Badenoch gets beacon-building for big day

The skies will tell the story on Thursday night next week as Queen Elizabeth II's record 70-year reign is marked.

Already beacons are being erected on two of Badenoch's highest points and there are more to come, with parties being lined up at 'ground level'.

Pitmain Estate factor Ewan Harris told the Strathy today that work is about to start on creating a beacon on Kingussie's Creag Bheag, with its majestic view of the Badenoch capital and its surrounds.

"We will be lighting our Jubilee Beacon on Thursday night," said Mr Harris.

"We have asked the communities of Newtonmore and Kingussie as well as MSPs and councillors."

At Kincraig, community council member John Forbes-Leith has made a great start with the village's own wood stack, having scaled Suie Hill earlier this week.

"Everyone is welcome to come up and enlarge on what I've built so far," said Mr Forbes-Leith, at Dunachton Estate.

"We'll be lighting up at 9.45 on Thursday night."

By then a Platinum Jubilee barbecue will be well under way at the party being staged down below in the Suie Bar.

Aviemore is preparing its own Royal Garden Party at the village green the following Saturday.

Anyone planning their own commemorations can let the world know by contacting the Strathy with the details.

Strathy headlines

Do you want to respond to this article? If so, click here to submit your thoughts and they may be published in print.