A Guide to the Scottish Highland Games
RabbiePosted on 26 Jul 2024
A Guide to the Scottish Highland Games
Many people around the world are thrilled that the Olympic Games are back. This year they are hosted in Paris, France, and tens of thousands of people are flocking to this striking capital city to celebrate the games. And, while we’re just as excited for the Olympics, there’s something else, as Scots, that we’re buzzing about: the Scottish Highland Games.
In a way, they’re our Olympics – but, luckily for us, we get to enjoy these games every year in summer.
Imagine it. A wide, open field lays before you, perhaps a castle looming overhead, and the powerful bellowing of bagpipes blends with the energetic buzz of hundreds of spectators and competitors alike come to celebrate one of Scotland’s most revered traditions. The Highland Games are as iconically Scottish as whisky, haggis, kilts, and bagpipes are. And if you’re travelling in Scotland in summer, you’d best be adding ‘watch the Highland Games’ to your to-do list.
Unlike the Olympics, you won’t be able to watch on TV from the comfort of your couch. Och, no, that’s not what Scotland’s about. Scotland is about getting out there into the world, into the elements – smell, taste, hear, experience. The Scottish Highland Games are to be felt, seen, and heard – the thrum of bagpipes and the cheer of spectators reverberating through your chest... that’s Scotland.
Coming up in this blog:
- What Are the Highland Games?
- When and Where Are the Highland Games?
- Our Top Recommended Games to Visit in August and September 2024
- What Are the Most Popular Sports in the Highland Games?
What Are the Highland Games?
The Scottish Highland Games are a series of sporting events, just like the Olympics, but with a certain Scottish flair to them. From piping to Highland dancing, the hammer throw to the tossing of the caber, these events are so very Scottish.
The games are usually one-day events that take place in outdoor spaces and are a great experience for locals and visitors alike. The games go beyond the sporting events themselves, often including a variety of things for families to enjoy including food and craft stalls, games, livestock events, parades, and even best-dressed pet competitions. Some Highland Games extend into the evening with gigs, discos, and traditional Scottish ceilidhs.
The games have been a part of Scotland’s culture for hundreds – if not thousands – of years. There is some uncertainty around how long the games have existed, but some believe they date back to 2000 BC in Ireland before jaunting their way across to Scotland around the fourth or fifth century. However, we like to believe that this truly iconic Scottish event originated in the very Highlands we know and love.
What are the origins of the games? Why did they start in the first place? Well, in a way, they were purely practical. Clan Chiefs used the games to find the toughest among them – the fastest, the bravest, the strongest. Winners of races made excellent couriers, and winners of strength events were selected as soldiers or bodyguards. So, in a way, the Highland Games were a recruitment scheme... which we kind of love.
For as long as they’ve been around, the games are just as popular today as they were ‘back in the day’. Sadly, the games suffered after the Jacobite Rebellion, after which the Act of Proscription in 1746 outlawed Scottish dress, customs, and gatherings. This was in place for almost 40 years, crushing the Scottish spirit.
When the Act was repealed, the games slowly began to trickle back into existence and, today, they remain a vital part of Scottish identity. It’s a place where Scots can celebrate their heritage and skills, while bonding with the community at large. It’s also the perfect place for visitors to experience the passion and dedication of the Scottish people.
When and Where Are the Highland Games?
The Highland Games occur every year in Scotland during summer and, in 2024, they will run from May until September. The bulk of the games take place in July and August, ending with the Pitlochry Highland Games in September.
Most run on the weekend, either a Saturday or Sunday, giving you the perfect way to spend your weekend. You’ll find the games hosted in major towns and cities, but also in tiny villages on far-away Scottish islands.
With so many events to choose from, you’ll be able to keep your travel plans to Scotland and likely will find a Highland Game nearby. Take a look at the Visit Scotland website for more information about upcoming events, or the Scotland Welcomes You website for an even more detailed list.
Our Top Recommended Games to Visit in August and September 2024
Any Highland Game is a great Highland Game. But we understand that sometimes a wee recommendation can go a long way, and with so many events to choose from, you may be a little overwhelmed. So, below are a few of our top recommended Highland Games to visit during the months of August and September 2024.
