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St Duthac Book and Arts Festival ready to dazzle Easter Ross peninsula





Jenny Coulgan.
Jenny Coulgan.

FEELGOOD fiction, crime, cookery and wildlife are amongst the themes running through an north book and arts festival starting next week.

And organisers reckon the event has a positive impact on the wellbeing of the local community as well as providing a welcome economic boost to the area.

St Duthac Book and Arts Festival opens on Tuesday next week (September 10) with a total of 30 events lined up.

Nick Baker.
Nick Baker.

Now a firm fixture on the calendar, the festival, now in its fourth year, organises events across the Easter Ross Peninsula, celebrating local and national names in the book, arts and music world.

A spokeswoman said: “The 2024 festival blends well-kent names from the world of crime fiction with new authors and throws in one or two who will test and intrigue.

The event is now a firm fixture on the local calendar.
The event is now a firm fixture on the local calendar.

“Sport, nature, historical fact and fiction are all on offer to delight audiences.”

Crime author Alex Gray, feelgood fiction writer Jenny Colgan, MasterChef finalist Sarah Rankin and naturalist, ecologist, all-round wildlife enthusiast and TV presenter Nick Baker are lined up.

Baker will be officially opening the annual event on Tuesday at a pop-up bookshop which offers a wide selection of new and pre-loved books and artwork by local artists. It is located in the Clan Ross Rooms of the Royal Hotel in Tain.

Sarah Rankin. Picture: Katie Pryde.
Sarah Rankin. Picture: Katie Pryde.

Once again there will be heritage walks and talks across the area. Milton hosts a prize winning Pro Loco art event, with an opportunity to create a piece of art in the open air in just a few hours.

The Nigg Mini Book Fair will return with local award-winning authors including Helen Sedgwick, author of several books including The Comet Seekers and the Burrowhead Mysteries.

Liz Treacher, who has written several well-received books, the latest being Vegan Recipes for New Age Men and American-born Cynthia Rogerson, who has lived in Easter Ross for many years and is author of Wait for me Jack, I love you Goodbye and her most recent novel WAH!

Each year the festival offers free events to selected schools and in 2024 we have launched a schools art competition for secondary school students from St Duthus School, Tain Royal Academy and Invergordon Academy, with a prize of £100.

A variety of exciting events including an interactive re-enactment of a historic murder trial with author Mark Bridgeman and family friendly stories, tunes and folklore with Lizzie McDougall and daughter Siannie Moodie. The grand finale features Inverness music group Dorec-a-belle who will be bringing their enchanting original songs and beautiful five-part harmonies to the Collegiate Church in Tain.

There are a growing number of fringe events planned in support of the festival. Organisers believe there’s a strong impact on community wellbeing and the local economy and have thanked “our growing army of volunteers who make the festival happen”.

Tickets are on sale now via Ticketsource and the website St Duthac Book & Arts Festival.


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