A TASTE of traditional Scottish culture was enjoyed by thousands of visitors at Harpenden s Highland Gathering on Sunday. The Harpenden Lions Highland Gathering, which took place at Rothamsted Park, entertained crowds of up to 10,000 people with everythi

A TASTE of traditional Scottish culture was enjoyed by thousands of visitors at Harpenden's Highland Gathering on Sunday.

The Harpenden Lions Highland Gathering, which took place at Rothamsted Park, entertained crowds of up to 10,000 people with everything from massed pipe bands to highland dancing and a traditional caber toss.

Five pipe bands, including the Harpenden Pipe Band, opened and closed the event and an authentically dressed and musket-clad Highland Regiment, The Black Watch, delighted spectators with their battle re-enactment.

Competitors from across the country travelled to the Gathering to take part in traditional Scottish sports such as the hammer throw and putting the stone, both of which took place in the main arena alongside the caber toss.

As well as tossing their own junior caber, the younger visitors enjoyed welly-boot-throwing competitions, falconry displays, sheep-dog demonstrations and a fun fair, complete with its own circus.

The Harpenden Lions, a club which fundraises for Harpenden, Wheathampstead and Redbourn residents, have been running the Highland games ever since 1996 and Lions member Steve Gledhill said that 2009 was one of the best years yet.

He added: "Everything from the pipe bands to The Black Watch re-enactment complete with real gunpowder was fantastic. Even the cider on sale in the beer tent was memorable and it really was a fun day out for all the family."

Steve said that Sunday's event raised at least �15,000, all of which will be distributed to charities such as Grove House Hospice in St Albans.