Think of scottish country dancing and ceilidh music and many think of BBC Radio Scotland’s Robbie Shepherd. The man himself came to the shores of Loch Ness recently to broadcast his programme from the Invermoriston Millennium Hall in Invermoriston by Loch Ness.

See below for his recent article from the Press & Journal writen in the Doric about his experience (Doric is Scots dialect from the Aberdeenshire area - to find out more about Doric click HERE)

Great Show Robbie - I was listening while cooking my tea overlooking Loch Ness! The Mince & Tatties came out better for it and all!

The Doric Column

Lead me to the old songs

sung again for me,

Lead me to the dance time

swinging loud and free.

Lead me to the Northland – Andy Stewart

By Robbie Shepherd

Published: 25/04/2009

NORTHLANDS it wis for me on Widnesday as far’s Inverness syne, turnin roon the neuks an crannies at’s the streets o the city, it wis doon the Northside o the River Ness tae Invermoriston.

Man it wis a gran hurl, me sittin in the back seat like Lord Muck, wi Loch Ness sae calm wi jist the antrin ripple, the different shades o green hyne up the hillsides an the cherry blossom in full bloom forbye the funn busses.

I hae aften pass’t throwe Glenmoriston bit aye haikit tae be farrer west wi little time tae spare, as it’s ere that ye either tak the road tae Skye or aance veer left on the A82 heidin for Fort William.

The ‘Take The Floor’ team were takkin up the invitation o the community volunteers tae record wir programme fae the fantoosh Glenmoriston Millennium Hall, biggit in 1999 wi the support o the Millennium Commission an celebratin its tenth anniversary.

Es replac’t the aal hall an it did yer hairt gweed tae see foo sic a scatter’t community hae gotten thegither tae mak eese o aa the facilities. I aye thocht o the Glenmoriston Arms Hotel as a stoppin place for toorists an the Store at the ither side o the road caterin for tenters an caravanners – papers, groceries an ither eerands for the sma bourachies roon aboot.

Damn the fear. There wis evidence aa roon acknowledgin the efforts an the dedication o a hanfu o fowk determin’t tae keep the community speerit alive. Oh, there’s mony ither plaicies, wi nae sae generous backin, I cwid name that dee the same – bit again I cwid reel aff the aul hallies bit a ghost o yestereer.

Noo, as aften happens in sic recordins, it disna tak lang for somebody or anither tae come up an link me tae days gyan by, so it wis es time roon.

We stoppit for a bite tae aet jist ootside Inverness fin es lady cam in aboot till’s.

‘Would you, would you be Robbie?’ Jist as weel I hid twa deems wi’s or aance the rumours micht hae startit bit I wis on safe grun fin the lady introduc’t hersel as Shirley at I hidna seen since God ken’s fan – the dother o oor gweed freens, James an Jessie Hepburn fae Mallaig, takkin’s back tae ma days in the fishsellin side o Claben.

Tae the nicht an the hall hoatchin wi the dancers furlin an hoochin tae the music o Nicky MacMichan an’s Band, we hid guest spots fae the verra talentit gaelic singer, Rachael Walker an the gran fiddle player o ‘Capercaillie’, Charlie McKerron fa I hae kent fae awa back fin I ees’t tae compère the Daily Record Golden Fiddle Concerts, an the eer in the early auchties fin he won the tap solo award.

Bit hold on! Fa shid be playin the fiddle as pairt o Rachael’s trio bit a young strappin loon bi the name o Ewan Henderson. The Henderson faimily are amang the maist talentit in the Hielans and their faither is Alan Henderson, fa wis in Walker’s Fishsellin Office in Mallaig as assistant tae neen ither than James Hepburn. Losh bit I kent Alan fin he wis coortin an noo he’s Provost o Fort William.

It’s a sma warl an I’m nae deen yet, cis efter the recordin, at ye can hear the nicht on Radio Scotland at five-past sivven, I wis haein a quaet dram at the bar fin I heard es distinctive vyce an a rug o the shooder made me turn roon tae half recognise the face an the maist welcomin hairty lauch.

