Belladrum Festival birth leaves family ‘shell-shocked’

A couple are ‘shell-shocked’ after the surprise birth of their newborn at this year’s Belladrum Festival.

Festival-goers welcomed the 'youngest ever Belladrum attendee' in history after they began giving birth to baby Callen at the event.

The family first arrived on site at Pitch Village around 2pm on Thursday, July 25 where they intended on having a fun-filled weekend, full of music, entertainment and delicious food.

Darren and his partner Kate, who was 38 weeks pregnant, and their two toddlers aged four and two were all getting ready to celebrate Belladrum’s anniversary of 20 years.

However, it wasn’t long before they were celebrating the arrival of something else.

Around 4pm on Thursday Kate started to feel contractions while the family were setting up their tent.

Darren said: “We decided to go for a walk to the arena to get some food. At 5:30 thinking nothing of it, I appeared back to Kate and the kids who were chilling on a bale, with a pint of Black Isle Brewery blonde.

“Kate suddenly told me I wasn't taking her seriously and that she didn’t think she would make it.”

Minutes after the couple left the festival to drive to the hospital.

Darren said: “We quickly dropped the kids to Granny in Inverness, and thanks to the fantastic traffic management we arrived at Raigmore at 6:30pm.”

Kate was then examined by the midwife and swiftly moved to the labour ward where she gave birth to baby Callan at 19:36pm.

Kate and the baby were well and determined to make the most of the weekend, therefore went back to the festival.

The couple returned to the Belladrum site again the next morning where they enjoyed the rest of the weekend.

While Kate didn’t camp, Darren managed to stay in the tent with their other two children and Kate went home to Muir of Ord with the baby before returning again on Saturday morning.

Darren said:” We were all a bit shell shocked by Monday and it’s still hard to believe the whirlwind, but thanks to the amazing nature and spirit of the festival we were comfortable knowing we could come back to enjoy it, even with a baby less than 24 hours old.

“Not sure if it’s your youngest ever attendee, but it must be close! Thanks again for an amazing weekend, see you next year."