Have you been to see The Pipers' Trail show at the Edinburgh Fringe?

Tell us what you thought of it >>

The theatrical sensation "Jamie's Story" makes its debut at the Edinburgh Fringe this week.

"Jamie's Story" will run for 11 days (6th - 17th August) at George Square Theatre (George 4) performing daily at 11:00am.

The production has already travelled over 470 miles from Shetland where The Pipers' Trail was launched on 17th June, and has played in over 30 locations including Lerwick, Inverness, Aberdeen, Dundee, Stirling and Glasgow. The debut show at Ross Theatre in Edinburgh's Princes St. Gardens attracted an audience of almost 3000 people.

The play charts the story of Jamie, a young man in search of success in life. He aspires to be like his grandfather who took part in the Great War, and became one of the first world piping champions – ‘the greatest piper the world has ever known’.

Travelling from his home in Shetland to the World Pipe Band Championships in Glasgow, Jamie falls in step with a talented but edgy young woman, Morag, and an older man, Robert, an ex-soldier and pipe major, who becomes their friend and mentor. Together they encounter a host of characters from contemporary Scottish life and enjoy a number of adventurers. Along the way, both Jamie and Morag are tested by their circumstances against the Army’s core values.

Tickets to the show are free, and are available now from the Edinburgh fringe festival website or by calling the Pleasance box office on 0131 556 6550.

The cast of The Pipers' Trail play 'Jamie's Story' are pictured with District Gunner Sergeant Jamie Shannon 'Shannon the Cannon' at Mills Mount Battery, Edinburgh Castle, prior to the firing of the 'One o'clock Gun'.

The Pipers' Trail make their final march up the Royal Mile to West Parliment Square on Sat 26th July.

All photos of the Edinburgh event >>

The Golden Lions drop into Ayr

The Armys parachute display team, "The Golden Lions" dropping into The Pipers' Trail festivities in Ayrs' Low Green on 18th July.

See all pictures from Ayr event >>

In a unique performance at Parliament Square Major General David McDowall, General Officer Commanding the Army's 2nd Division (front) led the massed pipes and drums in a stirring playing of 'Flower of Scotland' at which hundreds in the crowd took part by singing along.

Some of the times for The Pipers’ Trail show have now changed slightly. All changes are listed below, with the time and new updated time.

Please keep an eye on www.thepiperstrail.com/on-the-trail for all the latest times.

Impromptu performance! Members of the Pipers Trail along with local children pipe up for the audience watching in Queens Street in Glasgow.

Left to right: Allulah Beth Collins (8) from Blanefield,  Andrew Scott (11),Heather Kerr (13) on drums, Callum Davidson (10) sitting and Cameron Scott (11) twins from Oban.

You've seen the show, now get the t-shirt!

All Pipers' Trail t-shirts, polos and hoodies are now available to order online. These quality garments are an ideal souvenier of the Trail's visit to your area.

There's only a limited supply available so hurry and get them while they're piping hot!

Browse the merchandise here>>

Worlds biggest saltire created for The Pipers' Trail

Royal Engineers from Paisley-based 102 Field Squadron, 71 Engineer Regiment, created the World's biggest Saltire when the Army in Scotland's 'The Pipers' Trail' visited Stirlng.

The Sappers created the Saltire using a pair of one billion candle power searchlights to beam the Saltire across the night sky above Stirling Castle.

The Pipers' Trail is one of the largest piping and drumming events happening in Scotland this summer, and their arrival in Stirling coincided with the major Veterans Day celebrations held in the city.  During its 6 week run, the Trail will visit nearly 50 locations from Shetland to Edinburgh, where it will culminate the week before the famous Edinburgh Military Tattoo.

The Pipers' Trail perform at the roundel on Port Street, Stirling on 11th July.

The Pipers' Trail march to Kings Park, Stirling on Sat 12th July.

Two new episodes of Pipers Trail TV have just been uploaded.

