The calm quiet of sleepy hamlet, the beautiful Fort Nottingham, will be awoken to the distinctive sounds of bagpipes, drums, marching bands and all things Scottish, as the 10th Fort Nottingham Highland Gathering joyously returns to the KZN Midlands after a break of five years, on Saturday 10 September.
Inspired by the world famous Braemar Gathering, the Fort Nottingham Highland Gathering is typically a day of nostalgia, heritage and ancient tradition. All the rousing spectacle, athletic prowess and hauntingly beautiful music will be celebrated in abundance – with a contemporary family-friendly local twist.
The core focus is as always the various Highland Games showcasing brute strength and stamina: tossing the caber; tug-o’-war, walk the weight, the kilted mile; hammer throw; weight over the bar and stone put. The athletics has been sponsored by Kings Arms in memory of Doug Kirton.
The competitive athleticism is complemented by the grace and precision of Celtic dancing, piped bands… and of course, the rousing bag pipes. Guests are invited to get into the spirit of the occasion by wearing tartan, eating shortbread and sampling whisky!
This year’s event will feature a range of stalls of locally-sourced market wares and Midlands Meander based merchandise; food and beverage stalls; field demos, dog events and children’s activities – including face-painting and jumping castles. In attendance will be, among others, the Pietermaritzburg and the Durban Caledonians, the First Medical and Pietermaritzburg Caledonian Pipe bands.
“We are delighted to be able to host the Fort Nottingham Highland Gathering again after the long Covid Lockdown. Like so many other events, starting up again is always something of a challenge; however, we are beyond delighted that the games are going ahead this year. We are grateful for the generosity, goodwill and possibility-thinking of so many people and organisations in making this event possible; and thank Louise Fox whose land surrounding the fort we are using for the games. We look forward to welcoming friends and family to Fort Nottingham for what promises to be a magical day!” enthuses Victor Muhlenbeck, one of the organisers of the event.
Fort Nottingham is a tiny village just up the road from the vibrant town of Nottingham Road and one of the gems of the Midlands. Situated about 50km north-west of Pietermaritzburg, about the same distance from the Drakensberg mountains, and about 150km from Durban, Fort Nottingham is quiet and small with houses dating back to the late 1850s, and boasting a quaint town hall and museum which is in the Old Fort itself, and has a comprehensive history of the area. The fort was commissioned by Queen Victoria in 1856, and the Scottish link is from settlers from Scotland who inspired the naming of near-by Balgowan, Glencoe and Dundee.
In order to prebook your tickets on Quicket at a discounted rate, please go to https://www.quicket.co.za/events/182746-fort-nottingham-highland-gathering/
Or the short link: https://qkt.io/F1EBWd
Visit: Facebook: Fortnottinghamgames / Instagram: Fortnottinghamgames
Pictured top:
Walk the Weight – carrying a 74kg granite rock carried over a circuit between two poles. Current record is 218m
Pictured below:
Tug of War – classic eight men teams, the only sport performed backwards!
Kilted Mile – fun from the filed and up the mountain in full view of spectators.
No Highland Gathering is complete without bagpipes and pipe bands!
Photos by Val Adamson
Supplied.
