Assynt celebrates Norman MacCaig

2010 is the centenary of the birth of the poet Norman MacCaig, who wrote much of his best-loved poems about the north-west Highlands, especially Assynt. The local community remembers Norman well, as he and his family were welcome visitors every summer for decades, and this week have organised a special celebration in his honour.

The stella line-up includes Glasgow’s poet laureate, Liz Lochhead, literary editor and writer Alan Taylor, harpist Wendy Stewart, poet and literature professor Alan Riach and the painter of the masterpiece, ‘Poets’ Pub’, Sandy Moffat. The winners of the Norman MacCaig Poetry Competition will also be announced during the week.

Guided walks to some of the fantastic Assynt locations which inspired MacCaig will be held on Monday 8th, Tuesday 9th, and Thursday 11th November, and the week-long celebration will end with a grand ceilidh in Lochinver Village Hall on Friday 12 November. If you are out walking in Assynt during this week keep an eye out for the Intinerant Poetry Librarian who will be out and about at various locations. For more details of the whole festival see the website.