Food and drink and shopping will play a big part next May with lots of stalls in both the tented area and around the Grounds.

There will be more food and drink outlets with a wider range of choices.  The older generation will find there is more seating, afternoon tea and more stalls offering a different range of light refreshments

Stall holders interested in taking part in this busy Fair can download a .pdf of the retail stand application form here. There were over fifty stalls in 2012 ranging from Arts and Crafts to Country Pursuits, Food, Drink and clothing.

You can download a copy of the Trade Stands brochure here.

Major new attractions for 2013

You can expect some exciting new additions to the programme of 2013 Gordon Castle games. These include the Nimrod Flight Simulator. More details to follow.

Furry and Feathered Friends

Gordon Setter Display and Dog Show

The 4th Duke of Gordon, “The Cock o’ The North”, is credited with establishing the Gordon Setter breed. They were bred as sporting dogs but numbers declined through the latter part of the 20^th Century. The Gordon Setter Club of Scotland are committed to ensuring the breed continues and in 2013 they celebrates the Club’s 25th Anniversary with a major contribution to family friendly activities.

They are running a  Fun Companion Dog Show with all the popular categories for young and old to participate in.

Download entry form  or enter on the day. The Club are also holding Bronze Award Classes and the day will culminate in a special parade, led by the massed pipe bands, which will include Gordon Setters and the winners of the dog classes.

The Scottish Terrier Racing team are back as well as Flying Hawks, Ferrets and an appearance by the hounds and huntsmen of the Kincardinshire Foxhounds.

• Falconry Display
• Scottish Terrier Racing Team
• The Kincardineshire Foxhounds

Music and Song

Music and song will play a big part in our programme of events for the 2013 games.There will be free seating, and visitors will find a programme of music and song to suit all tastes young and old. Spectators will have the option of staying a while to listen to a range of performances or just dropping in and out.This event is supported by EventScotland

Concert Corner

The Concert Corner will be an all day celebration of music and song, under cover, featuring local and national performers. It will include

• Fochabers Fiddlers
• Kinloss Military Wives’ Choir
• Milnes Jazz Band
• Elgin City Band

Massed Bands

In Addition to the Concert Corner there will be fantastic entertainment from the massed bands. These will include

• Elgin and District
• Dufftown and District
• Strathisla
• Buckie
• RAF Lossiemouth Pipes and Drums

Solo Piping Competitions

A real favourite of the games is the Solo Piping Competition. The Competition is coordinated by Duncan Watson and he can be contacted via events@gordoncastle.co.uk

The results of the solo piping competition can be downloaded here.

Highland Dancing Competition

Walkers Shortbread Ltd sponsored this popular Highland Dancing Competition which took place under SOBHD Rules. There were over 100 entries and all dancers took part in a full programme.  The competition was organised by Mrs Alison Milne and her team. The results can be downloaded here.

Country Sports 

For Shooting and Archery enthusiasts Sporting Scotland, specialists in organising Multi Activity Events, are running an all day programme of Clay Pigeon Shooting, Competition Shooting and Target Shooting, in the grounds adjacent to the Public Car Parks.  Sporting Scotland are also organising  all day Archery  which is open to young and old alike.

Laser Clay Shooting on the East Lawn is organised by Elgin Kart Raceway and is open to young and old

Download the Casting Competition results here.

Download the Clay Pigeon Competition results here.

• Air Rifle Target Shooting
• Clay Pigeon Shooting
• Laser Clay Shooting
• Archery
• Fly Casting  Competition with the Gordon Castle Estate Ghillies
• Falconry Display

Gordon Castle 10k Race.

Details to follow.

Children’s Entertainment and Activities

There is lots for the younger generation to enjoy.  New for 2013 will be a programme of children’s races, with entry on the day. Also new is the HRFCA Chidlren’s Assault Course, masses of funfair enjoyment with Castle in the Sky and not to be missed the Novice and Junior programme of “Heavy Events” including welly throwing and Shot Put.

Heavy Events Programme

Legendary Heavy Eventer, Hamish Davidson, returns to the arena to compere the Heavy Events Program. At least 10 of Scotland’s top competitors will be testing their strengths and skills.

• 16lbs light hammer
• 28 lbs weight for distance
• 56lbs weight for distance
• 56lbs weight over bar
• 22lbs stone putt
• Caber Toss
• 22lbs stone putt
• Stones of Density
• 22llbs heavy hammer
• Strong Man Competition

Download the Heavy Events results here.

In 2013 Gordon Castle welcomes five tug of war teams, including Cawdor, Elgin, Inverness and a new team, who will be taking part for the first time, The Great Glen Loons.

