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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, May to September. 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 with connections to Scotland.
Events are normally heavy lifting / throwing,
running, biking, highland dance, tug o war, also with
shopping, food and drink stalls. Some Games allow you
to enter certain amateur events.
The weeks for the events listed here are when the
games are normally held, most on a Saturday or
Sunday, although there are a few on week days, check
the websites to confirm the dates.
Most websites have many large images, and many
Games start with a Highland March with Pipes through
the Town to the events field, they just have to be
seen.
Click on the PostCodes for Maps and Reviews.
Highland Games / The Big
Seven
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Burntisland Highland
Games
July 3rd week, 21 miles north of Edinburgh. The
second oldest games in the world dating back to 1652.
Crowds of 50,000 in 2004. A summer fairground is also
normally at Burntisland during the summer months.
Website . RS Page . KY3 9EB
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Loch Lomond Highland
Games
July 3rd week, at Balloch 27 miles northwest of
Glasgow. 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 8LY
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Bridge of Allan Highland
Games
August 1st week, by Stirling. 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 4QY
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North Berwick Highland
Games
August 1st week, 28 miles east of Edinburgh. 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
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Cowal Highland
Gathering
August 4th week, Dunoon/34 miles west of Glasgow. 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.
Website . UDS Page . PA23 7DT
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Lonach Gathering
August 4th week Saturday, Strathdon 45 miles west of
Aberdeen. 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.
Website . Postcode: AB36 8UX
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Braemar Gathering
September 1st week, 57 miles west of Aberdeen. The
Gathering is world famous, has attracted spectators
of about 20,000 including Royalty. Website has many
large images.
Website . RS Page . AB35 5YX
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Gourock Highland Games
May 1st week, 28 miles west of Glasgow at Battery
Park in Gourock. Free entry.
Website . UDS Page . PA16 7QG
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Gordon Castle Highland
Games
May 2nd week, 49 miles east of Inverness by the
village of Fochabars.
Website . UDS Page . IV32 7PQ
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Helensburgh & Lomond Highland
Games
June 1st week, 33 miles northwest of Glasgow. Began
in 1889, started again in 2008.
Website . UDS Page . G84 8JR
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Ardrossan Highland
Games
June 2nd week, 35 miles southwest of Glasgow on the
Ayrshire coast with a huge beach.
Website . AS Page . KA22 8AP
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Bearsden and Milngavie Highland
Games
June 2nd week, 5 miles northwest of Glasgow. These
Games regularly attract over 10,000 visitors.
Website . UDS Page . G62 6AQ
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Cupar Highland Games
June 2nd week, 9 miles west of St Andrews 44 miles
north of Edinburgh.. The Games are an
‘Open’ event under Scottish Games
Association rules and are in the F.H.G.A.
circuits.
Website . UDS Page . KY15 5DD
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Aberdeen Highland
Games
June 3rd week, at Hazelhead Park on the west side of
Aberdeen. Traditional Games with trade stalls, food,
beer and more.
Website . RS Page . AB15 8BE
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Newburgh Highland Games and Coble
Boat Race
June 3rd week, 11 miles southeast of Perth. Check the website
as does not take place every year.
Website . UDS Page . KY14 6DA
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Ceres Highland Games
June 4th week, 8 miles west of St Andrews 43 miles
north of Edinburgh. 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.
Website . UDS Page . KY15 5NQ
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Drumtochty Highland
Games
June 4th week, 9 miles west of Montrose/Aberdeenshire . The Auchenblae and
the Drumtochty Highland Games have top competitors
with records broken. Held in the grounds of
Drumtochty Castle, 2 miles outside Auchenblae.
Website . Postcode: AB30 1TP
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Forres Highland Games
July 1st week, 27 miles east of Inverness. One of
Scotland's oldest small towns.
Website . RS
Page . IV36 3BT
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Luss Highland Games
July 1st week, 32 miles northwest of Glasgow on the
banks of Loch Lomond.
