Several thousand pipers, drummers and Highland dancers – along with their supporters – are heading for Inverness today.
The European Pipe Band Championships will see more than 140 bands, some of whom are coming from as far afield as Australia, America and across Europe, attend the special one-day event.
In addition to the sight and spectacle of the colourful pipe bands, there will be Highland dancing competitions, live entertainment and activities, and a chance to try different crafts.
There’s also a food and drink village, family zone and craft and retail sections.
On hand to ensure proceedings begin in style will be the Provost of Inverness, Helen Carmichael, who takes the role of Chieftain at the event.
To help ease congestion, a park and ride system will operate from the Inverness Campus of the University of the Highlands and Islands.
The Championships take place at the city’s Bught Park today, with the gates opening at 9am.
Here are the traffic restrictions in place:
- The public (pedestrians and cyclists) are advised that Infirmary Bridge will be closed during the event from 7:30am to 7:30pm.
The following road restrictions will apply from 11pm on June 28 until 9pm on June 29.
Temporary road closures
- U3823 Bught Road, Inverness, between its junction with U3821 Bught Avenue and its junction with the U3788 Ballifeary Lane.
- U3821 Bught Avenue, Inverness, between its junction with the U3823 Bught Road and its junction with U4690 Bught Lane.
Temporary waiting restrictions
- U3823 Bught Road, Inverness, between its junction with U3821 Bught Avenue and its junction with the U3788 Ballifeary Lane.
- U3821 Bught Avenue, Inverness, between its junction with the U3823 Bught Road and its junction with the U3822 Bught Drive.
- U3823 Bught Road, Inverness, between its junction with the access to the Highland Archive Centre and its junction with the U4690 Bught Lane.
- U4690 Bught Lane, Inverness, between its junction with the U3823 Bught Road and its junction with the U3821 Bught Avenue.
- U3822 Bught Drive, Inverness, between its junction with the A82 Dalnottar – Inverness Trunk Road and its junction with the U3821 Bught Avenue.
- U4374 Torvean Avenue, Inverness, between its junction with the U3822 Bught Drive and its junction with the U3879 Dunachton Road.
- A82 Dalnottar- Inverness Trunk Road, between its junction with the C1118 General Booth Road, Inverness and its junction with the U3788 Ballifeary Lane.
Temporary one-way restriction
(East to West) U3823 Bught Road, Inverness, between its junction with the access to the Highland Archive Centre and its junction with the U4690 Bught
Emergency services’ vehicles, being used in an emergency for ambulance, coastguard, fire brigade or police purposes, are exempt from the restriction and prohibitions.
Vehicles employed to ensure the safety of the event participants are also exempt.