No 5 - Northern Highlights >>
Highlights from the Trail as its travelled down through the Highlands during June 2008. Footage and photo highlights from John O'Groats, Wick, Helmsdale, Inverness, Huntly, Aberdeen, Glamis Castle, Montrose.

No 6 - Interview with the cast of Jamies Story >>
Interview with Angus King and Gary Morrison, talking about their roles in The Pipers' Trail play "Jamie's Story".

Stay tuned to Pipers Trail TV for the latest footage of the Trail as it makes its way across Scotland.

Pictured are the Pipers' Trail Pipes and Drums, and the Pipes and Drums of 51st Highland, 7th Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland marching from Stirling Castle during their visit to Stirling on the 12th July.

More Stirling photos available here

Dancers and Pipes and Drums from the Pipers' Trail delivered a colourful performance at Cloan House in Perthshire - the ancestral residence of Lord Haldane the creator of the Territorial Army in 1908.

The dancers in the foreground are (from left to right) Hannah McQuillian (13) Laura Fairley (18) and 12-year-old Heather Cameron all from the Dawn Fraser School of Dance in Stirling.
 

Saltire of light over the Tay in Dundee

Two searchlights, one at Tayport and the other at Broughty Castle, project 10km light beams forming a saltire of light over the Tay. The saltire marked the finale of The Pipers' Trail visit to Dundee.

Photo taken by Ian Duncan, you can visit his Flickr photostream here.

The Pipers' Trail will be visiting the Falkirk Wheel, as part of their 460 mile piping and drumming journey.

The Pipers' Trail Show - a first class piping and drumming display - will be performed at the wheel this Sunday 13th July, at 1pm.

Everyone is welcome to come along and watch the free Pipers' Trail Show, it's guaranteed to be enjoyed by people of all ages!

All aboard!

The Pipers' Trail visit to the historic RSS Discovery, at Discovery Point, Dundee.

It’s not easy to ignore the giant figure of Pipe Major Scott Taylor, so when he starts piping some musical sense into aspiring pipers and drummers in Perth this week (7-10 July), he’s sure of a captive audience!

Pipe Major Scott Taylor and his team are running workshops on the bagpipe and the highland drums in Perth as part of the Pipers Trail – a musical and theatrical spectacle currently touring Scotland to celebrate the Army in Scotland’s links with the nation’s communities.

“It’s a fantastic opportunity for anyone to come and learn about pipes and drums, and have a go, and it beats watching TV during the holidays,” said Scott, who takes over as Pipe Major of The Black Watch (3rd Battalion, Royal Regiment of Scotland) at the end of The Pipers Trail.

“There are still a few places left, come on down and give it a go,” he said.

The workshops are running at Queens Barracks on Dunkeld Road on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday (8th, 9th, 10th July) , starting at 10 am, and they cost only £10.00.

Perth is the latest stop on the Pipers Trail’s - a six week long musical and theatrical tour 470 miles across the length and breadth of nation, ending with a two week run at the Edinburgh festival.

There will also be a Beating Retreat by The Pipers’ Trail pipes and drums at North Inch on Thursday 10th July at 7pm.

The Pipers Trail is a celebration of bagpipe music, highland drumming and the historic connections through which the Army in Scotland is interweaved with the nation’s culture. It is designed to re-invigorate the Army’s links with Scotland’s communities and show that, despite the pressures of current operations, the Army’s traditionally high standards and values remain intact.

The Pipers’ Trail is the brainchild of Scotland’s top soldier, Brigadier David Allfrey, who commands 51 (Scottish) Brigade.

“The Pipers’ Trail is a chance for us to reach out and have a series of terrific parties across Scotland celebrating our rich cultural tapestry. But it’s also a chance for us to show that, despite the operational pressures of recent times, the Army still seeks to encourage the kind of values that made people think it a fine and honourable thing to be a Scottish Soldier,” Brigadier Allfrey said.
 