DOWNLOAD THE BROCHURE HERE

Gallery

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Thank you to our Sponsors.

The 2013 Gordon Castle Highland Games on Sunday was enjoyed by nearly 8,000 visitors, slightly up on 2012 which was terrific news especially bearing in mind the terrible weather in the lead up.  But thanks to our volunteers and Castle Team, it was full steam ahead on the day even though the ground was somewhat wet underfoot.

It is the support of our Sponsors and Advertisers as well as the volunteers and  local community that enables us to develop this event into a major family day out early on in the tourism calendar.  We are incredibly grateful for this.  This involvement with the Games also helps us to promote the event to a wider audience and also provides a vehicle for our sponsors to develop their own target audiences.

We would like to thank the following for their support.

EventScotland for the new Concert Corner, one of the day’s main attractions.

The Moray Council
Grampian Police Authority
Fochabers Scout Group
Milnes High School
Smiths Gore
CKD Galbraith
Christies Garden Centre
Walkers Shortbread Limited
Gordon and MacPhail Limited
Alan Milne
Peter Graham and Associates
R & R Urquhart LLP
Donaldson Timber
NFU Mutual
AKA Architects
Johnstons Cashmere
Sporting Scotland
The Good Food Company
Elgin district pipe band
Arnold Clark

“Crowds charmed by fun and games… Thousands of visitors flocked to Gordon Castle Highland Games and Country Fair yesterday. Organisers hailed the event a resounding success with about 8,000 visitors turning up. Crowds enjoyed blue skies and sunshine during the packed programme.”
… The Press and Journal

“Very well attended… The organisation was remarkable… The setting was fabulous; with the backdrop of the castle tower… all set amongst beautiful lawns which are open to the public on this day to attend the games.”… The Knock News

Gordon Castle event firmly established as ‘great start to the highland games season’… More than 8,000 people flocked to Fochabers on Sunday for the second year of the revived Highland Games”… The Northern Scot

“Enjoy a show of strength from some of Scotland and Europe’s strongest men”… Scottish Field“

During the earlier part of the 20th century this prestigious annual event, under the patronage of the Duke and Duchess of Richmond and Gordon, attracted over 30,000 visitors with many world records in the heavy events broken including by renowned heavy champion George Clark of Banffshire.  Then in his 20′s young Clark recorded hammer best performances and a fantastic 28lbs weight for distance record of 76ft 10 which were world bests at the time. These records from over 70 years ago are still hard to beat.   The Games site then was in fields below the front of the Castle. The private gardens behind are now the site of the Gordon Castle Highland Games and Country Fair.

In 1976, General Sir George Gordon Lennox, grandson of the 7th Duke of Richmond and Gordon held a Highland Games as part of the bicentenary of the rebuilding of the village of Fochabers which was instigated by the 4th Duke of Gordon

Thank you!

The 2013 Gordon Castle Highland Games and Country Fair was a great day out for all the family despite the rain the day before.  On the day it was dry  and folk from near and far flocked through the gates though “wellies” were the footwear of the moment. Many thanks to all the volunteers and the estate team who worked so hard to make it all happen. There was an action packed programme of music, furry and feathered friends, traditional events, country pursuits, children’s entertainment and activities and a huge range of trade stand stands.

The Gordon Setter Club of Scotland celebrated its 25th anniversary with a grand parade and organised a terrific dog show.  The Scottish Terrier Racing Team returned by popular demand and many visitors enjoyed “racing” their  own dogs along the course.  The hawks of Strathblane Falconry were  a great attraction in the main arena and the hounds and huntsmen of the Kincardineshire Foxhounds  were in the main arena and gave a great demonstration.

Country sports were very popular in particular the Archery organised by Sporting Scotland.  Close by were the Laser Clays run by Elgin Kart Raceway.  In the grounds the Salmon Casting Competition, run by the Gordon Castle Ghillies,  had over fifty entries  and just by Sporting Scotland’s Clay Pigeon and Target Shooting were busy all day.

The Gordon Castle 10K race was started by Angus Gordon Lennox and the winners, having survived a strenuous course, finished in front of the Castle.

Music and dance flowed throughout with the new Concert Corner, supported by EventScotland, massed bands, solo piping competitions and SOBHD Highland Dancing Competition.  The Nimrod was on display in front of the Castle and was much enjoyed though it only just made it through the gates with but a few millimetres clearance on either side.

The Heavy Events were as popular as ever and two ground records were broken, the first  in the 56lb weight over bar by Bruce Robb with 15ft 10″ and the  second was the 56lb weight for distance which was won by Sinclair Patience with the ground record of 42ft 2.5″

Results from all the competitions  are on the programme page.

