Shinty Grounds (K-L)

Kilmallie Shinty Club
Canal Park, Caol

The Kilmallie shinty ground may be found in the village of Caol, a few miles west of Fort William.  Sitting on the banks of Loch Linnhe, the beach adjacent to the pitch is a bit of a nautical graveyard, with two wrecked boats/ships/whatever nearby.

There is a small yacht, and a larger former fishing vessel the MV Dayspring, which foundered during a storm in 2011.

Kilmory Camanachd
Macrae Park, Lochgilphead

Macrae Park, as may be guessed, sits at the head of Loch Gilp (a branch of Loch Fyne).  It appears to form part of the grounds of the adjacent primary school which, I am guessing, houses the changing facilities for the shinty players.

The Dunadd Camanachd mentioned on the board below refers to the ladies' team of that name.

Kingussie Camanachd - see separate page

Kinlochsheil Shinty Club
Rèaraig, Balmacara

There is no place in Scotland called Kinlochsheil; the club name being a portmanteau formed following the amalgamation of three clubs Kintail, Lochalsh and Glensheil who joined forces back in 1958.

Kinlochsheil Shinty Club only moved to (the still being developed, by the looks of things) Rèaraig in 2020, having previously played at Kirkton in the National Trust owned Balmacara Estate.

Kyles Athletic Shinty Club
The Playing Field, Tignabruach

I really cannot be cool about this one, for I think The Playing Field in Tignabruach must be the most beautiful sporting venue in the whole of the UK.  

Approaching the ground for the first time driving up the B8000, my first view of the ground quite literally took my breath away.  With boats bobbing in the bright blue Kyles of Bute and a backdrop of the Bute itself in the background.  Just wow!

A wee shout out here to a former school-mate of mine Kenneth Milroy, who holidayed here regularly back in the sixties, and would return praising the village's charms.  I am slightly ashamed to took me well over half a century to finally investigate the place. 

  

Lewis Camanachd

Lochaber Camanachd

Spean Bridge Stadium

I really liked this ground; immaculately tended (as many of these shinty grounds appeared to be) with what looked like a modern pavillion/changing rooms and surrounded by sheltering trees.

Lochcarron Camanachd
Battery Park, Lochcarron

Loch Carron itself is another beautiful Scottish gem, and had the shinty ground been directly on the shore of the loch it could well have vied with Kyles Athletic's ground as the most spectacular.  But a grove of trees sadly hides any view of the loch from the ground.  

Lochside Rovers
Ganavan Park, Oban

Many of the larger shinty clubs' second teams play in the lower leagues under the same name e.g. you will currently find Kingussie represented in both the Premiership and North Division 2 - which can be a bit confusing for the casual observer.

Oban Camanachd, however have bucked this trend, their second team having not only a separate name (Lochside Rovers), but also their own ground: Ganavan Park.

This can be found on the very outskirts of Oban, pretty much at the end of the road as one travels north from the town.  There really did not appear to be any sort of changing facilities for the players on site at all. 

Lovat Shinty Club

Balgate, Kiltalirty

I pride myself on being able to pronounce most Scottish place names correctly, but my tongue really struggles to get around this one.  Too many L's and T's in close proximity, I think.