WELCOME TO THE 11th International GATHERING

FRIDAY 9TH AUGUST – SUNDAY 11TH AUGUST 2019 FOULIS CASTLE, EVANTON, ROSS-SHIRE HOME TO THE CLAN CHIEF, HECTOR MUNRO OF FOULIS

Thank you for joining us on the 11th international Clan Munro Gathering. We look forward to hosting you and thank you for making the effort to join us in for this special weekend.

PLEASE SEE BELOW YOUR FULL ITINERARY FOR THE WEEKEND TO GUIDE YOU THROUGH YOUR WEEKEND WITH US.

TRANSPORT PICK UP POINTS ARE AS FOLLOWS: - ARDROSS STREET, (COACH RENDEZVOUS, ADJACENT TO THE NORTHERN MEETING PARK, IV3 5NN - DINGWALL TRAIN STATION, IV15 9JD STRATHPEFFER - VILLAGE SQUARE BUS STOP OPPOSITE THE SPA PAVILION, IV14 9DDW

Any advance queries/questions should be sent to: [email protected] or 07709 823 291 FRIDAY 9TH AUGUST

Meet at your transport pick up point for 0830. Meet and greet! This is where you will receive your pass for the weekend. Please note that your ticket/pass will be a lanyard/badge which will allow you entry into all of our excursions. Departure time of 0900 for excursions. We wil be based at Dornie & District Community Hall - http://www.dorniehall.org.uk - amongst the superb scenery of in , where our lunch will be served and where you can relax and enjoy your surroundings in between exucrsions.

MORNING EXCURSION Our morning excursion sees us visiting Castle. Here you will be able to take a 30 minute guided tour of this wonderful castle which is the ancient stronghold of the Seaforth Mackenzie’s, Chiefs of the Clan, and looked after on their behalf by the hereditary keepers, . In 1719 Eilean Donan acted as the Jacobite’s’ headquarters, and on May 10th of that year the Spanish/Jacobite garrison was captured and the castle destroyed by three ships of the British Navy. For the next 200 years the castle lay a ruin until its restoration was completed by Lt. Colonel Gilstrap-Macrae in 1932. It is now probably one of the most iconic castles in Scotland. - http://www.eileandonancastle.com

Lunch will be available from 1200-2pm, allowing everyone time to eat comfortably between excursions. Please note that the Eilean Donan Castle excursions are in fixed timed groups. Please see below. Your passes will tell you which coach you are being hosted on.

YELLOW COACH (INVERNESS) WILL BE ATTENDING AT 1130 RED COACH (STRATHPEFFER/DINGWALL) WILL BE ATTENDING AT 1200 GREEN COACH (INVERNESS) WILL BE ATTENDING AT 1230 BLUE COACH (INVERNESS) WILL BE ATTENDING AT 1300

Eilean Donan Castle AFTERNOON EXCURSION Our afternoon excursion is a short coach ride away, taking us to Glenshiel – the battle site of the last time Clan Munro fought as a military unit on the evening of 10th June 1719 at the Battle of Glenshiel. Here we will spend some time looking at the battle site, viewing some exciting artifacts found on the site as well as receiving a talk on the battle itself. The Battle of Glenshiel We will be back on our coaches for a 1515 departure back to our pick up locations. For guests staying in Inverness you will be taking a short walk to the evening excursion in the city centre. For those staying in Strathpeffer/Dingwall, your coach will wait for you at the pickup point for a 1815 departure to Inverness. You will have some refresh time back at your accommodation before the evening excursion.

EVENING EXCURSION 1900 will see us meet at the newly refurbished Inverness Town House for us to be hosted for a wonderful evening by the Lord Provost of Inverness, Helen Carmichael. https://www.highlifehighland.com/inverness-museum-and-art- gallery/inverness-town-house-2/

For those staying in Dingwall/Strathpeffer your coach will collect you at 2100 to take you home. Inverness Townhouse 2100 END OF DAY ONE

DRESS CODES/INFO:

• Eilean Donan Castle is an indoor excursion. Comfortable footwear and layers advisable to account for all weathers. • GlenShiel is an outdoor excursion. Please ensure to wear comfortable/sturdy outdoor footwear as well as waterproof outer layers. • The Town House reception is a formal indoor reception. Black tie is not necessary but please do wear smart/formal clothing. Ladies in dress/skirts, Gents & Trews. No trainers/jeans. FRIDAY SUMMARY

0830 Meet & Greet

0900 Departure

1130-1300 Timed excursions to Eilean Donan Castle

1200-1400 Rolling Lunch

1415-1515 Glenshiel Visit

1515 Departure

1815 Departure for Town House for those in Dingwall/Strathpeffer

1900-2100 Town House Reception

2100 Return transport for those in Dingwall/Strathpeffer SATURDAY 10TH AUGUST

Meet at your transport pick up point for 0945. Departure time of 1000.

