Rain and midgies waiting in Newtonmore for 18th Century visitors!
Outlander fans have kept the faith again at Newtonmore
And they did it despite the rain and a cloud of very modern midges!
“It was a shame about the rain and the midgies!” posted the stars of the Badenoch Waulking Group after the 2025 Outlander Day at the Highland Folk Museum, but once more again the singers laid on a hugely entertaining show of Gaelic waulking songs for visitors from around the country and the centuries.
“It’s one of the most loved parts of Outlander Day,” posted Inverness fans of the blockbusting TV sensation ‘Outlander’, “and it’s easy to see why.
“The Badenoch Waulking Group joined once again showed the traditional method of softening and finishing hand-woven tweed, just as it would’ve been done in Highland communities for centuries. The rhythm, the songs, the teamwork – it’s all part of a process that’s both practical and cultural.
“Some of the women in the group even appeared in Outlander Season 1, right here at the Highland Folk Museum during filming.”
Visitors got the chance to have a go themselves, and quickly discovered it was a lot harder than it looked.
Despite the showers the annual festival to the talent of American author Diana Gabaldon’s creation heard voices raised in song, hands working in rhythm, and a beautiful bit of living history.
One of the highlights of Outlander Day was Andy the Highlander reading from his book Lochs and Legends — the true story of the Inverness Cheese Riot of 1666: a simple argument over a dropped piece of cheese in the River Ness escalated into full-blown chaos. Muskets were drawn, shots were fired, two people were killed and several others injured — all sparked by a disagreement over payment for a bit of cheese.
“Andy told the tale with his usual wit and storytelling flair, and the crowd was completely hooked. It's one of those brilliant moments in Highland history where fact is stranger than fiction,” said a spokesperson for Inverness Outlanders.