The new Family Ticket was popular as were the discounted on-line tickets.

Please download and complete the 2013 Gordon Castle Highland Games and Country Fair feedback form Here. 

On Sunday May 20, for the first time in three weeks, the sun came out, the temperature gauge started to rise and it was  a beautiful warm and sunny day with little wind.

Nearly 10,000 people flocked to the 2012 Gordon Castle Highland Games and Country Fair.  There was an action packed programme of new and traditional events for people young and old to enjoy.  The heavy events were compeered by Hamish Davidson who also gave an excellent commentary on all the other events in the ring and in elsewhere.  Visitors also enjoyed the following

• Massed Bands of Elgin & District, Dufftown and Strathisla.
• Dramatic Air Display
• Scottish Terrier Racing Team
• Solo Piping Contest
• Highland Dancing Competition
• New Gordon Castle 10k Race
• Segway Gliders
• Childrens Funfair
• Clay Pigeon Shooting
• Archery
• Fochabers Fiddlers
• Milnes Jazz Band
• Huntly Falconry
• Flycasting competition
• Laser Clays

Results from the Heavy Events

Gordon Castle would like to thank the following sponsors and advertisers for generously supporting the Games and Country Fair this year: The Baxters Food Group, Alan Milne, Chivas Brothers, Christies of Fochabers, Hawco Group, Johnston Carmichael, Peter Graham &  Associates, R & R Urquhart, Smiths Gore and Walkers Shortbread

Our thanks also go to  A&I Supplies, Ace Taxis, Almacit Engineering, Clarks Computers, CKD Galbraith, Glen Moray Distillery, Johnstons of Elgin and TD Logie.

We are also very grateful for the support we have received from the local community and in particular the Fochabers Scout Group, Fochabers Fiddlers, and Milnes High School.

Feedback form copy here

Gallery

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Visit The Estate gallery
The Gordon Castle estate offers a wide range of tailor made packages and itineraries for sporting activities, private parties, weddings, corporate groups and events.

The fully catered Castle together with the delightful self catering cottages are also an excellent choice for holidays and short breaks throughout the year.

Gallery

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Top

Photographic Credits

The G.C. Gordon Lennox Estate Company Ltd would like to thank the following for their photographic contributions
Ace Adventures
Glen Grant Distillery Ltd
Glenfarclas Distillery (J & G Grant)
John Paul Photography
Johnstons Cashmere
Elizabeth Oliver

Download .pdf here.

THE BRAE WATER, River Spey
by Roy Arris

FISHING THE BRAE Water on the lower Spey is quite an experience and I have to say that it is probably the best beats I have ever fished, anywhere. The whole set up from the snug cottage accommodation in the grounds of Gordon Castle, to the team of ghillies who share over 100 years experience on the water, the variety of pools, and being visited most lunchtimes by the factor bearing malt whisky all makes for a very memorable week’s fishing. Most of  my visits have been in the spring, using weeks that syndicate members do not wish to fish. It’s tough fishing, especially this season when there weren’t many springers around, but the previous two seasons had shown signs of promise by producing more fish than for a long time. The one thing that attracts me to fishing in March is the fact that there is always a chance of hooking a springer in the 20 lb class. The Spey has a small run of these fish during that month and each year that I’ve been to Brae, one of the beats has produced such a fish. I just hope and pray that it will be my turn soon!

Even though the beats are on the lower reaches of the river, the Spey is by no means massive there unlike the corresponding section of the Tay for instance. There is a lot of  wading which varies from easy to “bouldery”, when some care is needed. So one is rarely in the position of feeling a little lost in a great wide pool. Some of the pools here are very long, but a decent cast ensures that most of the water is being covered. The lower Spey is not deep either and even in mid-March an intermediate or sink-tip line and brass tube fly is enough to fish at the right depth.

What of the fishing? Throughout the five beats is a fantastic array of pools to suit all tastes and occasions. From The Turn and Rock Pool on Beats 1 and 2, to Green Bank Otter’s Cave and Aultdearg on the impeccable Beat 3,  there’s Pipe, Lower Aultdearg and Cruive Dyke on Beat 4, and lastly the vast Dipple, Grilse and Intake on Beat 5. Each day offers a new adventure and some of the finest fly-water in the country or the world.

The water below the Fochabers road bridge (the Castle Water, Lower Water 1 and Lower Water 2) is just as good and exciting, but depending on the time of year Lower Water 1 and 2 are  fished by the local angling club. From July Castle Water is let with accommodation at Gordon Castle (heavily subscribed). However as with the Brae Water above the bridge, there are always opportunities to fish there in the spring, which has shown a slight improvement over the past couple of seasons, and later on in the summer during the most productive time.

