Highland Games Scotland

A list of Highland Games in Scotland to Visit with Websites, Postcodes and links to Reviews and Maps where possible.

Highland Games are mainly sporting events that take place throughout the summer in Scottish towns. The origin of the games is thought to have been from gatherings of Clans to determine their top warriors. Today, Highland Games are held throughout the world, by families having connections to Scotland.

The weeks for the events listed here are when the games are normaly held, check the websites to confirm the dates.

Click on the PostCodes for Maps and Reviews.

Official Highland Games / The Big Seven

Braemar Gathering 57 miles west of Aberdeen/ September 1st week. The Gathering is world famous for friendship and hospitality at our Park beneath the encircling heather clad hills. Has attracted spectators of about 20,000 including Royalty.
Website . RS Page . AB35 5YX

Bridge of Allan Highland Games by Stirling/ August 1st week. One of Scotland's top Highland Games attracting crowds of between 10,000 and 15,000. The games field is between Stirling Castle, The Ochil Hills and the Wallace Monument.
Website . UDS Page . FK9 4QP

Burntisland Highland Games 21 miles north of Edinburgh/ July 3rd week. The second oldest games in the world dating back to 1652. The market day tradition is kept alive as a large number of market traders use the town for the day with crowds of 50,000 in 2004. A summer fairground is also normally at Burntisland during the summer months.
Website . RS Page . KY3 9AH

Cowal Highland Gathering Dunoon/34 miles west of Glasgow/August 4th week. One of the largest and most spectacular Highland gatherings in the world with over 3,500 competitors, many from Scottish Communities from Canada, USA, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. The event regularly attracts over 20,000 spectators. Phone number 01369 703 206.
Website . UDS Page . PA23 7DT

Loch Lomond Highland Games Balloch/27 miles northwest of Glasgow/ July 3rd week. The Games began in 1967 after a group of local businessmen set out to promote the area and games. Now claimed to be one of the top three or four Highland games in the country, with approximately 10-15,000 visitors each year.
Website . RS Page . G83 8SW

Lonach Gathering Strathdon 45 miles west of Aberdeen/ August 4th week. Often sees a crowd of over 10,000 in Strathdon, a traditional games, no parachutes, no motorbikes, but often attracts Billy Connolly, who has a home in the area, and his showbiz friends. Phone number 01339 741 098.
Website . Postcode: AB36 8UL

North Berwick Highland Games 28 miles east of Edinburgh/ August 1st week. The Games attract considerable support from the local community and more and more visitors each year, an attendance of 15,000 is normal. Many visitors visit the Highland Games and explore the seaside town of North Berwick on the same day.
Website . RS Page . EH39 4AP

Official Highland Games

Abernethy Highland Games Nethybridge 30 miles southeast of Inverness/ August 2nd week. Dancing, piping, field & track events, and the fun morning programme for children that have become popular, a must for families. Close to the end of the programme, the tug o’ war is popular for “Nethy Bridge Trophy”, and serious prize money.
Website . Postcode: PH25 3DA

Aboyne Highland Games 30 miles southwest of Aberdeen/ August 1st week. The village of Aboyne is situated in Royal Deeside with the village being laid out in 1676 around the large village green, where the now famous Highland Games are held annually, attracting visitors from all over the world.
Website . UDS Page . AB34

Airth Highland Games 8 miles southeast of Stirling/ July 4th week. These games go back to 1871, or as legend states, they grew from the games and sports played by Prince James's rebel soldiers camping in Airth in 1488, on their way to the battle of Sauchieburn.
Website . UDS Page . FK2 8JF

Argyllshire Gathering and The Oban Games Oban/ August 4th week. Oban is the place to be when the highland games take place with Track and Field events, as well as Dancing and Piping with many competitions for Scottish championship and World championship titles.
Website . RS Page . PA34 5NZ

Bathgate & West Lothian Highland Games 26 miles west of Edinburgh/ May 4th week. The games take place at Meadow Park, Bathgate and has done so since 1973. The games have a pipe band contest, solo piping, highland dancing, hill race and heavy athletics. Bathgate is 21 miles west of Edinburgh, 28 miles east of Glasgow.
Website . UDS Page . EH48 2AB

