You wood not believe what's being carved out at Carrbridge

Celebrating its 15th year - at the same time as the iconic bridge celebrates its tricentennial - Carve Carrbridge back with an international line-up of 24 carvers all vying for the Claymore Trophy.

The challenge is to create a work of art from a piece of Sitka Spruce - 22 inches in diameter and eight foot long – in only four hours. Contestants are only allowed to use chainsaws to produce their sculpture and burners to add finishing details..

As well as the Claymore Trophy, also this year, there will be a trophy for the Carvers Choice winner – the best carving as voted for by the competitors – plus the usual Peoples Choice and Best new Entrant categories. There are also prizes up for grabs in the Quick Carve which gives carvers only 30 minutes to produce something special.

Carve Carrbridge organiser, Gavin Gerrard said: “We’re really excited for this year’s Carve Carrbridge with it coinciding with the 300th birthday of our wonderful Old Bridge. This year we have five brand new entrants, including our first Lithuanian carver. It would be great to see one of the new faces walk away with the top prize, but no doubt the more seasoned competitors will make sure that it’s no walk in the park for them!"

“We’re also delighted that the brand new Bridge 300 art installation is in place in the village car park in time for Carve Carrbridge. We hope as many visitors as possible will take the opportunity to check out this amazing carving by regular competitor and local lady Alice Buttress and her husband Jeff.”

The event opens to the public on Saturday 2nd September at 10am with carving getting underway at 10.30 am. All carvings created on the day are auctioned off at the end of the event following the prize giving (usually around 4.30pm).

As well as the carving competition there is a whole host of other attractions and stalls for spectators to enjoy - not forgetting the Carve Carrbridge Ceilidh in the Village Hall on Saturday night. There's more information here