BEATS 1 & 2
These beats sit at the top of the Brae Water, marching with Orton, and provide the most glorious setting for salmon fishing. Much of the right bank consists of red sandstone cliff, which is viewed from the grassy gentle slopes of the opposite bank.

We begin in the Twenty Pound, which is the left-side stream created by the massive island that sits in the middle of the river. This part of the river is approximately 35 m wide here and carries the fly beautifully. The island bank holds a run that is up to 3 m deep and the shingle bed slopes gently up to the left bank from where the angler fishes. Fishing commences at the sign marking the boundary between Brae and Orton and you keep fishing down until the water shallows.

The Junction is the next pool and is formed by the meeting of the two streams at the bottom end of the island. There is a heavy rush at the neck of the stream that is about 20 m wide, and from here the current spreads out across the width of the river. The neck is good for holding fish, the middle part of the pool runs deep before shallowing up at the tail. Here you should fish the fly right into the croy because the fish creep round the point and lie just in front of it, especially in higher water.

Once past the croy you are in The Turn pool. The main current lies from mid-stream and over to the right bank, which is mostly a vertical cliff face. It’s a deep wade at the top, over a bed of quite large smooth stones (the old remark about “greased canonballs” comes to mind! The way to approach the pool, even in high water, is to make a square cast to make the fly carry. The tail of the pool becomes very interesting because of the spread of larger furniture across the bed, making for some likely looking lies.

From the tail of The Turn the water spreads out into a long steady-flowing pool called The Flats. It’s a deep, straight stretch of water where fish are often found along the margins in higher water. There’s a point towards  the tail where some rocks protrude from the left bank. Though fishing in March when I experienced the pool, my first thought was that a hitched fly in the summer might be an interesting prospect.

A short stretch of rapid takes the water down into the Rock Pool, which is a few hundred metres of sheer perfection. In the spring the likely spot is along the lower part of the pool on the left bank where there’s a lovely stretch along a little bay. Later in the season, even in lower water levels, the pool can keep three rods going for a whole session. The carry of the fly here is just perfect and this pool is a real joy to fish.

The last pool is The Ewe, another long pool that curves gently to the right as it heads for Beat 3. The character is similar to that of the Rock Pool and it contains lovely streamy water that fish find to their liking.

BRAE BEATS 3, 4 and 5
This is the start of the Brae fishing that is in a daily rotation with Beats 4 and 5, so anglers fish each of the beats twice during the week. Of the three Beat 3 is probably regarded as the most attractive of the three, but each of them have their own charms and delights. They all contain wonderful pools.

BEAT 3
This beat is looked after by new head ghillie, Ian Tenant and begins at Lower Ewe, which is divided from The Ewe by a very large croy built on the left bank. This forms a short but interesting pool where fish are drawn to in high water. In the spring especially it is a favoured place to ambush running fish. It’s the sort of place that you should visit several times a day to see if anyone is at home.

From the tail of Lower Ewe the river runs swift and shallow until it gets pushed over to the right bank and under the cliffs to for the Lord March. Once one of the most productive pools on the river (it produced 565 fish in 1992) where fish could almost be guaranteed, especially during the grilse run. The average catch of this one pool was 260 to 300. However, during a big flood in the 1990s the bed was destroyed and the pool filled with gravel changing the lies beyond recognition. Although Lord March still produces a few fish (10 in 2009), it’s now but a shadow of its former self.

From Lord March the river enters Green Bank, which is a carbon copy of The Flats up on Beat 2. Same physical character and flow with fish being picked up along the left margin and towards the tail. One unseen feature is Big Bertha, a large rock on the bed in mid-stream which holds fish. This is when the boat is brought into play.

The river rushes through rapids for a hundred metres or so before entering Otter’s Cave. This is a long piece of heavy water that will easily accommodate two or three rods. Mostly fished from the gently sloping right bank in the head and middle, with the tail fishing from either side depending on water height.

Imperceptibly Otter’s Cave decants into Aultdearg which, in my book, is a little piece of perfection. This pool is mentioned in Knox’s Autumn’s On The Spey, but he writes mostly about the geology rather than the fishing. However, one always gets a sense of history when fishing here. There’s about 200 m of fishing and takes time to do. The top half is fished from about mid-stream and when you come under the cliff you start to make your way towards the left bank and from here on the fish lie more towards your bank. Fish are present all over the pool but the neck and the tail, where the landing nets are placed!, often prove to be the most productive spots.

