FAQs
More than 60 Highland Games are held across Scotland throughout the season, from the Carmunnock Highland Games in the south all the way up to the Durness Highland Gathering in the very north of the mainland. Below are just some of the most notable and best-known Highland Games events that take place every year.
What food is served at the Scottish Highland Games? ›
Meat pies, bridies, Cornish pasties, sausage rolls, sausage links and scones are part of the traditional Scottish food served at Highland games.
What is the oldest Scottish Highland Games? ›
The Ceres Games in Fife, which started in 1314, are the oldest Highland Games in Scotland, and they have been continuous and highly successful ever since inception.
What were the Highland Games for King Malcolm? ›
It is said that King Malcolm III of Scotland, in the 11th century, summoned contestants to a foot race to the summit of Craig Choinnich (overlooking Braemar). King Malcolm created this foot race in order to find the fastest runner in the land to be his royal messenger.
What is the most famous Highland Games in Scotland? ›
SCOTLAND'S MOST ICONIC HIGHLAND GAMES
The Braemar Gathering, held in September, is the biggest and most prestigious Highland Games event and enjoys the annual attendance of the Royal Family.
What are the three main events in the Highland Games of Scotland? ›
Scotland's Highland games are usually one-day events taking place in outdoor spaces across the country. They feature traditional Highland sports such as the caber toss, tug o' war and the hammer throw, Highland dancing and music, and lots of family fun such as food and craft stalls and games.
What do you wear to the Scottish Highland games? ›
There is no official dress code at the games, but many people like to show off their Scottish heritage. There are a sprinkling of women wearing tartan skirts and of course many men wearing a tartan kilt or a modern utility kilt.
Which village is famous for the Highland games? ›
For almost 200 years, the Braemar Gathering has been a highlight of the sporting calendar in Scotland. Nestled beneath bucolic, heather-strewn mountains, it is the most prominent and well-attended Highland games in the world, drawing vast crowds from across the globe.
Are the Highland games Scottish or Irish? ›
Highland Games are as iconically Scottish as bagpipes, kilts and whisky – all of which feature heavily at any gathering.
What does tossing capers mean? ›
tossing the caber, a Scottish athletic event consisting in throwing a “caber,” a straight, approximately 17-foot- (5-metre-) long log (from which the bark has been removed) so that it turns over in the air and falls on the ground with its small end pointing directly opposite the tosser. See Highland Games.
Highland cattle also have a longer expected lifespan than most other breeds of cattle, up to 20 years.
Where is the largest Scottish festival in the US? ›
The Grandfather Mountain Highland Games is a Highland games event that has been held annually since 1956 at Grandfather Mountain, North Carolina. Celebrating the history and culture of Scots in North Carolina, it is among the first and largest modern Highland games established in the United States.
What is the hammer throw in the Highland Games? ›
The Scottish Hammer is a spherical, metal ball weighing 16 or 22 lbs that is fastened to the end of a wooden handle and is thrown for distance. The athlete has his back facing in the direction of the throw.
What Highland Games does the Queen go to? ›
The Royal Family started attending the games during the reign of Queen Victoria, who also purchased Balmoral. The annual event was a firm favourite of the late Queen Elizabeth.
How many Scottish Highland clans are there? ›
Some sources estimate that there are over 1,000 different clan names associated with Scotland, while others suggest that there are closer to 200 distinct clans. One of the most widely recognized sources of information on Scottish clans is the Standing Council of Scottish Chiefs, which lists around 140 distinct clans.
Where are the Highland Games in Scotland in 2024? ›
Highland Games Programme 2024
- Sun 26th May 2024 - Blair Atholl.
- Sun 9th Jun 2024 - Glamis.
- Sat 6th Jul 2024 - Luss.
- Sun 4th Aug 2024 - Bridge of Allan.
- Sun 18th Aug 2024 - Crieff.
- Sat 7th Sep 2024 - Braemar.
- Sat 14th Sep 2024 - Pitlochry.
What is the largest Highland Games in the world? ›
The world's biggest Highland Games are the Cowal Games held in Dunoon, Argyll, Scotland. These games are also home to the World Highland Dancing Championship where dancers gather from the US, Canada, Australia and South Africa to compete in this form of traditional Scottish dance in its homeland.
What time of year are the Highland Games in Scotland? ›
The season stretches from May to September up and down the country. Annual agricultural shows and country shows are another occasion for the local community to gather and celebrate their successes so we've included them on this page. You may wish to read our blog about the history of Highland Games.