Highland Games are one of Scotland's greatest cultural exports, combining athletic competition, traditional music, Highland dancing, and community celebration in events that have been held for centuries. Today, games take place across Scotland from May to September, ranging from major gatherings that attract thousands of spectators to intimate village events where everyone knows everyone. Here is your guide to the best Highland Games and traditional Scottish sporting events.
The premier gatherings
Braemar Gathering, Aberdeenshire
The Braemar Gathering is the most famous Highland Games event in the world, held on the first Saturday of September in the village of Braemar in Royal Deeside. The games have been attended by members of the Royal Family since Queen Victoria first visited in 1848, and the reigning monarch is traditionally the chieftain of the gathering. The presence of royalty gives Braemar a unique prestige, though the events themselves are the same traditional competitions found at games across Scotland.
The programme includes heavy events (caber toss, stone put, hammer throw, weight over the bar), track and field races, Highland dancing competitions, piping, and a tug of war. Tickets for Braemar cost between £12 and £30 depending on the seating area and sell out well in advance. The Deeside setting, surrounded by Cairngorms scenery, adds to the spectacle. Arriving early and exploring the surrounding area makes for a full day out.
Cowal Highland Gathering, Dunoon
The Cowal Highland Gathering in Dunoon, Argyll, is the largest Highland Games event in the world, attracting around 3,500 competitors and up to 23,000 spectators over three days in late August. The event is particularly renowned for its Highland dancing competition, which is the world championship event and draws dancers from across the globe. The pipe band competition is also of the highest standard.
Dunoon's waterfront location on the Firth of Clyde, reached by ferry from Gourock, adds a sense of occasion to the journey. Tickets are reasonably priced and the three-day format means you can take in different aspects of the programme on different days. The atmosphere is festive and welcoming, with food stalls, a funfair, and evening entertainment alongside the daytime competitions.
Inverness Highland Games
Held in July at Bught Park in the Highland capital, the Inverness Highland Games attract competitors and spectators from across the Highlands and beyond. The setting beside the River Ness with the city as a backdrop is attractive, and the event has a strong programme of heavy events, dancing, and piping. For visitors to the Highlands, the Inverness games provide a convenient and high-quality introduction to the tradition.
Smaller and local games
Some of the most enjoyable Highland Games are the smaller local events held in villages and towns across Scotland. Games at places like Aboyne, Lonach, Pitlochry, Oban, and Crieff offer a more intimate experience where you can get close to the action and feel part of the community. These events often have strong local identities and traditions that the larger gatherings cannot quite replicate.
The Lonach Highland Gathering and Games in Strathdon, Aberdeenshire, features the famous March of the Lonach Highlanders, where members of the Lonach Highland and Friendly Society march through the glen in full Highland dress, stopping at houses along the way for refreshments. The march has continued unbroken since 1823 and is a remarkable sight. For advice on finding local events wherever you are, our local events guide covers Scotland as well as the rest of the UK.
The heavy events explained
Caber toss
The most iconic Highland Games event, the caber toss involves lifting a long tapered pine pole (the caber, typically around 5 to 6 metres long and weighing 60 to 80 kilograms), running with it, and tossing it end over end so that it lands pointing directly away from the thrower. Accuracy, not distance, is what counts: a perfect throw is scored as "12 o'clock." Watching the technique of experienced tossers is fascinating, and the physical strength required is extraordinary.
Stone put
Similar to the Olympic shot put but using a heavy natural stone rather than a manufactured ball, the stone put is one of the oldest Highland Games events. Competitors put the stone from a standing position or with a short approach. The weights used vary between games but are typically heavier than Olympic shot puts, adding to the challenge.
Hammer throw and weight events
The Scottish hammer throw uses a round metal ball on the end of a rigid handle (unlike the Olympic hammer, which uses a flexible wire). The weight over the bar event involves throwing a 56-pound weight over a raised bar using one hand, with the bar raised progressively. The weight for distance event is similar to the hammer throw but with a heavier weight and a different throwing technique.
Highland dancing
Highland dancing is a competitive solo dance form with strict technical requirements and a scoring system. The most famous dance is the Highland Fling, traditionally danced on a shield or targe, though competition dancing today takes place on a stage. Other competition dances include the Sword Dance, the Seann Triubhas, and various national dances. The precision, athleticism, and grace of top Highland dancers is remarkable, and the Cowal Highland Gathering world championship is the pinnacle of the competitive calendar.
Piping competitions
Highland bagpipe competitions are a central feature of every games. Solo piping competitions cover both the piobaireachd (the classical music of the Highland bagpipe, involving slow, complex theme-and-variation pieces) and the lighter ceol beag (marches, strathspeys, and reels). Pipe band competitions bring together bands of pipers and drummers in formation, with the sound of massed pipe bands being one of the most stirring experiences in Scottish culture. For those interested in Scottish music more broadly, our music festivals guide includes events with strong traditional programming.
Highland Games outside Scotland
Highland Games events take place across the UK and around the world. In England, events at locations with Scottish connections or large Scottish diaspora communities keep the tradition alive. International Highland Games in countries including the United States, Canada, New Zealand, and South Africa reflect the global spread of Scottish culture.
Practical advice
Highland Games are outdoor events and Scottish weather is unpredictable, so layered clothing and waterproofs are essential. Most games have seating, but bringing a portable chair or blanket is worthwhile for smaller events. Arriving early gives you the best choice of viewing positions for the heavy events. Scottish midges can be fierce at summer events, particularly in the Highlands, so insect repellent is advisable from June onwards.
Most Highland Games charge a modest entry fee, typically between £5 and £15 for adults, making them excellent value for a full day of entertainment. Food stalls at games tend toward the traditional, with burgers, chips, and hot drinks being staples, though larger events increasingly feature more diverse food options. For tips on attending any outdoor event, our guide to dressing for outdoor events has practical advice.
Highland Games are one of Scotland's most enduring and authentic cultural traditions. They offer a genuine connection to Highland history and community in a way that few other events can match, and the combination of raw athletic power, graceful dancing, stirring music, and warm hospitality makes them an unmissable experience for anyone visiting Scotland or simply curious about its culture.
