The celebrations will take the form of the Pipers' Trail – a unique musical event that will see musicians parading the length and breadth of Scotland over the next six weeks.

The trail began in Lerwick on June 17 and will make its way to Edinburgh, covering a distance of around 470 miles. Along the way, public performances will be given in several locations, with piping and drumming workshops also being held. Participation by the public is an integral part of the event, as bands and individuals of all abilities are encouraged to pipe, drum or simply walk with the trail and to take part in the workshops.

The trail is due to arrive in Scrabster at 6.30pm on Friday (June 20) marching from there to Thurso for a short theatrical piece at 7.30pm. The next morning a piping and drumming workshop will be held at the Wick TA Centre from 9am to 1pm. The workshop is open to everyone, of any age and standard, and will see Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association (RSPBA) qualified instructors pass on their skills to those with an interest in bagpipes or drums.

From 2pm to 3pm, there will be a public performance in the Market Square, and in the evening local dignitaries will be invited to attend a civic reception.

The following day the musicians will march from Thurso to Wick, stopping at John O'Groats to perform a short show at 1pm, before continuing their journey to Edinburgh.

The Pipers' Trail aims to cement and take forward the Army's place in Scottish society, while promoting traditional Scottish music. It will be the first time the Army has staged anything on this scale in Scotland, and will provide local battalions with a unique opportunity to meet and interact with communities.

The Army in Scotland has a long and established relationship with pipe and drum music, and through this event it aims to encourage more people to play, learn, listen to and enjoy the traditional music, whilst providing an insight into Scottish culture.

Kevin Reilly, chairman of the RSPBA, said: "The Pipers' Trail shares our vision of encouraging piping and drumming, and I believe the Army in Scotland will contribute significantly to our joint endeavours over the summer.

"We want everyone to have a good time and mix with other musicians, but also we seek to raise the standards of playing.

"Our values are very similar to those held by the Army and we are delighted to adopt this shared approach in the pursuit of musical excellence."

The Pipers' Trail will arrive in Edinburgh at the end of July.

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