Highland Council

This event is being organised in partnership with Scottish Rural Network, Scottish Rural Action, Scottish Transport Scotland and JML Consulting to explore opportunities to collaboratively shape transport provision to meet the needs of rural communities and grow the rural economy, topics will include:

Day 1: Growing the rural economy

This Added Value Course which is kindly supported by The Princes’ Countryside Fund, aims to help you add value to your croft business by learning the basics of butchery using lamb and venison. Tutor Duncan Mackenzie will guide you through knife skills, de-boning and presentation of meat cuts. The course is ideal for absolute beginners and improvers. For details contact training@crofting.org

Contact Ailsa on training@crofting.org for more details
This course is aimed at beginners who are looking to shear their own sheep with hand shears. The course will cover:
- Learning what is meant by the “rise” of wool and the best time to clip sheep: hogs, tups and in-milk ewes
- Seeing how a catching pen is set up and learning about the importance of having a good handling area with suitable surfaces for shearing on and wrapping fleece

Two mornings OR two afternoons training. Contact Ailsa on training@crofting.org for more details
The course will be run by Jasmine Grant, she has 40 years of practical experience in training and working sheepdogs. Jasmine has previously trialled extensively throughout Scotland and was part of the winning team of the BBC One Man and His Dog in 2005. Much of her time is now spent running her croft and teaching others to enjoy and make the most out of their working sheepdogs.

With an assortment of new and back by popular demand events, The Dornoch Whisky Festival are delighted to be able to offer something for everyone.

Once again, they are welcoming a phenomenal VIP to the Dornoch Whisky Festival family and they have a very special tasting lined up. They've also teamed up with some great industry brands to offer more events that they know you will love. And for those who have another love that isn’t whisky there are even more events than last year with cocktails, gin, beer, and chocolate!

Join us for a fun day out for all the family. Stretching from the Atlantic Ocean to the North Sea, from the far north coast to the Dornoch Firth, Sutherland encompasses a wide diversity of landscapes and climactic conditions, and its industries and agriculture reflect this. The Sutherland Agricultural Show began in 1951 to showcase the vitality & productivity of the largest county in the UK.

Traditional Highland Games with piping, dancing, tossing the caber, track & field events. Fun for all the family followed by an evening Games Night Dance that is held in the Marquee at Meadows Park (licensed bar).

Dornoch Festival Week has a packed programme of family activities including sandcastle competition, children’s fancy dress, children’s sports, family quiz night, car treasure hunt, ceilidh tea dance, pipe band parade, bingo, 5 -a -side football, golf competitions, films, and a teddy bear’s picnic!
Entry: Varies depending on events

For further information or to book a place contact:
Ailsa on training@crofting.org or 01854 612220
This one day introductory courses to machine shearing will cover the basic skills you need to start out in clipping, whether you have a handful
of sheep or a small flock. The course will give each participant a chance to shear at least two sheep each.
How to catch and cope a sheep to get them in right position for clipping
Safety in using the machine and handpiece