Cnoc-Na-Rath and the magnificent game of shinty

Turn right into Cnoc-Na-Rath, a woodland path. If you are quiet you are very likely to see rabbits who have a large warren in the woods. You wil also see, and hear, many birds including a variety of tits, chaffinches, wagtails, pigeons and blackbirds. Follow the path until you come to the large playing field on the left hand side.

The large mound on the left is not all natural. It was originally developed as a shooting range. Musket balls are still found here by amateur archiologists and metal detectorists. This appears to date back to the late 18th Century and the days of the Napoleonic wars. More recently, the Lovat Scouts who had a base on Croyard road would have practised here as well.

When you arrive at the playing field enter the park and follow the fence towards the car park.

The is Braeview park which is a much loved facility for locals and visitors. The children's play area and skate board park are well used, particularly during the summer. It is also the home of Beauly Shinty Club and you can often see youngsters practising ther skills or you may be lucky and arrive when there is a match taking place. Shinty is an ancient game played across the Highlands as well as in the Gaelic speaking communities in some of our main cities. A little similar to hockey (but don't let a shinty player hear you saying that) it is much more physical and looks incredibly fierce. The sticks, called camen, can be raised above head height and the players use their feet and bodies to control or intercept the ball in a way which would have you sent off in any hockey match.

Legend has it that clan chiefs encouraged shinty as a way of keeping their young men fit for fighting with swords. If you do see the senior team in a match I'm sure you will agree the lunges, and aggressive swipes, as well as the defensive parrying, make this legend very believable.

Exit Braeview park through the car park and turn left onto the main road into the village.