Unfortunately the Ashbourne gathering is cancelled this year due to severe flooding. Unlucky, as it was also cancelled in 2009 for the same reason.

From the website:-

"The committee of the Ashbourne Highland Gathering regret to announce that the 2012 Highland Gathering has had to be cancelled.
This is due to waterlogging of the recreation ground and standing water on the car parking areas coupled with the fact that the weather forecast predicts rain every day for the week leading up to the event.

This is not a decision which was made lightly but the source of the problem can be seen from the following photographs which were taken last Friday in and around the Highland Gathering site and car parks."

http://www.ashbournegathering.com/images/Page.html

I'm thinking of coming down to Harpenden now, with the lovely Mrs R.