The Pipers' Trail marching off the ferry at Scrabster.

The Pipers Trail will be staging a piping and drumming performance at Discovery Point in front of the R.S.S Discovery – the historic ship that took Captain Scott on his remarkable expedition to the Antarctic. The performance will take place at 1430 on Thursday 3rd July, everyone is welcome to come along and watch.

There are lots of Pipers’ Trail events happening this weekend in Dundee including The Pipers’ Trail parade and show, veterans parade and rock concert, click here to find out timings and locations.
 

Pipe Major Scott Taylor teaches the younger generation at a Pipers’ Trail workshop.

Fond memories came rushing back when 88-year-old former piper Alex Morrison was treated to a private performance of the Army in Scotland's 'The Pipers' Trail' - a musical and theatrical spectacle touring Scotland over the next six weeks.

Alex, who lives at Tang House in Lerwick, Shetland, was delighted to hear tunes he had played across North Africa's deserts as a young piper in the second world war being played to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Territorial Army.

"I joined the Black Watch TA regiment before the war so I could play the pipes, and before long I was with the 51st Highland Division in the Libyan desert," Alex said.

"Monty would come and give us all a talk, and we'd get issued two bottles of beer afterwards. We always knew that meant we were about to go back into action!".

"I heard the Pipers' Trail was coming, and I asked if I could be a part of it. I think it's the finest idea I've heard in years," he said.

Alex recounted his war exploits to Brigadier David Allfrey, Commander of 51 (Scottish) Brigade and the man behind the Pipers' Trail concept.

"It is an honour to meet Alex, because he displays all the values and standards that the Army still holds dear, such as courage, integrity, loyalty and respect for others," he said.

"I hope the Pipers' Trail will help people see what Army stands for," he commented. "Come and join us on the route, sponsor a mile, have a go at a workshop, or perform in a show. Think of a way to join the fun, and follow the piper!"

Pipers Trail began on Tuesday 17th July in Lerwick and will wind its way for 460 miles around most of Scotland's population centres with a celebration of bagpipe music, highland drumming and the historic connections through which the Army in Scotland is interweaved with the nation's culture.

These ladies certainly know how to make some noise!  Taken during the Inverness leg of the trail.

As The Pipers’ Trail continues their journey down through the Tay region, they will be visiting the historic Glamis Castle, treating visitors to a wonderful piping and drumming display. The Trail arrives at approximately 11am on Wed 2nd July, and will be playing in front of the famous castle, childhood home of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother and setting of the famous Shakespearean play ‘Macbeth’.

Everyone is welcome to come along and watch the display, but if you can’t make it to Glamis Castle, there are lots of Pipers’ Trail events happening this weekend in Dundee, click here to find out more.

 

Pipers Trail TV has just been launched, keeping you up to date with all the latest footage from events happening on the Trail. Video updates will be posted regularly so check back often for the latest footage, or subscribe to our PTTV RSS feed.

Videos currently available include: footage from the Trails’ visit to Lerwick, an introduction to the Trail from Commander Allfrey, a “stomp” scene from The Pipers’ Trail Show, and footage from the visit to Orkney.

The Trail will be filming when it visits your area, if you have any requests or comments, please get in touch: pressoffice@thepiperstrail.com
 

More photos of The Pipers' Trail visit to Shetland (17-18 June) and Orkney (18-20 June) have been uploaded to flickr, you can click here to  view them .

Photos of The Pipers' Trail visit to Scrabster (20 June), Thurso (20 June) and Wick (21 June) have been uploaded to flickr, you can click on a photo below or view them here.

The Pipers' Trail at John O' Groats - mainland Scotland's most northerly point.

As the trail makes their epic 470-mile journey across Scotland , you can now chart their progress through Google Maps!

The map shows the locations the Trail will be visiting this summer, with todays location marked with a yellow pin. Click on a pin for more information on the dates the trail will be visiting, and events happening in that area.