Website . RS
Page . G83 8PA
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Inveraray Highland
Games
July 3rd week, 63 miles northwest of Glasgow. Held at
Inveraray Castle a 10 minute walk from the Town
centre.
Website . RS
Page . PA32 8UY
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Inverness Highland
Games
July 3rd week, Tulloch Inverness Highland Games are
renowned for the quality of the heavy event
competitions. Spectators normaly are about 4000 -
6000. Held at Bught Park on the south side of the
City.
Website . RS
Page . IV3 5SP
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Lochcarron Highland
Games
July 3rd week, 62 miles west of Inverness close to
the Isle of Skye. Held at Attadale Estate 6 miles
round the Loch from Lochcarron village.
Website . UDS Page . IV54 8YX
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Mull Highland Games
3rd week of July, Tobermory on the Isle of Mull 31
miles northwest of Oban. Held at Erray Park in
Tobermory, Traditional Scottish Highland Games.
Website . RS
Page . PA75 6PR
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Stonehaven Highland
Games
July 3rd week, 15 miles south of Aberdeen in the
grounds of Mackie Academy.
Website . RS Page . AB39 3DF
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Tomintoul Highland
Games
July 3rd week, 59 miles northwest of Aberdeen,
between Ballater and Grantown on Spey on a real
scenic Hill Road. Tomintoul
village is 1,132ft above sea level.
Website . RS
Page . AB37 9EX
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Airth Highland Games
July 4th week, 8 miles southeast of Stirling. 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 8LD
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Balquhidder Highland
Games
July 4th week, 37 miles west of Perth, 14 miles north
of Callander. Balquhidder, Lochearnhead and
Strathyre Highland Games are held at Lochearnhead
village, Rob
Roy country.
Website . FK19 8PR
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Callander Highland
Games
July 4th week, 16 miles northwest of Stirling. 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
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Dufftown Highland
Games
July 4th week, 52 miles northwest of Aberdeen 61
miles east of Inverness.
Website . RS
Page . AB55 4AW
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Durness Highland
Gathering
July 4th week, 104 miles northwest of Inverness on
the far north coast of Scotland with some great
beaches. Free entry, just pay to enter an event.
Website . RS
Page . IV27 4PN
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Halkirk Highland Games
July 4th week, 6 miles south of Thurso/north Highlands. Up to 5,000
visitors and locals visit the village of Halkirk in
Caithness (pop. 1,000) for a day of traditional
Scottish sport.
Website . Postcode: KW12 6XA
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St Andrews Highland
Games
July 4th week, 52 miles north of Edinburgh in the
famous Cathedral and Golf town of St Andrews.
Website . RS Page . KY16 9SP
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Lewis Highland Games
July? Isle of Lewis far northeast. At Tong, 3 miles
north of Stornoway. There seems to be no Website or
information for these games, may have stopped?
UDS Page . HS1 2DR
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Aberlour Highland
Games
August 1st week, in the Town centre 57 miles
northwest of Aberdeen, 34 miles northeast of Aviemore
in Speyside Whisky Distillery country.
Website . RS Page . AB38 9QP
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Aboyne Highland Games
August 1st week, 30 miles southwest of Aberdeen, with
the village laid out in 1676 around the large village
green, where the Highland Games are held, attracting
visitors from all over the world.
Website . RS Page . AB34 4WY
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Dundonald Games
August 1st week, 4 miles northeast of Troon in
Ayrshire, 12 miles north of Ayr at Royal Dundonald
Castle.
Website . AS Page . KA2 9HD
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Killin International Highland
Games
August 1st week, 37 miles northwest of Stirling at
Breadalbane Park in the Town centre.
Website . RS
Page . FK21 8UN
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Mallaig and Morar Highland
Games
August 1st week, 42 miles northwest of Fort William.
A small friendly games for locals and people from all
over the world.
Website . RS
Page . PH41 4PU
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Newtonmore Highland
Games
August 1st week, 45 miles south of Inverness, 70
miles northwest of Perth. See the spectacular sights
of the Clan Macpherson March to the Games.
