Bermuda and Scots traditions yesterday joined forces to delight a massive crowd at a mini-tattoo in the heart of Scotland.

The Bermuda Regiment band and drums and the Gombeys travelled to Perthshire - the start of the Highlands and the geographic centre of the country - for a special performance at the Dewar's Scotch Whisky Distillery. And - on the hottest day ever recorded in the UK - the fusion of Scottish and Bermudian culture, plus a touch of the Irish, generated even more heat.

After the official performance, everyone from the Gombeys to the drums of Switzerland and the pipes and drums of Scotland held “masterclasses” to let the audience try their hand under the watchful eye of experts.

Gombey Uroy Fox, 25, teamed up with top-class Canadian Highland dancers Megan McGlashan, 17, and Jalyn Neysmith, 17, in a performance that held the crowd spellbound.

And Megan and Jalyn got right into the Bermuda spirit, wielding the traditional whips and tomahawks like veterans of the art of the Gombey.

Megan laughed: “The crowd certainly seemed to enjoy it and so did we - these guys can really move. “We had a great time, and it was nice to learn a bit about Bermuda. But I think I'll stick to the Highland dancing. That's hard enough, especially in this heat.”

Gombey Denton Trott, 27, held a group of visitors enthralled as he outlined the history of the Gombeys, dating from the days of slavery and the use of masks and costumes to disguise dancers' identity.

But Denton told listeners: “I don't worry about the mask - we're not in slavery any more.”

And he told the crowd that the current British weather - which saw a record 100 degrees Farenheit recorded in England - was par for the course back home. Denton said: “It's nice in Bermuda - everybody goes looking for the beaches and they're everywhere.”

He added afterwards: “One thing I can say about the people here is that they're so nice. I don't mind sharing my culture with them and letting them know how it all came about.

“I'm proud and happy to be here in Scotland representing Bermuda - and I think we brought the good weather with us.”

English visitor John Colgan, of Howorth, West Yorkshire, said: “The Gombeys were brilliant - I didn't realise about the culture and the history, though. It was absolutely fascinating.”

One Gombey, Remo Somersall even tried his hand at the bagpipes, in an off-the-cuff class conducted by Barry Ward, a soldier from the Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders.

The Scotsman said diplomatically: “These guys can dance, but they definitely need a wee bit more practice on the pipes!”

Earlier, the Regiment band and corps of drums turned in a virtuoso performance - with a special spot showcasing the drummers, in the absence of steel drummer Robert Symons, who could not perform due to sound system limitations.

Then the Regiment teamed up with the band of the Royal Irish Regiment in a version of “When The Saints Go Marching In” - with a distinctive Bermudian twist supplied by Regiment bandmaster Maj. Barrett Dill, who was given the honour of conducting the combined bands.

Maj. Dill said that organisers of the event had predicted a crowd half the size of the one which assembled at the picturesque distillery.

He added: “It all went magnificently - it's always a privilege to be asked to conduct foreign bands and I enjoyed it very much.

“It's amazing - we've travelled all over the world and the reaction we get always amazes me, but Scotland has been really special. There must be some sort of magic going on.

“And it was nice that all the performers got to mingle with the crowd afterwards and let them try a few things - it's been a memorable day for all concerned.”

The Regiment - who travelled more than 120 miles to Perthshire from their temporary home in Edinburgh - will be hitting the road again on Wednesday, with a trip to historic Stirling Castle, where main sponsors of the trip, the Bank of Bermuda, have an office.