Bearsden and Milngavie Highland Games 5 miles northwest of Gasgow/ June 2nd week. These Games regularly attract over 10,000 visitors with a great Scottish day out for family, tourists, sports people, shoppers and funseekers.
Website . UDS Page . G62 6AQ

Birnam Highland Games 13 miles north of Perth/ August 4th week. Traditional Games in stunning Perthshire scenery, held since 1864, come and experience for yourself the fun and culture in these popular Games. Situated about 60 miles north of Edinburgh, 70 miles north of Glasgow.
Website . UDS Page . PH8 0BG

Bute Highland Games Island of Bute/Rothesay/ August 3rd week. Getting to this scenic island is by dependable regular ferry crossings from Wemyss Bay on the north Ayrshire coast (road and rail) and take the Cal Mac ferry to Rothesay.
Website . RS Page . PA20 0

Callander Highland Games 16 miles northwest of Stirling/ July 4th week. Don't miss the grand opening parade so arrive early, or come on Friday and stay overnight to enjoy scenic Callander before the games begin.
Website . RS Page . FK57

Ceres Highland Games 8 miles west of St Andrews/ June 4th week. The oldest free games in Scotland since the charter to hold the Games was given to the people of the village by Robert Bruce in 1314, for their support at the battle of Bannockburn. Situated 15 miles south of Dundee, 43 miles north of Edinburgh.
Website . UDS Page . Map

Crieff Highland Gathering 17 miles west of Perth/ August 3rd week. The first Crieff Highland Gathering took place in 1870 and every year since accept the years around the two world wars of 1914-18 and 1939-49.
Website . RS Page . PH7 3AN

Cupar Highland Games 9 miles west of St Andrews/ June 2nd week. The Games are an ‘Open’ event under Scottish Games Association rules and are in the F.H.G.A. circuits. Situated 44 miles north of Edinburgh.
Website . UDS Page . KY15 5AS

Drumtochty Highland Games 9 miles west of Montrose/Aberdeenshire/ June 4th week. The Auchenblae and the Drumtochty Highland Games have top competitors with records broken. Held in the grounds of Drumtochty Castle, 2 miles outside Auchenblae.
UDS Page . Postcode: AB30 1TP

Dufftown Highland Games 52 miles northwest of Aberdeen July 4th week. Light and Heavy Events, Massed Pipe Bands and Highland Dancing. Amature athletes can take part without affecting their status. Enquiries are welcome. Situated 52 miles west of Aberdeen, 61 miles east of Inverness.
Website . RS Page . AB55 4AS

Dundonald Games 4 miles northeast of Troon in Ayrshire/ August 2nd week. At Royal Dundonald Castle in Ayrshire for Pipe Band Contest, Solo Piping Contest, Strathspey and Reel, Highland Dancing and Heavy Events. Entertainment from 12 noon, free entry. Situated 12 miles northeast of Ayr.
Website . UDS Page . KA2 9DW

Forres Highland Games 27 miles east of Inverness/ July 1st week. One of Scotland's oldest small towns, and scenic. Forres in Moray is situated just off the A96 about 27 miles east of Inverness.
Website . RS Page . IV36 3ED

Glenurquhart Highland Gathering and Games 18 miles south of Inverness/ August 4th week. Traditional Games at Blairbeg Park, beside Loch Ness at the village of Drumnadrochit, where the Loch Ness monster museum is situated and monster hunt boat excursions depart from.
Website . RS Page . IV63 6TX

Halkirk Highland Games 6 miles south of Thurso/north Highlands/ July 4th week. Up to 5,000 visitors and locals visit the village of Halkirk in Caithness (pop. 1,000) for a day of traditional Scottish sport. There are over 100 competitors, many being national or world champions, challenging for various championship titles.
Website . Postcode: KW12 6XN

