THE countdown is on to the annual Rosneath Peninsula Highland Gathering.

This year’s event takes place a week earlier than usual – on Sunday, July 14 – at the Gathering’s customary venue, the Howie Park in Rosneath.

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The chieftain, for a fourth year, will be Captain Craig Mearns RN, commanding officer of HMS Neptune, the Royal Navy’s shore-based establishment at HM Naval Base Clyde and a former pupil of Rosneath Primary School.

Competitions start with the solo piping from 9am and the Highland dancing from 11am, with the grand parade to the Howie Park at 12.30pm ahead of the event’s official opening at 1pm.

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More information at rosneathgames.co.uk.