Stirling Highland Games
When: 17th August 2024
Where: Stirling Sports Village, Stirling (about 50km from Edinburgh, just over an hour in the car, or about 1.5 hours via public transport)
What: The Stirling Highland Games go beyond the athletic events – it's a full Festival-style Day Out. If you’re a sporting enthusiast, you’ll love it. If you’re a family with children, there’s something for you. If you’re a foodie and love markets, you’ll find something delicious and homemade to sink your teeth into. There’s even an Activities Challenge area where the children can have a go at some of these iconic Scottish traditions.
Why we recommend this event: The events themselves have been drawing thousands of visitors each year, a head nod to the popularity of the Stirling Highland Games which started back in 1818.
Alongside all the classic games, the Stirling games boast a unique event exclusive to them known as the Bruce Challenge. This test of strength, endurance, and agility separates the mightiest athletes from the rest by challenging them to carry a Scottish Whin and a Scottish Granite boulder that weigh in at 164.5kg across a lengthy distance. Where do we sign up? Kidding.
However, another reason we love these games specifically is its proximity to Stirling Castle and the National Wallace Monument. Both mean a great deal to Scottish people, and to us here at Rabbie’s Tours.
There are many castles in Scotland, but Stirling Castle is one of our favourites – we even listed it as one of our top ten to visit. Bordering the Scottish Lowlands and Highlands and acting as guard for the lowest crossing point along the River Forth, it doesn’t get much more symbolic or important than Stirling Castle. Built in the early 12th century, the castle was invaluable during the Wars of Independence with England from 1296 and 1356. The castle is also where the famous Mary Queen of Scots was crowned the Queen of Scotland, aged only nine months old.
The view from the castle is truly spectacular, so it’s worth a visit while you’re nearby for the Highland Games. But what we also love about the Stirling games is that you’ll get a striking view of the castle in return from the event grounds.
Bute Highland Games
When: 24th August 2024
Where: The Stadium, High Street, Rothesay, Isle of Bute PA20 9BS (a 15-minute walk from the Ferry Terminal)
What: All the grandeur of the Highland Games... on a stunning Scottish island? It really can’t get much better than that, surely. From their 100m Fun Run to the Pipe Band Competition, you’ll find plenty to keep you entertained... including a beer garden, food stalls and local artisans selling their wares.
Why we recommend this event: We love our Scottish cities and the Highlands, and we understand why you love them too. But we absolutely adore our islands, too. The Isle of Skye is very popular with travellers and locals alike, and we completely agree that it’s a landscape unlike any other, but there are so many incredible Scottish islands to visit, each with their own unique landscape, history, and beauty.
There’s something about being surrounded by water, tucked away on a wee plot of land bursting with the history of great battles alongside legends of naughty faeries. Mountains and lochs and shorelines and deep, dark forests... we love our islands.
And one of those islands is the Isle of Bute. She’s a wee lady, not often visited by travellers and we think that’s a real shame, because we’re such big fans of Bute that we even have a day tour that goes here from Glasgow.
Bute stands proud with its own intriguing history, striking landscape, and vibrant local culture. The quaint port town of Rothesay is a delight in its own regard, also providing a gateway to exploring the rest of the island. From the medieval castle with the restored Victorian toilets (trust us, it’s worth checking out), to the grandeur of the neo-Gothic mansion Mount Stuart, Bute is an island of treasures.
So, it makes perfect sense to combine the two. Highland Games on Bute? Sounds like a match made in Scotland, if you ask us.
Pitlochry Highland Games
When: 14th September 2024
Where: Recreation Ground, Ferry Road, PH16 5DZ
What: You’ll find all your fan-favourites here, from caber tossing to a Grand Pipe Contest, not to mention a range of stalls and events to keep everyone entertained.
Why we recommend this event: Months of summer, months of celebrating what it means to be Scottish... all coming to a close at this most magnificent event in the stunning town of Pitlochry. The Pitlochry Highland Games were one of the first to be re-established in Scotland back in 1852, as is evidence by an inscribed brooch:
“Presented by Lady Feilden at the First Pitlochrie Highland Games to Mr Charles Duff of Dunavourdie as the Best Player on the Highland Bagpipes, 10th September 1852”.
