Writers of all ages have been celebrated at the Neil Gunn Writing Competition 2025/26 awards ceremony, held at Dingwall Town Hall on 18 June. Taking place every two years, the Neil Gunn Writing Competition is organised by the Neil Gunn Trust in partnership with High Life Highland, and is open to writers of any age and ability.
The competition challenges entrants to respond to a theme drawn from the writing of Neil Gunn — one of Scotland's most celebrated authors — and to have their work independently judged by established writers.
This year's entries came from all over Scotland, with a Commended award also going to an entrant based in the USA.
A Highland voice among the winners
One winner with a particularly close connection to Neil Gunn's landscape was Iain Morrison, mobile library van driver for Sutherland and Easter Ross — and one of our own team here at High Life Highland. Iain took third place in the adult short story section for his entry Na clachan a' tha a' seinn (The stones that sing).
Reflecting on what drew him to enter, he said: "My story was prompted by me being the mobile librarian for East Sutherland for the last 14 months. As such, I spend many days in Neil Gunn territory, including visiting the primary school and care centre in Dunbeath, and travelling up and down the Straths passing so many clearance and post-clearance villages.
"This prompted me both to revisit Neil Gunn's writing but also to widen and deepen my understanding of the Clearances. My own great-great grandfather was cleared from Kildonan down to a tiny strip of barely arable land at Clyne, Brora. The theme of the competition therefore called to me."
I spend many days in Neil Gunn territory… the theme of the competition therefore called to me.
3rd place, Adult short story section
Strathspey shines in the schools sections
The Strathspey area had a strong showing in the schools results. Lucian Hutchison of Grantown Grammar School took first prize in the secondary schools section, with fellow pupil Kelsie Ruffle receiving a Highly Commended. Their combined achievement saw Grantown Grammar awarded our prize for the secondary school with the best entries overall.
In the primary schools section, first place went to Danai Donsophon of Ness Castle Primary for Timmy the shark, with Ness Castle Primary also taking the Lydia Michael Prize for best primary school entries overall.
What the judges said
Julie Corcoran, Head of Libraries at High Life Highland, said: "High Life Highland is absolutely thrilled to be involved in the Neil Gunn Writing Competition and incredibly proud of our long connection with the event. It's a fantastic way to get people – especially young people – excited about books and storytelling, and to inspire them to unleash their creativity through writing. Huge congratulations to all the winners."
Charlotte Macarthur of the Neil Gunn Trust added: "Our hardworking judges, headed up by writers Shona MacLean (short story) and Jon Miller (poetry) were impressed with the range and diversity of writing received in all categories of the competition, with entries in both English and Scots being represented amongst the chosen winners in both the adult and schools sections. For all prize winners but especially for Highland school pupils, we hope that this success will encourage them to further develop their writing and that Neil Gunn will continue to be an inspiration to all who read him."
Full results
Adult poetry
Judges: Jon Miller (lead), Cáit O'Neill McCullagh and Lynn Valentine
- 1st — Kirsty E Watt, Isle of Skye, Found: eyelight in the waves
- 2nd — Aidan Semmens, Orkney, A northern isle
- 3rd — Leonie Charleton, Argyll, Loch Lyon
- Highly Commended — Adam Stevenson, Glasgow, Faifley, 1976
- Highly Commended — Derek Turner, Fife, Ma Chosen Ane
- Commended — Audrey Henderson, USA, Four rooms with Norman MacCaig
- Commended — Jim Mainland, Shetland, Heodale
- Commended — Joe Smith, Sutherland, Light, Light
Adult short story
Judges: Shona MacLean (lead), Marilyn Sneddon and Kenny Taylor
- 1st — Jim Carruth, Renfrewshire, Leavin Eden
- 2nd — Sarah Alice Cardno, Isle of Skye, The last days of St. Kilda
- 3rd — Iain Morrison, Easter Ross, Na clachan a' tha a' seinn (The stones that sing)
- Highly Commended — Leonie Charleton, Argyll, Antler
- Highly Commended — Jim Mainland, Shetland, Holding On
Secondary schools (S3–S6)
Judges: Sya Bruce and Lynsey Patience, High Life Highland Libraries
- 1st — Lucian Hutchison, Grantown Grammar School, The River's Mouth
- 2nd — Flora Barlow, Dornoch Academy, Sgalpaigh na Hearadh
- 3rd — Erica Cload, Millburn Academy, Tae Pent
- Highly Commended — Iona Olczyk, Fortrose Academy, The Traveller
- Highly Commended — Kelsie Ruffle, Grantown Grammar School, Glean Affraig
- High Life Highland prize for best secondary school entries overall: Grantown Grammar School
Primary schools (P5–P7)
Judges: Meg Davidson and Laura Guthrie, High Life Highland Libraries
- 1st — Danai Donsophon, Ness Castle Primary, Timmy the shark
- 2nd — Torrin Brown, Glenurquhart Primary, The search for the bamboo lemur
- 3rd — Lucy Davidson, Cradlehall Primary, Two boys and the evergreen forest
- Highly Commended — Callum McGregor, Farr Primary, Inverness, Something to forget
- Commended — Jamie Forbes, Farr Primary, Inverness, The town of dreams
- Commended — Riley MacLennan, Ness Castle Primary, The main attraction
- Commended — Chelsea Yeung, Cradlehall Primary, The holiday tragedy
- Lydia Michael Prize for best primary school entries overall: Ness Castle Primary
Find out about our libraries
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