Popular event marks 1,000th anniversary of the Battle of Mortlach

Dufftown steps back in time at festival

By Kaye Nicolson

Published: 05/07/2010 Press & Journal

 

 

People at a Moray village took a trip back in time at the weekend to celebrate hundreds of years of history.

The Dufftown Heritage Festival ran throughout Saturday and Sunday to mark the 1,000th anniversary of the Battle of Mortlach.

The event was organised by Dufftown 2000, a committee which holds a variety of community events, including whisky tastings and ceilidhs.

The main attraction of was the heritage parade through the streets of the village, which reached its climax at the Mortlach School’s playing fields, where a Viking village had been set up.

Children from the primary joined in the fun by dressing up as Vikings for the day.

There were also re-enactments of the Battle of Mortlach, which saw King Malcolm II of Scotland defeat the invading Danish army.

Mortlach distillery, which is rarely open to the public, allowed visitors in at the weekend, and nearby Balvenie Castle was free to visit.

The event ended with visitors being given a guided walk around Dufftown’s historic sites.

Dufftown 2000 member Vicky Duty said committee members were “very pleased” with the way the event went and the crowds it attracted.

She added: “I think it was good timing that the schools were just out. All the children enjoyed the parade so much they didn’t want to change out of their costumes.”

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