BEAT 4
After Aultdearg a short stretch of rapids makes a turn to the left and spills into Pipe. The wide shingle bed slopes gently into the water and goes to a depth of about 3 m before rising sharply up to the steep right bank of the river. The water at the head is strong and choppy and this spreads into good popply water for most of the pool. There are some big rocks strewn along the length, coming from croys that have been washed away in floods. The pool ends when it hits the high, fortified left bank at a right angle. This spot creates a small pool in the corner that is always searched for a springer.

Here the river veers sharply to the right and forms Lower Aultdearg, a behemoth of a pool. It stretches for about 350 m and curves slightly to the right for its entire length. Rods fish from the right bank, the wide shingle bed shelves gently into the water and the deep stream runs along the high left bank, which has been built up to form a flood defence. It’s a wonderful holding pool and fish can be found anywhere; opposite the burn mouth is always worth an extra cast and don’t forget to fish on past the croy and explore the creases there.

Lennox lies on the bend below, where the river takes another turn to the right. This is more of a low water cast and one fishes from the shingle bar on the left bank. Lennox runs into Cruive Dyke where the river runs between parallel banks for about 400 m. It’s a wide pool, about 50 to 60 m, with a very good rocky bed holding numerous lies. From the right bank the whole pool can be fished and is a bit of a marathon, but when you approach the moored boat your heart rate will start to increase! Make sure to fish that 40 m stretch very carefully and get your fly well out to cover the lie mid-stream. Fish will be found right down to the end of the pool. The lower part of Cruive Dyke also fishes from the left bank in low water. The hot spot is from the red iron fence down to the birch tree and when the current starts to come over to the left bank the fly should be allowed to come right round into the bank.

BEAT 5
This is the longest of the three rotating beats and must be close on to 2 km in length and it holds some very long pools. It’s also the domain of ghillie Blair Banks former Scottish Spey Casting Champion.

The beat begins with the Intake 1, 2 and 3. At this point the river takes a dog-leg turn to the left and runs beneath a high sandy cliff that forms the right bank. Intake 1 is the 80 m stretch going into the bend and has a steeply shelving drop from the left bank. Intake 2 is a deep, heavy stream of similar length and fished from the bottom of the high left bank. There is a lade mouth on the right bank which gives the pool its name. From the croy to the birch that leans out over the water is Intake 3 and this pool is of most interest to the spring fisher. The fish often lie on the slope of a sand bar underneath the birch, so the pool should be approached stealthily.

From Intake 3 the river widens to around 80 m as we come to Grilse. This is a true Spey stream with lovely holding water throughout its shallow, rock strewn length. In high water the fish tend to hug the left bank but in lower water of summer anglers are often made to wade down the middle of the pool in order to cover all the lies. In higher water the neck and tail are definitely the most likely spots.

The main current now shifts across to the right bank as we enter Upper Dipple, which is reached after a short walk over the shingle bed of the river. The bank slopes away gently down to a depth of around 3 to 4 m, before rising sharply on the right side. Erosion of the right hand bank made of sand and shingle is a constant problem and the pool is littered with boulders from croys that have been washed away. It fishes all the way down from neck to tail and a very enjoyable cast.

Upper Dipple swings right-handed into the main Dipple after hitting the high left bank in front of the lunch hut. From this point to the tail out must be at least 400 m, which makes it quite a pool! The main rush of the stream at the head is under the fortified left bank and continues like that for half of the pool. Down where the boat is moored the current begins to spread out across the stream for the last 150 m or more. The pool is often fished by two rods on the right bank, with one starting at the top and the other half-way down and rotating around each other. There is more than enough room and will keep both rods busy for a morning or afternoon. It’s another pool where you can meet fish anywhere along its length so keep concentrating all the way down. The neck and the last 60 m are especially interesting. In lower water the left bank is worth a cast from the boat mooring down to the tailout. Dipple was one of the best early spring holding pools in the old days and Colin’s tales of how the big fish could be heard sploshing about like hogs make one’s mouth water. This was in the days when fishing in February and earl March was at a premium on this part of the river.

From Dipple the Spey rushes noticably downhill through a stretch of heavy water down toward the edge of Fochabers and here the river takes a gentle swing to the left. The river narrows again to about 40 m as it flow through Upper Bulwark, where the main current is over towards the right bank, but is fished from the island on the left. The main part of Bulwark starts below the tail of the island and carries on down to the Fochabers road bridge, which marks the end of the beat. This stretch of water is about 300 m long and can be fished from either bank, but the left bank holds the better water. It’s always worth a cast in the spring but does become more productive in the summer months.

Reproduced with thanks from Roy Arris’s The Salmon Annual.