‘Michty, Robbie, bit I see ye ilka eer at the Lonach – Willie Robertson!’ Losh, he soondit sae like his late brither Tam an jist as sociable.

I leuch tae masel as I held up the stairs o the hotel tae ma bed, myndin on the gran nicht we hid an Willie’s naitural tongue an thinkin o a hallie up Donside wi the lad jist rarin for a dance, haulin his wife on tae the fleer wi the band in full flight, ‘Lowse yer styes Muggie, I’m jist foo o music’.

See ye neist wikkeyn.

You can listen to this broadcast by clicking HERE

So where’s the mystery? Why haven’t we heard that great voice before…….

Where’s the Monster? Her Talent!  

The world has taken a singer from Scotland who appeared on an entertainment show called ‘Britains Got Talent’ to their hearts - with over 100 million hits on Youtube, facebook fanpages that have members joining at a dizzying rate of knots, and people and the media from all over the world facinated by her story.

It just goes to show you that when you look hard enough, work hard enough and try hard enough- even the best kept secrets are revealed!!

‘Nessie’ would be proud! Take it away Susan! Click HERE

ROCK NESS ON CHANNEL 4 THIS WEEKEND

Whether you were lucky enough to be at this year’s amazing Rock Ness music festival or not, you get the chance to see the monster bash when it makes its star-studded television debut UK-wide on Channel 4 this weekend over two programmes on Friday June 20th at midnight and Saturday June 21st at 12.10 AM

Staged in the most stunning festival site in the world on the shores of iconic Loch Ness, Rock Ness 2008 was the best yet. Over 35,000 fans basked in the weekend’s glorious sunshine while enjoying a stunning line up of many of the globe’s biggest names in electronic, dance and rock. Acts who performed across the two days included Fatboy Slim, Razorlight, The View, Calvin Harris, Underworld, Editors, 2ManyDJs, Roisin Murphy and Mylo to name a very few. ROCK NESS ‘09 EARLY BIRD TICKETS GO ON SALE THURSDAY 26th JUNE - SEE THE ROCKNESS WEBSITE FOR DETAILS OF AN EXCITING NEW WAY TO BUY THEM FROM MONDAY 23rd JUNE

Almost everyone knows that Loch Ness is 23 miles long, has historic Urquhart Castle on its shores, and is believed to be home to ‘Nessie’ the Loch Ness monster.

The following are just some of the facts and interesting snippits of information and legends about Loch Ness and the surrounding area which you don’t often hear about! Perfect to fill those gaps in conversation over the Holiday period. (!?!)

Did you know???? Urquhart Bay on Loch Ness and the surrounding woods is a Site of Special Scientific Interest. The woods, lying between the Rivers Enrick and Coiltie, are one of Britain’s last remnants of swamp woodland

Did you know???? The Corrimony Chambered burial cairn in Glenurquhart was built circa 2000BC, and is of a type known as a passage grave, encircled by 11 standing stones.

D id you know???? On the 29th September 1952, whilst travelling at 206mph on Loch Ness in his craft Crusader in an attempt to gain the world water speed record, John Cobb lost his life. The people in the area had so taken to the quiet, unassuming Englishman that it was decided to erect a simple cairn, to commemorate the man, from the people of Glen Urquhart, on a site overlooking the measured mile.

Did you know???? The artist George Bain, known as the father of Celtic Design lived in Drumnadrochit for many years after marrying a local girl. The house where they lived can be seen perched high on the slopes near Drumnadrochit and the former manse house where he had his school of celtic design is now the Benleva hotel. George Bain also designed the plaque that is on the Cobb’s Memorial Cairn (see above)

Did you know???? When Johnson and Boswell set off from Inverness to Fort Augustus on the morning of Monday, August 30, 1773, they travelled on horseback, accompanied by a guide and translator, Joseph, and two other Highlanders on foot. “I perceived a little hut, with an old looking woman at the door of it,” wrote Boswell. “I thought there might be a scene that would amuse Dr Johnson.” Sure enough, in they went to the hovel, lit only by a hole punched in the turf and the light of peat fire in the middle of the floor and goats tethered to one end. Where, wondered Dr Johnson aloud, did the woman sleep? Something must have been lost in translation because the old crone interpreted this as an alarming invitation to go to bed. The misunderstanding and her dignity were saved with humour.

