They first played at the Crask in 1999 and have now made seven visits there, enjoying its unique atmosphere, but this is the first time they have travelled to Rosehall, by special invitation of the Achness music nights promotion team.

The band comprises six vibrant musicians from Stromness and Kirkwall. They are Frank Keenan on guitar and vocals who is a teacher in Orkney; John Adams on bass guitar, who is an air traffic controller at Kirkwall airport; piper Ian Morrison on two different sets of small pipes, who works by day at the tanker base in Scapa Flow; silversmith Roger Philby who plays the bodhran and djembe drum, Andy Trevett, an Orkney GP who plays fiddle and banjo; and Kitty Halcrow on accordion, who is a receptionist at the doctors' surgery where Andy works.

Said Andy: "We love coming over here for our annual weekend visit to the mainland. Crask is a special place, seldom found today, and Achness is great too. The scenery is so different here, with all the trees and the Cassley Falls. It makes such a change from Orkney."

He added: "We've been together for over ten years now, but sometimes it's difficult for everyone to get out at the same time as some of us do shift work."

Orkney band Shoot the Piper at the Achness Hotel in Rosehall. Liz Quinn

Their style of music was a lively, swinging mix of Orcadian, traditional, and French Cajun dance tunes from Louisiana.

The blend of instruments was excellent, with the rhythmic drum beats and singing adding atmosphere and dramatic effect. And this feast of wonderful music was provided free of charge, because the band members regard it as a holiday with superb hospitality from the local people and hoteliers involved.

Sometimes local musicians and singers were invited to join in with the band and these included songs from John Quinn at the Crask, while in Rosehall John Macdonald from Rogart played his button key accordion, Dave Goulder from Rosehall played guitar, and John Mackenzie from Lairg gave a couple of songs while accompanying himself on guitar.

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