Saturday sees us spending the day in the glorious town of Strathpeffer. Heart of the Mackenzie country where we will be based in the magnificently restoredVictorian Strathpeffer Pavilion Strathpeffer Pavilion. https://www.highlifehighland.com/strathpefferpavilion/ Here you can make yourself at home, enjoy the facilities and settle into your base for the day. From here all excursions are a short walk away though we do have a small shuttle bus outside the pavilion for those less able. Saturday’s schedule is fluid in that the excursions we have available do not have fixed times and you can make your way to each excursion as you chose and stay as long as you wish.

Lunch will be served from 12-2 with and our evening buffet meal from 5pm.

There is so much to see and do in Strathpeffer but we have selected the following attractions and excursions to be included into your schedule today. There are many shops and other attractions you may wish to visit.

VISIT TO STRATHPEFFER GAMES

Taking place in the beautiful grounds of Castle you will get the chance to take part in a true Scottish tradition. Heavy Weights, Tug of War, Piping, Highland Dancing – the games has it all.

Highland Games Castle Leod

VISIT TO CASTLE LEOD GARDENS & TALK FROM THE https://www.castleleod.org.uk Home to the current ‘Caberfeidh’ (as the Chief of Clan Mackenzie is known), The Earl of Cromartie, a personal friend of our own chief and whose father was a prisoner of war with Hector’s father. The Earl of Cromartie has kindly allowed us access to parts of the castle grounds normally closed to the public . He will be joining us for a talk on the castle and its history.

VISIT TO EAGLE STONE

Said at one time to have marked the burial place of Munros killed in a nearby fight with the Mackenzie’s, it also features in one of the Prophecies of the C16/17th Brahan Seer whose second sight brought him both notoriety and ultimately death linked closely to the Munros of Foulis. The seer is still spoken of in reverential tones throughout the Highlands today. A visit to Eagle Stone will require a short drive on the shuttle bus available from outside the pavilion.

https://www.historic-uk.com/HistoryUK/HistoryofScotland/The-Brahan-Seer-the-Scottish-Nostradamus/

Our evening buffet meal with accompanied entertainment will commence at 1700. An evening of food, drinks and entertainment lies ahead with coaches ready to collect from 2000.

DRESS CODES/INFO:

Please wear suitable clothing and shoes for outdoor excursions. Please include waterproofs. Suggest layers to allow for smart casual wear for our evening reception. No formal/black tie necessary. SATURDAY SUMMARY

0945 Meeting

1000 Departure

1200-1400 Rolling Lunch

1700 Evening Buffet Dinner & Reception

2000 Coach Departure SUNDAY 11TH AUGUST

What better way to end our weekend than an afternoon at the home of the Clan – Foulis Castle. Hector opens the doors to the castle and grounds to welcome you to Foulis and enjoy an array of entertainment and hosting.

Meet at your transport pick up points for an 1130 departure time.

Your coach will take you to Foulis Castle where you will join in a Castle and grounds open day from Midday to 1600. Please note that this event is open to the public also. You will be treated to a BBQ lunch on the lawn and be surrounded by a host of entertainment:

Pipe Band Welcome Highland Wildlife photo exhibition (Cura) Clarsach player Highland Dancers Ceildih Group Gaelic Song Local Archaeology Talk - 13.30 - 14.00 Exclusive Clan Munro archive exhibit Munro DNA talk - 14.00 - 15.00 Children’s craft Whisky demonstration and tastings (limited places, please see us on Saturday evening to get tickets) Craft stalls retailing Scottish products and Clan Munro goods

The day will end at 1600 where coaches will collect you to return to your transport meeting points.

DRESS CODES/INFO:

Please wear suitable clothing and layers with suitable footwear for being inside and outside the castle and grounds.