Website . RS Page . PH20 1DA
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Skye Highland Games
August 1st week, Isle of Skye 120 miles west of
Inverness featuring Heavy Field Events, Athletics,
Piping, Highland Dancing and Sailing, a single race
for all classes of yacht.
Website . RS
Page . IV51 9EJ
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Aberfeldy Highland
Games
August 2nd week, named the Atholl & Breadalbane
Agricultural Show and Highland Gathering is at Wades
Park just over Wades Bridge, close to the Town
centre, 31 miles northwest of Perth.
Website . RS Page . PH15 2BP
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Assynt / Lochinver Highland
Games
August 2nd week, at Culag Park in the centre of
Lochinver, 94 miles northwest of Inverness, 36 miles
north of Ullapool, remote with amazing scenery.
Website . RS Page . IV27 4LE
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Abernethy Highland
Games
August 2nd Saturday, Nethybridge 30 miles southeast
of Inverness. Dancing, piping, field & track
events, and the fun morning programme for
children.
Website . Postcode:
PH25 3DA
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Ballater Highland
Games
August 2nd week, in the Town centre 42 miles west of
Aberdeen, sometimes visited by Royals as Balmoral
Castle is close by.
Website . RS Page . AB35 5NN
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Bute Highland Games
August 3rd week, Island of Bute/Rothesay. The Games
Park is a 15 minute walk from the Ferry Terminal.
Website . RS Page . PA20 9BS
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Crieff Highland
Gathering
August 3rd week, 17 miles west of Perth. The first
Crieff Highland Gathering took place in 1870.
Website . RS
Page . PH7 3EH
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Glenfinnan Highland
Gathering
Aug 3rd week, 16 miles west of Fort
William. Fort William is 65 miles southwest of
Inverness, 103 miles north of Glasgow. Traditional
Games in amazing scenery.
Website . RS Page . PH37 4LT
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Glenisla Highland
Games
Aug 3rd week, 30 miles northeast of Perth in a remote
area.
Website . DD8 5HU
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Helmsdale Highland
Games
August 3rd week, 68 miles north of Inverness north
Highlands. A traditional Highland fishing village
with a lot to offer the visitor.
Website . UDS Page . KW8 6HH
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Nairn Highland Games
August 3rd week, 16 miles northeast of Inverness. One
of the largest amateur gatherings in the North with
thier first Games taking place in 1867.
Website . RS
Page . IV12 4AU
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Stirling Highland
Games
August 3rd week, on the east side of Stirling often
with around 8,000 visitors.
Website . RS
Page . FK7 7UJ
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Argyllshire Gathering and The
Oban Games
August 4th week. Track and Field events, as well as
Dancing and Piping with many competitions for
Scottish championship and World championship
titles.
Website . RS Page . PA34 4EL
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Birnam Highland Games
August 4th week, 13 miles northwest of Perth. Traditional Games
in stunning Perthshire scenery, held since 1864.
Website . RS Page . PH8 0AD
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Glenurquhart Highland Gathering
and Games
August 4th week, 18 miles south of Inverness.
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 6UQ
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Lonach Highland
Gathering
August 4th week, 41 miles west of Aberdeen at the
remote village of Bellabeg.
Website . AB36 8UL
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Strathardle Highland
Gathering
August 4th week, 30 miles north of Perth at the
village of Kirkmichael, also with an Agricultural
Show.
Website . PH10 7NS
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Highland Games in
September
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Blairgowrie & Rattray
Highland Games
September 1st week, 16 miles north of Perth on the
south side of Blairgowrie town.
Website . RS Page . PH10 6QU
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Peebles Highland Games
September 1st week, 22 miles south of Edinburgh. 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 8HE
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Pitlochry Highland
Games
September 2nd week, 27 miles northwest of Perth at
the Recration Ground down Ferry Road in the centre of
Pitlochly town.
Website . RS
Page . PH16 5BU
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