But a visit to Pitlochry is also a must. Often called the ‘Heart of Scotland’, this charming town glistens with beautiful scenery, heart-warming hospitality, and rich history. With a backdrop of luscious hills and dramatic woodlands, the area surrounding Pitlochry is ideal walking country.
Back in the day, Pitlochry was a wee little village that sat quietly alongside the River Tummel. But in the 18th century, General Wade built his Great North Road alongside the town as a means of allowing easier military access to the Highlands. The route went straight through Pitlochry, so development of the town began to accommodate the influx of visitors. It expanded into the thriving town you see today, brimming with cafes and restaurants, shops and various accommodations – the perfect getaway for anyone planning to visit a Highland Game.
What Are the Most Popular Sports in the Highland Games?
Arguably, all Highland Games are great games. The level of skill required for each is unfathomable to many of us who watch from the sidelines, which makes it all the more fun for us. We cheer on our favourite competitors while imagining that we may have the strength or skill to achieve such feats.
Alas, there’s something slightly more appealing about watching, isn’t there? From Highland Dancing to Hammer Throwing, all require dedication from the competitors and acute attention from spectators.
But there are a few games which are slightly more Scottish, if you will.
Caber Toss
Perhaps the most iconic event of the Highland Games involves competitors tossing a large wooden log (caber) end-over-end. From the outside, it looks rather unusual – grown adults throwing trees across a field... but that’s why we adore it. The objective isn’t necessarily distance, as one might assume. The goal is to have the caber land in a straight line from where it was thrown, ideally landing in the ‘12 o’clock’ position. Some believe its origins come from a need to once toss logs over streams... we’re kind of glad that need has been left in the past where it belongs.
Tug of War
We’ve all been there – on the end of a large rope, pulling with all our might, wondering what on earth we’re doing this for. While not quite unique to Scotland, there’s something about the way the Scots do it – with billowing kilts and strong arms, bagpipes blaring in the background – that makes the Tug of War seem so inherently Scottish.
Bagpipe Contests
Love them or hate them, bagpipes are an icon of Scotland. Their haunting sound can almost be heard echoing in the vast and foggy landscapes of the Scottish Highlands, as if the very sound of these instruments has been etched into the very land. What would a Highland Game be without a bagpipe contest?
And if you really love bagpipes, you might consider attending the Braemar Gathering which are traditionally held on the first Saturday of September every year. This event is famous for being attended by the British Royal Family and it is said to have one of the most impressive bagpipe processions in Scotland, which is 'music to our ears'.
Highland Dancing
It’s quite the opposite of everything else – no throwing of heavy objects, no flaring of muscular arms... and yet the skill required for Highland Dancing is undeniable. Spritely dancers turning this way and that, toes and legs pointed, brightly coloured kilts flying... it’s like something out of a storybook.
The tradition of Highland Dancing originates from the Highlands, with roots so ancient, some dances are believed to date back over a thousand years. The origins are intertwined with Scottish history, culture, and folklore.
The dances were used in the military by warriors and clansmen as a means of training for battle, and some of the dances you’ll see today still mimic movements of combat. Highland dances were also used during celebrations and rituals, such as weddings and festivals. And each dance tells its own story and is a representation of Scottish life and history.
Some dances you may see at a Highland Game are the Highland Fling, whose meaning represents the triumph of a warrior winning a battle; the Sword Dance, which is performed over and around two crossed swords on the ground, said to have been performed by warriors before battle; and the Flora MacDonald’s Fancy, a graceful dance named after famous Jacobite heroine Flora MacDonald, who helped Bonnie Prince Charlie escape after the Battle of Culloden, taking a disguised prince from her home on the island of South Uist to Portree on the Isle of Skye, and soon after returned to France from there.
No matter which Highland Game you attend in Scotland this summer, you’ll come away with this sensation that you understand this vibrant and proud country a wee bit better. It’s impossible not to after seeing the passion and history that is ingrained in the Highland Games. It’s one way to ensure your Scottish experience is truly memorable, and you’ll have more than enough photos and stories to share with friends when you return home.
We’ll see you at the Highland Games!
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