Freedom of Argyll and Bute – Royal Regiment of Scotland

THE ROYAL Regiment of Scotland (SCOTS) are to be granted the Freedom of Argyll and Bute in recognition of their service to their country and to the local area. 

The Regiment will march through Lochgilphead with bayonets fixed, Colours flying and pipes and drums beating on Saturday 20th September 2025. 

The parade will consist of soldiers from the 2nd Battalion, The Royal Regiment of Scotland (2 SCOTS) and will be accompanied by Pipes and Drums from the 2nd Battalion, The Royal Regiment of Scotland (2 SCOTS) and the Regimental Mascot, Corporal Cruachan IV (Shetland pony).

The parade will proceed through the historic town of Lochgilphead on Saturday, 20th September, departing from MACPool Activity Hub at 1300. As the parade steps off, the formal Bestowing of the Freedom of Argyll and Bute to The Royal Regiment of Scotland will take place at the council headquarters. The Provost, Douglas Philand; the Lord Lieutenant, Jane Margaret MacLeod; and the Colonel of The Royal Regiment of Scotland, Major General R. R. E. Lindsay CBE, will arrive at Lochgilphead Front Green in tandem with the marching troops for the ceremonial presentation of the Freedom scroll. The parade will then continue, concluding at the Mid-Argyll joint campus & Sports Centre. The full route, including the ceremonial handover, is expected to take approximately 40 minutes to complete.

Some disruption is to be expected in the town for the duration of the parade. We will do what we can to keep this to a minimum, so rolling road closures will be in place along the parade route, meaning that even if routes have to close for a short period, they can open as soon as practical when the parade has safely passed. There will be parking restrictions in place on Union Street for a period. Information about all of these arrangements will be available on the Council’s website and social media channels to help businesses make plans for any deliveries, etc, on the day of parade. 

There will be a public viewing area available on the Lochgilphead Front Green.