The hallowed grounds of the Eilan, the Dell and An Aird below Ben Nevis are renowned arenas in the sport, many of the game's greatest names having begun their careers by taking their first steps, caman in hand, on their surfaces.
Now, an unlikely new arena has emerged when it comes to potentially setting players on their way to a career in the sport: a 4000-hectare national nature reserve.
Creag Meagaidh Reserve, located in the sport's heartlands of Badenoch, Strathspey and Lochaber, is a place where visitors usually go to see the native flora and fauna.
Thanks to a shinty-loving reserve manager and staff, though, it is now also a place where local children can go to hone their stick skills and dream, one day, of playing in the Camanachd Cup.
"There was a flat, grassy area, which was formerly farm-land, next to our car park," explains Kenny Nelson, area officer for Scottish Natural Heritage, who run the reserve. "We wanted to use it for the community. Rory Richardson, the reserve manager, played for Newtonmore as a youngster and his son, Sam, also plays now. Shinty is so important to the local community so we decided to create a pitch. It stemmed from Rory's connection, although Ross Lavin, our site management officer, also plays for Kilmallie."
Using volunteers, the grassland was ploughed, rolled and seeded and, in 2009, shinty was first staged as part of the reserve's inaugural Open Day. Teams of all ages from the local villages played against one another, with trophies struck for future events. On the park, young players vied for possession while Highland cattle and Soay sheep grazed in the adjacent field.
Since then, the relationship between the reserve and youth shinty has grown through local schools coaching and, this season, Creag Meagaidh has developed its ties within the game further.
A youth match will be staged on June 2 as part of a Wild Creag Meagaidh event while the reserve has sponsored Kingussie and Newtonmore by having a presence at both Orion Group Premiership grounds. Advertising hoardings show a black grouse – a recovering species at the reserve – bedecked in the blue- and-white hoops of Newtonmore and the red, blue and white of Kingussie.
Those at the reserve hope that future generations will view Creag Meagaidh as a place to learn sport, as well as learn about deer and eagles.
"In terms of a nature reserve, I think we're unique in developing this connection but we want people to see the reserve as a local asset. It might just be that, in the future, young shinty players could say Creag Meagaidh was one of the places they developed their game and we want to build on that."
