Caledonian Canal Ceilidh Trail

Join in the celebration of the Caledonian Canal Ceilidh Trail through music, song and dance presented by a team of talented musicians.

Fàilte gu Cuairt Cèilidh a' Chanàil Chaileannaich. Tha sinn a' toirt dhuibh cuireadh gus pàirt a ghabhail anns an fhèill seo tro chèol agus dannsa air a thoirt thugaibh le buidheann de luchd-ciùil.

This four week ceilidh trail is taking place in and around a variety of venues in Inverness and the Caledonian Canal, from Drumnadrochit down to Invergarry. The trail will be offering afternoon informal music sessions from 4pm - 5pm, on village greens and the locks at Fort Augustus.

Evening ceilidhs starting times will vary but will generally take place between the hours of 8pm and 10.30pm. Later times will vary depending on the venues. Most of the events are free of charge, with a few exceptions.

The Grand Opening Ceilidh will be held in Urquhart Castle Visitors Centre on Monday 14 July starting at 7.30pm. Tickets will be on sale at the Visitors Centre in the castle and the Highland Council Service Points from mid-June. They cost £8 and a £7 concession rate is offered to Friends of Historic Scotland and others entitled to the concession rate.

Tulloch's Traditional Music Tent will be held on Saturday 19 July at Inverness Highland Games, running from 1 - 5pm. Andy Ross will compere the event for the 7th year in succession. Moray Firth Radio will be recording the programme for the All Scotland Traditional music programme that goes out on a Thursday evening from 7 - 10pm. This is an afternoon of traditional music, song and dance that was performed in front of a worldwide audience of over 800 visitors in 2007.

Ceilidh trail team members will be lead by professional musician, Ross Anderson (percussion); trainee lead professional musician, Cameron Kellow (accordion); student musicians, Calum Morrison (Gaelic Song, bagpipes, small pies and guitar) and Alasdair Taylor (guitar, mandolin, banjo and bazouki), and Karen Ferguson (accordion and drums).

Team trainers will be David Bowen on the musical arrangements, and Rachel MacDonald as the Gaelic language tutor who will be supporting the team on an ad-hoc basis on whistle and Gaelic Song. The ceilidh trail team will be working in partnership with TMC Folk; a group of talented young student musicians based in and around the Inverness area along with their MD, David Bowen.

Download the Caledonian Canal Ceilidh Trail Programme