This year’s How to Train your Dragon serves as definitive proof that live-action remakes can transcend the animated source material, revitalising the story world of the eponymous book series through its faithful adaptation of the iconic resident Vikings and Dragons of the Island of Berk.


The film’s breathtaking animation is a highlight, soaring to especially fantastical heights as our protagonist Hiccup takes flight on his newfound. . .

A Heart Full of Headstones by Ian Rankin

Ian Rankin does not disappoint in this 2023 crime thriller. Once again John Rebus is right at the heart of the book, though it’s an older, slower, inhaler sucking Rebus this time round. Choosing to begin the novel with the end so to speak, in the first chapter, titled Now, we find Rebus in court. Over the years he has been no stranger to courtrooms where sometimes he told the truth and sometimes. . .

By Dave Goulder 



What was in his head
entering a neighbour’s home to spread
the fluid, then strike the match and watch 
 the classical guitar, melodion and flute
blister up and burn
destroying mandolin and lute,
paintings, records, books; was it pleasing just to see the flame
devour the trappings of a fellow man who chose
to play a different lifestyle game?
And how could he consider
the cherished photographs and letters
from long-dead family and friends, 
all transformed to windblown ashes in. . .

Sudoku solutions

Codeword solution

. . .

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Hosted by Historic Churches Scotland, the Croick Church Community Open Day in August attracted over sixty people — a wonderful reminder of how much this small church still means to so many.

Conversations on the day highlighted not only Croick Church’s historic and architectural importance but also its continuing place. . .

Recording coastal archaeology and heritage for SCAPE Trust

In March and April 2025 SCAPE headed out to the Dornoch Firth, Sutherland, recording coastal archaeology and heritage with local volunteers and students from Durham and Portsmouth universities. 


Highlights were eroding shell middens on the Ness of Portnaculter, coastal engineering at Bonar Bridge, a. . .

Eight decades after VE and VJ Day, Valerie Mackenzie-Harris reflects on her late husband Major S.L.M. Harris’ decorated wartime service and her own childhood memory.

Eighty years ago, on VE Day (8th May 1945) my late husband S.L.M. Harris D.S.O.M.C. a major in the Indian Army was relieved of his post at Chitagong Harbour (then still part of British India). He was. . .

Alasdair MacDonald, Historian for the Royal Scottish Highland Games Association, explores the rich history of Highland Games in and around the Kyle of Sutherland area.

The Oxford Dictionary gives ‘Highland Games’ the following meaning: Highland Games noun [plural] - A Scottish event with traditional sports, dancing, and music. Highland Games are events, Celtic in nature, which have evolved into modern day social gatherings, exhibiting traditional, competitive, and entertaining events, with a Scottish. . .

Our volunteers were tackling the damage left after storms Floris and Amy

Barely two months after the summer storm Floris, Storm Amy arrived at the beginning of October leaving a new wave of tree damage in its wake. Just when we were getting ahead of all the clearing up, there was another load of. . .

You might have noticed strange, bulbous growths on oak leaves or rose stems. These curious structures, called galls, are nature’s hidden laboratories — formed when insects or fungi persuade plants to grow in extraordinary ways.

Silvia the editor and I talked about the subject for this issue. “Let’s do something about plants”, she said. I had just been spotting a lot of different galls around the garden. . .

Planet Sutherland, encouraging everyone to start growing their own food

It’s difficult to think about global warming when we’re knee deep in snow as I write this. But right now, we are facing both climate and environmental crises. These blend together along with many other aspects of our lives, increasing our stress levels. Sometimes, even the most climate active folks find it hard to keep on keeping on. But hey, with the New. . .

Dave Browne, member of the Carnivorous Plants Society, shares with us how he ended up ‘captivated’ by these plants, which blur the line between flora and predator, using ingenious traps to lure, capture, and digest unsuspecting insects.

My name is Dave and I’ve been a grower of these beautiful plants for the last 7 years. How it all started was a visit to a local garden centre and I came home. . .

You can support local businesses and the community if you buy Christmas gifts locally.

Duckpond days

Ingebjorg Smith 2026 Calendar - A4 opens to A3. £11. . .

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Prime Video


Fallout (2024 –)


This post-apocalyptic drama based on the video game series is a rollocking adventure across the wasteland. Fallout follows three survivors from very different backgrounds who cross paths in their desperate attempts at. . .

Bonar Bridge Primary School teams have been very successful in the latest ESSSA events

Swimming Gala


The gala took place on Tuesday 9th September, hosted at Sutherland Swimming Pool, and attracted 7 Primary Schools from the area. After a warm-up in the pool, swimmers took part in the following heats and finals: backstroke, breaststroke, butterfly, freestyle, medley relay and freestyle relay. There were 35 heats. . .

