
In Inverness, Sandra Ross lit the cauldron.
The Highland capital saw two days of action, and an estimated 45,000 people turned out to cheer on the torch.
At Inverness Castle, more than 500 people cheered on torch bearer Robbie Young, of Boat of Garten, at the start of the relay.
Mr Young, 60, who was nominated for his work with disabled skiers, said he was so nervous that he had not eaten breakfast.
Hearings at Inverness Sheriff Court which is based at the castle – were delayed by the torch relay.
Some staff came out of the building to watch the spectacle while others leaned out of their office windows, taking pictures.
Then Highland Council convener Jimmy Gray said he was proud of the “great reaction” the torch bearers had received.
“It was quite an honour for Inverness to be the only place in Britain to have the torch twice, on Saturday then again today,” he said.
It was a weekend of huge excitement in the Highlands, not only thanks to the presence of the Olympic flame, but a host of other events.
The RockNess festival, the Curtis Cup at Nairn and the World Mountain Bike Championships at Fort William were also on.
The torch moved on to Moray where it encountered these good-humoured ladies in Tomintoul — Cllr Fiona Murdoch, Dianne Dunlop and Cllr Anne McKay.
Tomintoul school children were in full flag-flying mode as they waited to welcome the torch into the highest village in the Highlands.
After leaving Inverness, the torch convoy travelled down the A9 to Aviemore where several thousand turned out.
Here the pupils of Kingussie primary school cheer on the flame.
In Aviemore, Jimmy Mackay, 54, of Port Skerra in Sutherland carried the torch through the town.
His friends travelled from Melvich to watch him on the final leg.
He was nominated by his employer BP for his role in mentoring colleagues.
Carried away by the happy mood, a visiting Metropolitan police motorcyclist interacted with the crowd in Aviemore.
Several thousand had turned out to with flags to catch a glimpse of the famous flame.
The whole of Grantown came to a stop as the torch headed through the town on its final Highland leg.
Here bearer Abigail O Grady was cheered by the pupils of Grantown and Aberneth primary schools.
The torch had already detoured to islands for visits to Lerwick, Kirkwall and Stornoway.
A strong Atlantic wind threatened its progress on Lewis, where gusts defeated the special protective lanterns to snuff the flame out twice at Calanish Stones.
It had been carried there at sunrise by former Olympian Kirsty Wade, accompanied by a lone piper Anna Fraser in a specially commissioned gold and white kilt.
Later, nearly 1,000 people thronged the streets of Stornoway as the torch relay started at 6.30am before it made its way to the airport for the flight back to Inverness.
Montgomerie’s moment
The torch travelled on through Morayshire to Crathie, Ballater, Dinnet, Kincardine o Neil, Banchory and Drumoak.
Colin Montgomerie was one of the high-profile torchbearers for the final leg into Aberdeen.
He carried the torch from Holburn Street to the middle of Union Street, saying it was on a par with the best moments of his illustrious career.
He said: “The whole sense of community has been incredible today.
“To pick up the torch is up there with some of the best moments of my life – along with the Ryder Cup.
“To be asked to do this in a city which means so much is a huge honour.”
Waiting for superstar Emeli
More than 26,000 people packed the streets of Castlegate to wait for the torch and enjoy a concert headlined by Aberdonian Emeli Sande, who sang in several Scottish towns, including Inverness during the relay.
Emeli, who carried the torch across Ballachulish Bridge en-route to Inverness on the Saturday, said: “It’s been great. It has been hugely enjoyable being part of the Olympics playing to crowds in Glasgow, Cardiff and now Aberdeen.”
Emeli’s four-song set had the crowd singing and dancing despite the bitter north-east wind.
One fan said: “This is great – I can’t believe we are getting to see Emeli in the middle of Aberdeen.
“She’s such an inspiration as a local girl done good.”
Children didn’t allow the chilly wind dampen their spirits on the day.
Here trainee lawyer Ryan Whelan returns to show the torch to pupils at his old school, Machar Academy.
All good things come to an end, and the torch eventually left Aberdeen from Dyce at the BP headquarters.
Here it’s carried aloft by five BP employees, Sarah Marriott, Mehment Tanilir, Claire-Lise Honsinger, Lindsay Rennie and Craig Donaldson.
The torch then went on to Stonehaven before continuing south into Angus.
Among other highlights for the torch were appearances in Dundee, St Andrews, Dunblane, Stirling, the Falkirk Wheel and Edinburgh Castle, where the flame was carried by Lesley Forrest, who received a kidney transplant in 1996 and a year later started competing in the British Transplant Games.
The Flame of Athens arrived at the Olympic Stadium for the lighting of the cauldron at the opening ceremony on July 27 following its 8,000-mile and 70-day journey.
Its trip to the north and north-east however will never be forgotten!
The north champions who triumphed in the early days of the modern Olympics
Conversation