The week-long 2015 Kyles Festival is set to be the biggest and best yet, with live music, art, walking, drama, nature, wildlife, fishing, sailing, crafts, Scottish coastal rowing, food and drink and more.
Taking place from 1st to 7th June, the festival is a celebration of everything that’s great about Argyll’s Secret Coast. The mountains, forests and sea lochs of this beautiful corner of the West Coast of Scotland – only two hours from Glasgow – provide an unbeatable setting for a range of unique events and activities.
Argyll’s Secret Coast is bordered by Loch Fyne and the Kyles of Bute and water-based fun is a big part of the festival.
- Tighnabruaich Sailing School will be celebrating its 50th anniversary with sailing lessons and a barbecue and a fireworks display on the beach at Carry Farm.
- Portavadie will be offering fast RIB rides.
- Kyles Coastal Rowing Club is organising a coastal rowing regatta. People are welcome to enter teams on the day or come and cheer on the rowers.
- Local choir, the ColGlen Chorus, will be singing sea shanties on the beach to add to the atmosphere.
- A fishing competition will run throughout the festival week.
To celebrate the Year of Food and Drink Scotland 2015, there will be plenty of opportunities to sample a range of local food and produce at high teas, barbecues, a tapas night, a wine-tasting evening and a ‘Kyles Feast’. Many of these events combine food with music.
There will also be the chance to try something new with a series of workshops and taster sessions, including horse-and-carriage riding, woodworking, spinning, chainsaw craft, painting and horse-riding. Local people will lead a variety of walks, and dogs and dog-owners can enjoy an en-masse dog walk.
Live music is a big part of the festival, and Friday, Saturday and Sunday will see a mix of local talent as well as up-and-coming bands playing in the pubs, hotels and cafes. Headlining this year is John Deery and the Heads, one of Northern Ireland’s finest bands who have received widespread critical acclaim. Also playing at various events and venues are Junkman’s Choir and Argyll-based bands Kantrio, None The Wiser, Kyles Tour Band, Toast and Mudslide.
Robbie Baird, owner of Tighnabruaich Gallery, says: ‘The Kyles Festival is a great way to showcase all the amazing things to do and see in this wonderful part of the world. It gives people a chance to explore the area, try different things and meet new people. It’s a real community-led festival, with local groups, businesses and individuals organising all the different events. There’s such a range of great stuff taking place. Whether you want to party, lose yourself in nature or have some family fun (or all three!), Kyles Festival is for you.’
Most of the events are free, although some involve a fee. Some events need to be booked ahead with the individual event organisers.