Food waste is a major environmental issue, so every little bit we can do about it actually helps a lot. The Highland GoodFood partnership is sponsoring a Joraform hot composter. The design is insulated metal that keeps out unwanted animals. It also gets the materials hot quickly which prevents unpleasant smells. The composter will work better if sheltered from Highland winter weather, so it will be placed in the Ardgay Community Garden shelter (behind Ardgay Hall parking).


We are looking for. . .

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As I approach my first full year of delivering classes for KoSDT, it feels like an ideal moment to reflect on the progress we’ve made.


The initial months were focused on understanding the needs of the community, identifying which activities resonated most and where adjustments were needed. Boxercise has remained consistently popular, with the early Monday morning sessions in Bonar Bridge and the longer Thursday class in Culrain both well attended. We certainly. . .

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Firstly, to all the people who have given up their time this year to volunteer in the community café, the community garden, and the. . .

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Christmas Fair


Our Christmas Fair was wonderful fun as usual. Thank you to Santa for coming and to Gledfield Primary for their superb carol singing. Our Cafe this year was organised by An Tobar, raising funds for Mikeysline. Thank you to all and hoping that you found lots of great treats and pressies for Christmas. 



Exciting Hall Upgrade News


We wish to thank. . .

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At our September Branch meeting the guest speaker was Roy Harrison, from “Vector24”, the Veterans’ transport service which was previously known as “Fares4free”. This service is available to all service veterans, not just Legion Scotland members. To access the service telephone 0141 266 6000, or email roy@vector24.co.uk More information is on their website.

The season of Remembrance was busy, with wreath-laying and Acts of Remembrance at all five War Memorials within. . .

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But there are many other ways you can help! Please support us by joining our free mailing list using this link; joining our team as a volunteer distributor; reading articles for our Talking. . .

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The committee is delighted to welcome a new member, Miranda Jones. Miranda is the manager for the very accomplished Kyle FEEDS project and she brings a wealth of knowledge to the Hall committee.


Among the various fundraisers who utilised the facilities, the Cameo Group organised by. . .

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The Highland Climate Conference 2025, hosted by the Highlands & Islands Climate Hub and supported by the Scottish Government was held on 8th October 2025 in Inverness. The event brought together people from all sectors across Highland who are working towards a sustainable, thriving Highland Region.

Through the themes of: Place, People, Power and Partnerships, 150 attendees from across Highland explored through the interactive conference how they can work together to ensure a just transition to net zero for all in our communities. 


With inspirational speakers from. . .

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The Convention on Local Food Production was held at Ardgay Hall on Thursday 2nd October, part of the Highlands and Islands Climate Festival. This well-attended event featured contributions from different speakers, sharing valuable insights from a perspective of food production, environment, and Third Sector. . .

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Resistance to renewables will continue to grow unless the communities hosting these projects can retain a fair share of value.

As the scale and pace of new energy developments increases, the question of what constitutes a fair share for communities hosting these projects is becoming ever more critical.


Across the globe we are generating more and more electricity from wind and solar, yet most of our energy still comes from fossil fuels: gas for heating, oil for transport, coal for making steel and concrete. We need more. . .

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As reported by Rhiannon Davies for the Power Shift, just one community-owned wind turbine, Tilley, in the Hebridean island of Tiree has generated since its commissioning in 2009 £4. . .

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Read this article in English

Ged a bha Gàidhlig aig a sheanair taobh a mhàthar agus aig a shìn-sheanairean, cha deach a phàrantan fhèin a thogail leis a’ chànan agus mar sin thòisich Donnachadh air Gàidhlig. . .

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(Read this article in Gaelic)

Although Duncan’s maternal grandfather and paternal great grandparents were Gaelic speakers neither of his parents were brought up speaking the language so Duncan began learning Gaelic at Croileagan (Gaelic playgroup) and through Gaelic. . .

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In Inveran, An Sìthean or ‘place of the fairies’, was recorded as being a small enclosure of pasture situated over a mile north of Inveran farm. Nearby we find Sìthean Mòr, ‘the big fairy hill’, 1.5 miles north east of Invershin train station, which in turn has its own An Sìthean.

On the south east side of Claiseanglas in Spinningdale, there is Sìthean Dearg Mòr, the ‘big. . .

Here’s to everyone finding time for togetherness 
and connection over this festive break

Our cover features Duncan MacLeod, to celebrate his recent success at the Mòd. Fiona MacLeod’s bilingual article tells the inspiring story of how Duncan started singing and his musical progress through the years. Following with our Power Shift series, we explore how, unless there are substantial changes in legislation and public support, communities will find it very. . .

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Frozen Kyle

The Kyle of Sutherland area in images throughout the year. 
Send yours to news@kylechronicle.co.uk

Photo of a serene frozen Kyle of Sutherland taken in 2024. Heavy frosts and frozen rivers seem to have been more common in the past. In 1845 “below and beyond Bonar Bridge“ the Kyle of Sutherland was “frozen over and unbroken during the flow and ebb of. . .

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