Lonach Highlanders

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The Lonach Highlanders marching at the 1978 Highland Games
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The Lonach Highlanders marching at the 1978 Highland Games

The Lonach Highlanders is an unofficial British regiment, made up of men from the Strathdon area of Aberdeenshire in Scotland. Unlike the Atholl Highlanders, the Lonach Highlanders have never been presented with colours, and cannot be considered as part of the British Army – or indeed as an independent military force.

The regiment parades once a year during the annual Lonach Highland Games and Gathering, on a march to officially open the games and at various points along the route from Bellabeg to Strathdon, the column stops for a 'wee dram'. This is led by the Patron of the Lonach Highland and Friendly Society, who is part of the Forbes clan. Most of the men in Lonach are Forbes, although there is a Section for the Wallace, and Gordon clans as well, each with their own Tartan.

The current Patron of the Lonach Highlanders is Major Sir Hamish Forbes of Newe, Bt MBE MC.

The Lonach Highlanders has a renowned pipe band.