Vikings to set up camp at John O'Groats this weekend
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JOHN O'Groats will take on a Norse flavour this weekend with a small re-enactment group setting up camp in the local event field for a Viking Taster Festival.
Organised by the John O'Groats Development Trust, Sunday's festival will be similar to the Viking events held in Thurso previously, although on a smaller scale.
Six or seven members of the Glasgow Vikings will travel north to take part this weekend.
Trustee Mark Gibson said: "When we publicised it on social media last week we had 9400 hits in the first three days and 20 to 30 shares. It obviously hit a nerve in Caithness.
"We wanted to hold a festival in John O'Groats as we have some very strong evidence of Viking settlements here, including the Freswick links and the Ness of Duncansby. It seemed appropriate to hold it here."
He added: "There will be quite a lot to see on the day. People can pop in at various points during the festival. The Vikings will be doing different things depending on what people want to see."
Representatives of the Glasgow Vikings, who will arrive at John O'Groats on Thursday, plan to visit Canisbay and Castletown primary schools on Friday and give pupils their own taster of Norse life.
The Vikings will be doing different things depending on what people want to see.
On the Saturday the small team of Vikings will set up their encampment and will also take the chance to go down and mingle with visitors at the shops.
The taster festival itself will take place on Sunday from 11am to 5pm with free admission. Throughout the day people will have the chance to see Viking cooking, textile crafts and other skills, including a trader, bowyer, warrior and hopefully a blacksmith.
Glasgow Viking schools officer and authenticity officer Jill Kirkwood said: "We will be on hand on Saturday when we are setting up camp if anyone wants to chat to us about anything Viking. Because it is such a small team it will be a taster on what can be done.
"We will have a warrior on site and kids can try helmets on and see how heavy the swords are. We might put on a weapon show and do storytelling. We will do absolutely everything we can, depending on the weather."
Jill added: "The history is so relevant in the area."
Souvenir programmes containing information about the Vikings in Caithness have been prepared for the event.
Caithness Archery will be running taster sessions on Sunday, allowing people to have a go at the sport.
A number of local crafts and drinks companies will also be setting up stalls at the event field and taking part in the festival.
Its a busy time of the year for the Glasgow Vikings, who are renown as a re-enactment society with high standards of presentation, accuracy and attention to details in their camps.
They are just back from a festival in Portugal where they proved very popular and were the subject of many photographs posted on social media.
The group strive to bring history alive and portray an accurate account of Viking warfare and day-to-day life while trying to make it fun for audiences.
All the costumes and accoutrements have archaeological basis. The weapons used are real and accurate but blunted for safety.