Did you know???? Cherry Island near Fort Augustus, about 100m from the shore, is the only island on Loch Ness. In fact is not an island, nor is this its real name! The ‘island’ is in fact a man made structure known as a ‘crannog’. Designed to provide a fortified retreat for the local people when threatened, they were built and used for this purpose between the Iron Age and the 16th century. The real name of the crannog is Eilean Mhuireach or Murdoch’s Island.

Did you know??? The RSPB purchased Corrimony reserve in 1997 with the aim to regenerate a large area of Caledonian pinewood. Black Grouse, Golden Eagles, Scottish Crossbills, Crested tits & Greenshanks can all be found there. Source: www.rspb.org.uk

Did you know??? Strathglass & Glenurquhart Shinty Clubs competed in the fixture considered to be the origin of the rules applied today in modern shinty at Bught Park, Inverness in 1887. This ancient rivalry is still continued with the clubs’ first teams playing each year for the MacDonald Cup and second teams for the Ali Bhan Cup as a curtain raiser to the new season.

Did you know? Legends of Loch Ness-side records that at one time the Great Glen in which the loch now lies was a place of rich pasture, a land of milk and honey with plenty of corn, fish, deer and game for its numerous people. In the Glen there was a well which had been blessed by Daly, the Druid, under the condition that whosoever drew water from the well must always replace its cover. Many years later a woman was drawing water from the well when she heard that her child had fallen into the fire. The poor mother immediately rushed home forgetting to replace the well’s cover. The water of the well overflowed and flooded the whole glen and the escaping inhabitants lamented “The loch nis ann” (there is a lake now). From this saying (nis is pronounced Neesh in Gaelic) Loch Ness took its name. Source: A Brief History of Foyers by the late Gordon Wilson

Did you know?? Urquhart Castle is located on the shores of Loch Ness on the rocky promontory of Strone Point. It dates from early in the thirteenth century, and was built by Alan Durward, son-in-law of King Alexander II. For a time, it was a strong-hold of Robert de Brus (the Bruce), and it met its end in 1692, when English forces blew it up to thwart the Jacobites. It is now in the care of Historic Scotland, and is open to the public.

Did you know?? IN 1890, when Queen Victoria was still using paraffin lamps in Balmoral Castle, some villagers in Fort Augustus had the unlikely luxury of electric light because of a small water turbine installed by the monks at the nearby Benedictine Abbey. This is believed to be Scotland’s first electrical installation and began operating eight years after Edison opened his station at Holborn Viaduct in London in 1882.

Did you know? Divach Falls on the edge of Drumnadrochit drops over 30m (100feet). The falls have inspired artists and authors. The artist John Phillips painted the falls & the painting now hangs in Buckingham Palace. The Falls were also responsible for the first tourism in the area.

Did you know???? In the 2001 census Drumnadrochit had a population of 813, Fort Augustus had a population of 508 & Inverness had a population of 40,949.

Did you know???? In 1895 the North British Aluminium Company started to make use of the River Foyers to generate the electricity needed to process aluminium at Foyers, South Loch Ness. All materials were transported to and from Foyers by boat and a light railway was built to connect the works and a wharf. Aluminium production at Foyers ceased in 1967: though the plant was then used for a while to build narrow boats for English canals. In 1973 the power generation equipment was enlarged and upgraded and the ex-aluminium plant now serves as a hydro electric power station feeding the national grid.

