My first venture into the Highland League came in August 2019, while visiting family in the area, and I have been back many times since to this beautiful part of the country.
It is a historic competition, founded in 1893, and one that existed almost entirely in its own world for much of its time, until the election in the 1990's of Ross County and the newly-formed Inverness Caledonian Thistle (from a fractious merger of two famous Highland League clubs) into the Scottish Football League.
Now firmly part of the Scottish pyramid system, the league is still a focal point of life in many towns in the Highlands, its clubs and their volunteers working hard to get matches on.
There are some lovely grounds with many stunning backdrops and the whole thing is superbly covered by the regional Press & Journal newspaper.
It's well worth a visit at any time of the year but the early weeks of the season are particularly enticing.
Fixtures are available on the BBC Football pages with the season beginning on Saturday 25th July when champions Brora Rangers host Deveronvale and excitement is usually guaranteed right through to the end of the campaign as the title race has gone to the final day in the past five seasons.
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