5th & 6th May 2013 | Time: 11am – 4:30pm | Price: included in admission price
The picturesque Urquhart Castle, which is located in the banks of Loch Ness, will provide a spectacular background for a celebration of military skill this bank holiday weekend.
Photo by @NaaxaNatalia
The ‘Grand Tournament of Foote’ event is taking place this Sunday 5th and Monday 6th May, as part of the Year of Natural Scotland, a government initiative aimed at inspiring local people and visitors to celebrate Scotland’s outstanding natural beauty, landscapes and biodiversity a Scotland prepares to welcome the world in 2014 and beyond.
Apart from enjoying an exciting day out with a difference, visitors will be rewarded with splendid views of the famous loch and Great Glen from a magnificent location! Once one of Scotland’s largest castles, Urquhart’s one still remains an impressive stronghold despite its ruinous state.
The event will bring to life a medieval foote tournament, which involves a series of military combats fought as a contest between noble knights to demonstrate agility and expertise. The tournament will be in five parts, commencing with the knights battle and culminating in the general mêlée to leave the last man standing to be crowned champion!
According to Gillian Urquhart, Events Manager for Historic Scotland, “this event is a great opportunity to step back in time and get a flavour of how a medieval foote tournament would have been held”.
© Historic Scotland
She explains: “Fully armoured foot soldiers will once again be at the castle, putting on a spectacular show of skill in a series of colourful and lively bouts, in a bid to be crowned overall champion.
“Visitors can also see a living history camp and discover how squires would prepare their knights for battle, or test their own skills with a bow and arrow”.
The event will run each day from 11:00am – 4.30pm. Tickets for the event can be bought online or on the day. Ticket prices are included in the normal admission price: Adult: £7.90, Concession: £6.40, Child: £4.80, Child under 5: free. Admission free to HS members
A free park and ride shuttle service will be running each day from the car park at Glen Urquhart High School -in Drumnadrochit- to the visitor centre at Urquhart Castle from 10 am until 5 pm.
For further details about the event, click here.
Keep up to date with Historic Scotland regular Year of Natural Scotland blog by visiting: http://yearofnatural.historic-scotland.gov.uk/
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Article originally written for The Edinburgh Reporter and first published on 1 May 2013. Link
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