Now in its ninth year, the Fèis Rois Cèilidh Trail has the twin aim of helping young musicians improve their skills whilst creating a vibrant traditional music programme for visitors to area.

This year's trail has been co-ordinated by Roya MacLean, the outstanding young accordion player from Muir of Ord who is well-placed to understand the benefits this experience.

She said, "The Cèilidh Trail gave me my first experience of what it would be like to be a touring musician. Fèis Rois provides excellent support whilst at the same time encouraging us to take responsibility for the day to day organising and delivery of the gigs. It also provides an opportunity for young musicians to take part in a three-week tour of live gigs across Ross-shire, which is a fantastic experience. I have met some great folk as a result."

Joining Roya will be Laura Wilkie from Tain (fiddle), Donald Gordon from Ardross (guitar) and Mary MacGillivary from Nigg (fiddle, Gaelic song and clarsach). Sheena Amos (whistles and flute), Lewis Kane (keyboard and accordion), Kirsty Anne Macfarlane (accordion and Gaelic song), Calum MacConnell (pipes, guitar and Gaelic song), Gordon Ferguson (fiddle, whistles and djembe) and Zoey Maciver (pipes and whistles) complete the line up.

Supporting the Cèilidh Trail at Balintore Hall will be Duncan and Ian MacGillivray from Nigg. Ex-Battlefield Band bagpiper Duncan MacGillivray – who is also an accomplished whistle player and guitarist – received much inspiration during his early years in piping from his father D P MacGillivray who was a well-established piper and gold medallist from Ross-shire.

In Ullapool this week as they prepare to set off on the 2008 Ceilidh Trail are Fèis Rois musicians (from left) Roya MacLean, Sheena Amos, Laura Wilkie, Mary MacGillivray, Kirsty Anne MacFarlane, Zoey MacIver, Donald Gordon, Gordon Ferguson, Lewis Kane and Calum McConnell. Derek Gordon, 07778 044112

Duncan left the Battlefield Band in 1983 and has his hands full being a farmer in Easter Ross and bringing up a family. He continues to play and is still winning piping competitions. In 1997, he achieved the top award in piping when he won the Gold Medal at the Northern Meeting in Inverness.

The 10 participants will be taking part in an extensive week of training led by some of Scotland's most celebrated musicians.

The Cèilidh Trail will cover all points of Ross and Cromarty including Torridon, Ullapool, Balintore, Lochcarron, Ardross, Achiltibuie, Strathpeffer and Poolewe. It runs until August 16. The trail will also take them to Belladrum for a very special concert at the fantastic Tartan Heart Festival. The group then have another chance to get together in September for three gigs at the Blas Festival.

For details of gigs check feisrois.org or contact Allison Watson on 01349 862600.

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