Did you know???? High above the village of Inverfarigaig there is a large hill fort, which probably dates back to the Iron Age. The fort was built on the top of Dun Dearduil, about 925 feet above sea level. The fort was built by the Celts some time around 700BC to protect them from their enemies and to protect their cattle and families. At the beginning of the last century it was excavated and found to be partly vitrified. This means that some of the stones it had been built with had melted and become like glass. Originally, the fort would have been surrounded by a thick stone and timber wall and there are still traces of a separate enclosure which might have been used for cattle.

Did you know???? Some time in the 11th century, the story goes, a Viking prince called Monie landed in Argyll, accompanied by an army of men and his sister. The Scots were having none of it, and he was pursued northwards until he finally reached a rocky crag in what is now Drumnadrochit near Loch Ness, visible for miles around. Though he and his companions bravely held their own, they were eventually defeated and Monie was killed. Craig Monie, as that rocky crag is called, is a local landmark still – so prominent that a gibbet once stood there as a sombre warning for wrongdoers. Source: http://www.woodland-trust.org.uk

Did you know???? Baxter’s Loch Ness Marathon had Twenty-five nationalities represented in this year’s (2007) event with athletes from as far afield as Australia, New Zealand, India, Japan, Russia, South Africa, USA & Inverfairgaig.

Did you know???? Brown trout exist in large numbers in Loch Ness and are regularly caught at lengths between 6″ and 10″ or 15cm to 25cm. Some turn cannibal and grow much larger, easily attaining weights of 12 lbs (5.3Kg). These are known as ferrox trout. (please note – if this inspires you to grab a rod and reel, the season runs from the 15th of March to the 6th of October).

Did you know???? Northeast of the village of Dores is Drumashie Moor, where Fingal and his Gaels fought a battle against A’ishidh (Ashie) and his Norsemen. The battle is said to haunt the moor where ghostly columns of soldiers and horsemen march on the moor and silently enact the battle just after dawn on May 1st.
Source: University of St Andrews.

Do YOU have any facts or legends or trivia aboutLoch Ness that you would like to share?

Let us know!

The ‘greatest reunion in rock history’ took place yesterday in London when the surviving members of Led Zeppelin reformed for one night.

When tickets went on sale, the 18,000 seats sold out within seconds. Formed in 1968, Zep sold more than 300 million albums during a career enhanced by a reputation for offstage excess - exceeding even their storming onstage performances.

What does this have to do with Loch Ness?

Boleskine House, on the southern shores of Loch Ness, was bought in 1971 by Zeppelin guitarist, producer and band leader Jimmy Page because he revered its former owner, the Satanist Aleister Crowley (some argue he was the real monster of Loch Ness!).

To find out more about South Loch Ness click HERE 

Page became obsessed with black magic and would ‘wander through Boleskine wearing Crowley’s cloak claiming that the house was haunted by a decapitated head’. There is a graveyard situated across from the property, which may have had a reputation for strangeness before Crowley’s and Page’s occupation. One legend suggests that a tunnel exists linking Boleskine to the graveyard, and the graveyard is said to be the haunt of witches.

Sections of Page’s fantasy sequence in the Led Zeppelin concert film, The Song Remains the Same were filmed at night on the mountain side directly behind Boleskine House.

The house is now privately owned – but many fans still make a pilgrimage to the area…

The 30th of November means that Saltires all over the world will be waving as Scots celebrate their patron saint’s day and all things Scottish.

In fact - the majority of people on earth will be using at least one Scottish invention today as part of their everyday lives!

Here’s a list of just some of the useful things the Scots have been responsible for creating, discovering and developing. What would you have done without us!!

