A tiny Argyll island will be inundated with visitors this weekend when it plays host to a major global event.
The World Stone Skimming Championships take place on Easdale, south of Oban, on Sunday.
It may be the smallest permanently inhabited island of the Inner Hebrides, but it is the perfect place for such an event.
Easdale was once the centre of a thriving Scottish slate mining industry, and one of the disused quarries forms a perfect arena for the World Stone Skimming Championships.
Anyone of any age and any level of skill can enter. Each competitor is allowed three skims, using specially selected Easdale slate skimming stones.
For a skim to qualify the stone must bounce at least three times – it is then judged on the distance achieved before it sinks.
The popular competition has captured the imagination of people from all over the world and organisers Eilean Eisdale have had to cap the number of entrants at 350.
Chairwoman Keren Cafferty said: “This is simply due to the amount of time that it takes to let everyone have their throw, hold the awards ceremony and then ensure people manage off the island whilst the ferry is within its operating hours.”
The competition starts at noon and registration is at Easdale Island Community Hall from 10am-1pm.
Ms Cafferty said: “Entry is on a first come first served basis so come to registration early. We have had our maximum 350 people for the last couple of years.
“We have heard there are plenty of people coming, we are expecting groups from the Netherlands and Switzerland.”
There will be a “pre-skim party” in Easdale Island Community Hall on Saturday night. There will be live music from CoCo and the Butterfields a colourful, energetic and crowd-stamping act performing their own unique fusion of folk, pop and hip hop, or “Fip Fok” to their fans.
The Press and Journal stepped in to rescue the World Stone Skimming Championships in 2012 and paid the £1,000 fee being levied on the community development charity by island owner Jonathan Feigenbaum.
Ms Cafferty said: “We are still in negotiations with the landowner, and we still have to pay £1,000 out of our profits.”
