Burning of the Clavie: Everything you need to know

By Cheryl Livingstone

January 11 2018, 1:12 pm

Gordon Lennox captured the scene from last year's festival

Tonight visitors from far and wide will descend on Burghead for the annual Burning of the Clavie festival.

Here is everything you need to know ahead of tonight’s spectacular:

THE ROUTE

The route is along the outline of what was once the village in ancient times, before it was expanded.

A crowd will gather on Granary Street, near the corner of Brander Street, ahead of 6pm to watch the Clavie being lit.

Once it is alight, the parade then follows down Brander Street and along Station Road past the seafront. It will then turn up Church Street and turn right onto Forteath Street.

It will head along there until turning onto Brander Street – where there is a refuelling stop at the corner.

Then left onto King Street, right down Sellar Street, and all the way along Grant Street until it finally reaches Doorie Hill – where the Clavie is hammered into place.

THE ROAD CLOSURES

The following road closures are in place today from 4.30 pm until 8.30pm:

Granary Street (From junction with Brander St to junction with Sellar St)
Brander Street (From junction with King St to junction with Forteath St)
Station Road (From junction with Brander St to junction with Church St)
Church Street (For its entire length)
Forteath Street (From junction with Church St to junction with Brander St)
King Street (From junction with Brander St to junction with Sellar St)
Sellar Street (From junction with Granary St to junction with King St)
Grant Street (From junction with Sellar St to junction with Bath St)
Bath Street (For its entire length)

THE WEATHER FORECAST

According to the Met Office, it will be clear but slightly chilly with little wind. Temperatures are around -2 °C.

WHAT THE MAN IN CHARGE HAD TO SAY

A lot changes in 30 years, as the transformation in how people live today compared to the 1980s proves.

But for Dan Ralph, who will mark his 30th year in charge of a traditional Moray fire festival next week, keeping things the same could not be more important.

Mr Ralph ensures that the Burghead’s Burning of the Clavie – which dates back to 400AD, when the village was the capital of the ancient Pictish kingdom – remains untouched by modernity.