When is this event?
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.
Held at The Princess Royal and Duke of Fife Memorial Park each September in the beautiful Cairngorms village of Braemar, it is the proud continuation of an ancient tradition of Gatherings here — one that can be traced back to the time of King Malcolm Canmore, over 900 years ago.
The Gathering has been run in its present form since 1832. Queen Victoria attended in 1848, and since then it has been regularly attended by the reigning Monarch and members of the British Royal Family.
We invite you to join us for a celebration of Ballindalloch Distillery, Whisky and Estate, an unmissable afternoon of whisky, food, music and fun.
Come and explore our beautiful Single Estate Distillery and discover what makes us unique in Speyside: our traditional manual production process and the circular economy within the Estate of our natural resources and by-products. From the very outset, the production of our Whisky was always destined to be “hands on”. With a clear commitment to tradition, the Single Estate nature of our process allows us to control every aspect of Whisky making. From the barley we grow at our Home Farm to the draff fed back to cattle across the Estate, we craft our Whisky in a way that generations past would have recognised.
Your ticket includes access to the Distillery production and operational areas. You will be joining us for an afternoon of Ballindalloch Single Malt Whisky drams, food from our Ballindalloch BBQ featuring Aberdeen Angus meat, the breed closely associated with Ballindalloch (a delicious vegan option will be available too) and tasty home-bakes from Lagmore Café.
As a family owned and working estate, the Macpherson-Grants invite you to experience many aspects of estate life through various fun activities. We will have archery, fly-fishing demonstrations (and for you to try), golf challenges, live music, and much more. Also, as Chieftain of the Aberlour Highland Games, current Laird, Guy Macpherson-Grant is looking forward to watching you join in some caber tossing and other Games sports. With so much to see & do, we guarantee you a great afternoon at Ballindalloch.
The Newtonmore Games have always been based on tradition and 2024 will be no different.
We have for your entertainment at least four Pipe Bands taking part in a spectacular festival of colour and sound.
As usual we have the spectacular sights of the Clan Macpherson Annual Rally and March to the Games. We expect to welcome many clansmen from all parts of the globe.
A great crowd pleaser as always are the heavy events which consist of many varied disciplines of strength and skill.
The highland dancing is another very popular attraction as the dancers perform their intricate moves to the sound of the pipes.Dancers from all over the world are competing this year.
You will find at the top end of the field the lone pipers competing in the Pibroch and Strathspey and Reel all hoping to please the judges.
Also on display are the athletes, young and old running sprints and middle distance races. The kids events are not to be missed.
On the athletics front,the Creag Dhubh hill race is a must to watch with runners competing from all over the country.
The 2024 Newtonmore Highland Games are a fantastic day out for all the family.
Checkout our Video of Highlights of Newtonmore Games
The Ballater Highland Games are held annually on the second Thursday in August in Monaltrie Park, Ballater and in 2024 the Games will be held on Thursday 8th August.
There have been Games held in Ballater since 1864 and, apart from the war and pandemic years, the Games have continued uninterrupted until the present day. The Games have been honoured in recent times by visits from Their Majesties the King and Queen, The former, Duke and Duchess of Rothesay.
Many famous athletes and champions have competed at Ballater. Today the events form part of the circuits comprising the Glenfiddich Heavy Events Championship and the Grampian Games Qualifying Championship, which encourages the younger athletes to participate in the heavy and field events.
Ballater Highland Games prides itself in having something for everyone, young and old alike. On Games Day there are a number of varied trade stands, together with a funfair for the children. On occasion, personalities are to be seen, and one memorable day a military 25 pounder was fired to signal the start of the Hill Race.
To complete the day, Beat Retreat by the Pipe Bands is planned for 7pm on the Church Green in Ballater.
View our programme of events.
Every August, on the fourth Saturday, all roads lead to Lonach.
Travel along them to Strathdon and enjoy a day that will linger long in the memory.
A warm welcome awaits at the friendly gathering.
The Junior Highland Games has been organised to allow children between the ages of 5 and 18 the opportunity to participate in games events normally reserved for adults and hopefully create interest for the future generations. The emphasis is on fun and is intended to provide educational experiences in an informal and participative way. The event will be held in the Braemar Games Field and has backing of The Braemar Highland Society.
Children will be able to participate as well as receive education and instruction in a number of traditional games events overseen by qualified instructors.
New competitors are welcome and instruction is provided. Events include highland dancing competition, piping competition and tug of war teams events.
Visit one of Scotland’s longest running Highland Games, showcasing traditional heavy and light events, highland dancing, piping competitions and lesser known entertainments like tilt the bucket and barrel racing.
From 11am – 5pm followed by a dance with the Black Rock Ceilidh Band
Held on the 3rd Saturday in July every year, for over 175 years!
A small committee of dedicated volunteers hosts a wide variety of events and activities for the entire family in the pretty Royal Deeside village of Ballater! Highlights have included Scarecrow Competitions and Trail, Films, Duck Races, Dog Show, Picnics, Pantomime/Hobby Horse Trials, Discos, Messy Play, Car Boot Sale, plus numerous Sporting, and Outdoor Events. The week surrounds The Ballater Highland Games.
Initiated in 1987 to commemorate the 150th anniversary of Queen Victoria’s accession and to raise funds for the refurbishment of the Victoria and Albert Halls, Ballater’s Victoria Week brings together numerous sections of the community to lay on a host of fun activities for all ages. Over the years BVW has raised thousands of pounds for local causes and continually seeks to renew and refresh itself by reflecting current trends and initiatives.
Including some shiny new events, as well as the classics, it’s set to be the biggest BVW in a few years!
Held on the Games Field in the centre of Nethy Bridge on the second Saturday of August, they are one of the oldest Games in the country. Known as the”Friendly Games” the Abernethy Highland Games are famous for the Massed Bands march around the arena and for being the annual Clan Grant Gathering.
Games day starts at 10 am with Children’s and Dancing competitions. The Chieftain’s parade is at 1 pm when the Massed Piped Bands and Clan Grant march from the Nethybridge Hotel over the River Nethy and onto the field. The Chieftain is then introduced and the Games declared open. The afternoon has all the traditional competitions: Dancing; Pipe Band; Solo Piping and Drumming, Athletics, Road Race and Heavy events.
The Atholl Gathering and Highland Games will return to Blair Castle on Sunday 26th May 2024 and tickets can be purchased online using the link above.
The Atholl Highlanders officially open the Highland Games with a ‘March On’, led by the sound of their pipes and drums.
Strongmen from around Scotland take centre stage to battle it out. Events include tossing the caber, putting the shot and throwing the hammer.
There are plenty of other attractions, such as highland dancing, tug o’ war, solo piping, trade stands and refreshments to provide a fun day out for all the family.
Where is this event being held?
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