Aviemore gave a rousing reception to the Queens Baton Relay as it made its first blink and you’ll miss it appearance in the Highlands.
The baton was made its only visit to Badenoch and Strathspey yesterday morning – with hundreds of people lining the streets of the town as the procession made its way south down Grampian Road.
Among the baton relay carriers in Aviemore were Paralympic gold medal winning rower Dave Smith, six-time Winter Olympic biathlete Mike Dixon and Kingussie shinty star Ronald Ross.
Dave Smith was given a warm welcome by cheering support as he carried the baton through the centre of Aviemore.
After passing on the baton, he said: “It’s been amazing, totally amazing.
“It’s a huge honour to be able to carry the baton through Aviemore and it has shown what a great place Badenoch and Strathspey is with the support we’ve had today.
“Ever since London there have been so many amazing things that have happened to me and this is right up there.”
Biathlete Mike Dixon added: “It’s been great fun.
“There’s so many young kids about and they all want to touch the baton. Everything has a nice upbeat feel about it.”
The crowds will be treated to live traditional music from Feis Spe, with guest musicians from Donegal, as part of the activities co-ordinated by Aviemore Community Council to mark the event in the town centre.
Cairngorm Runners, in partnership with Active Schools, have organised a family fun run before the baton arrives, with dozens of youngsters taking part in the event.
They then lined the streets and had the chance to get their pictures taken with some of the baton carriers.
The baton procession was in Aviemore for just 40 minutes before heading for the A9 south into Perthshire.
However, it will return next week for a longer stay in the Highlands.
On Wednesday it will arrive by ferry at Ullapool before being taken on to Thurso, with a visit en-route to Lairg.
The visit is sandwiched between visits to the Western Isles and Orkney.
Between next Friday and Saturday, the baton will visit Wick, Brora, Golspie, Tain, Alness, Dingwall, Inverness, Drumnadrochit, Fort Augustus and Fort William.
There are less than three weeks to go until the opening ceremony of the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.
The tour is covering more than 400 Scottish communities in advance of the Games, which start on July 23.