The Shinty Trail
The Shinty Trail is an interactive storytelling resource and visual guide to the shinty heritage of Badenoch, in the Cairngorms National Park. Through this online journey, the history of the sport and its abiding ties with the heritage and culture of Badenoch can be discovered and explored.
Badenoch shinty heritage
The area of Badenoch in the Cairngorms National Park has a significant and long-standing relationship with the game of shinty. Early accounts of the game reveal that it has been played in the region for hundreds of years, and possibly further back still. The origins of the sport were as a folk game, primarily played for recreation and entertainment by the native population. Shinty and the Gaelic language are also strongly intertwined, where historically music and dance were a crucial aspect of match-day activities as well.
Historically, Badenoch is of great significance to the development of shinty, both in terms of the sport’s early heritage and the formation of the modern game.
At one time, a number of settlements along the length of the Spey had teams, where the area is also home to two of the most successful teams in the game through the neighbouring Newtonmore and Kingussie Camanachd Clubs. Historically, Badenoch is also of great significance to the development of shinty, both in terms of the sport’s early heritage and the formation of the modern game. Young people in the area are also introduced to the sport from an early age, as has been the case for many years, helping to sustain a rich shinty culture in the region.
Follow our Shinty Trail!
Through our interactive storymap, you can explore important landmarks relating to shinty and traditional heritage in Badenoch, both out in the National Park or online.
You can also view a Gaelic version here
..or use your mouse or finger (if on a mobile device) to scroll down the storymap below. Click or touch anywhere off the storymap to scroll the entire page.
TIP: If you have GPS enabled on your mobile, you can get your precise location by clicking on the target icon on the map.
Irish verse
| 'Ni binne glóir mo chamain fhéin | 'More sweet the face of my own stick |
| na guth nan eun no cèol nam bàrd; | than voice of birds or music of bards; |
| 's ni binne fuaim air bith fo 'n ghrèin | and nothing, under sun, so sweetly sounds |
| no pòc air ghleus a liathroid àird.' | as a smack with skill on a lofty ball.' |
- Irish Verse, P.J. Devlin - Hugh Dan MacLennan, Shinty Dies Hard (Aberdeen University, 1998)
More information
Use of images
The Cairngorms National Park Authority believe we have the owner’s permission to publish images we know are in copyright and have taken the relevant steps to credit the source of these images appropriately. However, if you think we have inadvertently used your copyright material without permission, please contact us: [email protected].
Special thanks
With thanks to Bòrd na Gàidhlig for their funding support in order to produce ‘The Shinty Trail’ online resource.
Le taing do Bhòrd na Gàidhlig airson an taic maoineachaidh gus an goireas air-loidhne ‘Slighe na Camanachd’ a thoirt gu buil.
Feedback
We welcome your feedback on your experience using the Shinty Trail. Please email [email protected] with any comments.
Alert
Featured
The new fire byelaw
How the Cairngorms National Park Authority and its partners are tackling the threat of wildfires, including details on the recreational fire management byelaw, in place from 1 April to 30 September each year.
Wildlife
The Cairngorms National Park is home to a quarter of the UK’s rare and endangered species. Its rich habitats are a haven for an array of wildlife, from iconic birds to elusive plants and flowers.
What we do
From pioneering conservation projects to community engagement and active travel, find out more about the range of work happening across the National Park.
Relevant alerts
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Update - 21:55
The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service have shared that emergency services continue to tackle a large-scale wildfire covering more than two kilometres in width near to Glenmore.
A number of homes and businesses, including campsites and ski resorts within the Glenmore Forest Park area, have been closed and evacuated as a safety precaution due to the close proximity to the incident.
As of 9pm on Wednesday night (15 July), Scottish Fire and Rescue Service currently has six fire appliances, a wildfire unit, specialist resources and tactical commanders mobilised to the scene after the alarm was raised just before 12 noon earlier today.
Firefighters are working with landowners to contain the incident and create fire breaks, with high winds causing the fire to spread across areas of trees and woodland. There are no reported casualties.
Road closures continue to be in place to support the emergency response, and people are asked to avoid the area within Glenmore Forest Park and Loch Morlich on Thursday, 16 July as this incident continues.
We will share updates as the situation develops. In the meantime, our thanks go out to the emergency services, gamekeepers, NGO and estate staff and many others from across the community who are working non-stop to get these fires under control, and providing support to those affected.
Update - 20:06
Emergency services and partners are continuing to respond to this wildfire. A number of properties and premises in the area have been evacuated as a precaution. The Ski Road is currently closed. Anyone walking in the Cairngorms should avoid the area and let family or friends know when they have returned.
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The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service and partners are currently in attendance at a large fire in the open near to Ryvoan Bothy within the Cairngorms National Park.
Due to large volumes of smoke travelling towards populated areas nearby, residents in Aviemore, Glenmore and the surrounding communities should keep their windows and doors closed. If you are within this area and can see or smell smoke, please follow the same advice. If you are aware of someone hiking in the area, please ask them to get themselves safely off the hill as soon as possible.
The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service has asked that people avoid the Glenmore and Aviemore area, and remain vigilant. Our thanks go to all those engaged in active firefighting - we will post further updates when we have them.
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Very high fire risk - 15 to 20 July
The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service has issued a very high wildfire warning impacting areas of the National Park on Wednesday 15 until Monday 20 July. If you are out and about in the Cairngorms National Park please observe the following guidance:
- Do not light any fire or barbecue, in line with the new fire byelaw
- Always ensure cigarettes are fully extinguished and take your litter (including glass) away with you
- Enjoy the outdoors responsibly - most wildfires are caused by human activity
- Stay alert - with dry vegetation and warm weather, fires can start easily, spread rapidly, and burn intensely
- If you see a wildfire, dial 999
For further updates on wildfire risk across Scotland, visit the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service website. To find out more about the fire byelaw, and to see your questions answered, visit our fire byelaw page here.