Helmsdale Highland Games 68 miles north of Inverness north Highlands/ August 3rd week. A traditional Highland fishing village, an ideal base to explore Sutherland. Situated at the mouth of the River Helmsdale with a lot to offer the visitor to this years Highland Games.
Website . UDS Page . KW8 6LQ

Inveraray Highland Games 63 miles northwest of Glasgow/ July 3rd week. Many events where the skills in Piping, Highland Dancing and Athletics are demonstrated by experts from all over Great Britain. Come along and get involved in one of the events.
Website . RS Page . PA32 8UY

Inverness Highland Games July 3rd week. Tulloch Inverness Highland Games and World Highland Games Championships are one of Scotland's largest games, renowned for the quality of the heavy event competitions. Spectators normaly are about 4000 - 6000.
Website . RS Page . IV1 1DX

Killin International Highland Games 37 miles north of Stirling/ August 1st week. Athletes from across the world travel to Killin for the games held at Breadalbane Park.
Website . RS Page . FK21 8UH

Lewis Highland Games Isle of Lewis far northeast/ July. At Tong, 3 miles north of Stornoway, one of the major events on the islands of the Outer Hebrides, gaining its place on the world Highland Games circuit.
Website . UDS Page . HS1 2DR

Lochaber Highland Games Fort William/ July 4th week. Fort William is host to Lochaber Highland Games held on the field at An Aird with a great backdrop of Ben Nevis and Cow Hill. Fort William is situated 65 miles southwest of Inverness, 103 miles north of Glasgow.
Website . Postcode: PH33 7LY

Lochcarron Highland Games 62 miles west of Inverness close to the Isle of Skye/ July 3rd week. Referred to as The Friendly Games, and held in beautiful Wester Ross in the North West Highlands, feature a traditional mix of heavy events, track and field plus highland dancing and piping displays
Website . UDS Page . IV54 8YG

Mallaig and Morar Highland Games 42 miles northwest of Fort William/ August 1st week. A small but very popular and friendly games that attract a mixture of local people and people from all over the world including Canada, Australia, America, as well as across the U.K. and Europe. Mallaig is situated 86 miles north of Oban, 104 miles southwest of Inverness.
Website . RS Page . PH41 4PU

Mull Highland Games Tobermory on the Isle of Mull 31 miles northwest of Oban/ July. Held at Erray Park in Tobermory during the month of July. Traditional Scottish Highland Games.
Website . RS Page . PA75 6PR

Nairn Highland Games 16 miles northeast of Inverness/August 3rd week. One of the largest amateur gatherings in the North with thier first Games taking place in 1867.
Website . RS Page . IV12 4AU

Newburgh Highland Games and Coble Boat Race 11 miles southeast of Perth/ June 3rd week. The town of Newburgh is situated in a picturesque setting on the south bank of the Tay. The games take place in the scenic Mugdrum Estate. The Cobble Boat Race takes place on the river Tay the night before.
UDS Page . KY14 6DA

Newtonmore Highland Games 45 miles south of Inverness/ August 1st week. See the spectacular sights of the Clan Macpherson March to the Games. We welcome clansmen from all parts of the globe. Newtonmore is situated close to the Cairngorm and Monadhliath Mountains, near the resort of Aviemore , some 70 miles north of Perth and 45 miles south of Inverness.
Website . RS Page . PH20 1DA

Peebles Highland Games 22 miles south of Edinburgh/ September. The Games are among the top non-championship events, providing a more relaxed atmosphere close to the end of the competition season.
Website . RS Page . EH45 8AJ

Shotts Highland Games 22 miles east of Glasgow/ June 1st week. About forty pipe bands play for the West of Scotland Championship and over 100 dancers take part in the Highland Dancing competitions. Situated between Glasgow and Edinburgh.
Website . Postcode: ML7 4JN

Skye Highland Games Isle of Skye 120 miles west of Inverness/August 1st week. The Games at Portree feature Heavy Field Events, Athletics, Piping, Highland Dancing and Sailing, a single race for all classes of yacht.
Website . RS Page . IV51 9EJ

Stirling Highland Games/ July 2nd week. A great day out for all the family with something for everyone to experience.
Website . RS Page . FK8