The adhesive postage stamp, the hollow-pipe drainage system, the breech loading rifle,  reflecting telescope, Tarmacadam, the telephone, the Macintosh raincoat, threshing machine, the concept of logarithms and the decimal point, the Bank of England, the use of chloroform in anaesthetics, iron plough, the first steam powered marine engine, vulcanised rubber pneumatic tyres , patented the fountain pen and patented the steam traction engine,  the process of refining oil, kaleidoscopes, the vacuum flask, the reaping machine which led to the combine harvester, RADAR, the concept of latent heat and the discovery of Carbon Dioxide, the two-stroke Clerk Cycle Gas Engine, television, the use of tubular steel in construction, the percussion cap which later became the bullet, coal-gas lighting, blackboard and coloured chalk, Inventor of the ATM, World time zones, hypodermic needle, the process of criminal fingerprinting, ultrasound scanner, the Anderson Air Raid Shelter

And  did you know that……

• Saint Andrew is not only the patron saint of Scotland but is also the patron saint of Romania, Malta and Russia.
• He was Christ’s first disciple.
• He was born in Bethsaida in Galilee
• He was born and brought up as a Jew
• He spoke Aramaic
• Andrew’s Greek name was Andreas which means ‘manly’
• He was the elder brother of Saint Peter
• Andrew was a fisherman by trade
• He was the second person to be baptised by John the Baptist after Jesus
• Andrew was martyred for his faith in Patras
• Legend has it that some of St Andrew’s bones were taken to Scotland by St. Rule (also known as St Regulus) in Pictish times
• His bones once lay in St. Andrew’s Cathedral
• The first church in England to be dedicated to him was in Rochester
• His emblem is a cross Saltire
• The flag of Scotland, the Union Flag, the Arms and Flag of Scotia all feature a Saltire to commemorate St Andrew
• He is also patron of the Order of the Thistle, one of the highest ranks of chivalry in the world

The rumours are abounding that Fatboy Slim will make a welcome return to Rockness in 2008 which will take place on the 7^th & 8^th of June at Dores on the shores of Loch Ness. Other fantastic acts that are in the frame for Rockness 2008 include the Prodigy & Tiesto…(another one I have just heard is Faithless! Now that would be good! ) ….although the organisers are keeping the line-up well under wraps so who knows who will be wowing the 35000 people expected to turn up for year 3 of this northern jewel in the festival calendar! As soon as we can confirm the acts – you’ll see them posted here!

If you want to relive the first ever Rockness in 06 with Fatboy Slim - have a look:

If you were there…then you’ll remember this………..<grin>

2007 is a great year for hearing live music around Loch Ness!

June saw the second Rockness festival at Dores where up to 70,000 people enjoyed 2 days of some of the top UK and international artists including the Chemical Brothers, Kelis, Grove Armada and more.

Home grown music is not forgotten with the Caledonian Canal Ceilidh Trail offering free music and special events from July 16th to August 10th all around the Loch Ness Area.

Fans of Wolfstone and Shooglenifty can get their fix at
Nessfest on August 3rd & 4th in Fort Augustus, the main event to be held in the grounds of Fort Augustus Abbey

The fantastic family feast that is Belladrum Tartan Heart festival is next in line on August 10th & 11th with a huge line -up of music, theatre, arts and more.

Runrig will then appear for the first time at Borlum farm near Drumnadrochit
on August 18th for their Beat the Drum concert supported by acts including the Red Hot Chilli Pipers and the Vatersay Boys.

DRUMBEAT ‘07 is a small, eclectic mini festival in Drumnadrochit which takes place at the end of September (17th through 24th) which this year will feature acts as diverse as Traditional Taiko Drumming, the Scottish Opera and the MacDonald Brothers.

If you cant get here for any of these offerings - never fear, you will be able to find live music, theatre and dance all year around in the Loch Ness area - check out the listing on www.visitlochness.com or by clicking HERE

So here we are and almost with a sun tan (not quite) but still time this summer! There are several good music events around Loch Ness coming up in August and September as well as the increasingly popular Highland Feast festival when lots of local and Inverness venues not only provide great food but also fantastic live music. The Inverness music scene is rapidly making a name for itself with venues like Ironworks opening up. will publish some links to good music clubs and pubs here during the coming months, but we have to check them out first!!