2018 Agricultural shows & Highland games

HELENSBURGH AND LOMOND HIGHLAND GAMES Saturday June 2

The Helensburgh and Lomond Games are unique in that the event is linked to two clans, the Colquhoun and the MacAuley, whose chiefs alternate the duties of chieftain of the games. Traditional competitions such as the dancing and athletics are on show along with the ‘heavy’ events like tossing the caber.

The spectators can join in by competing in events for old and young alike at the games, which are held at Helensburgh Rugby Club grounds. The origin of today’s games can be traced back to 1889.

LORNE HIGHLAND GAMES Sunday June 24

Mossfield Park, Oban is home to Lorne Highland Games, a great, fun-filled day for all the family to enjoy, which has become as popular with tourists as it has with locals. So much so that this is known as ‘The People’s Games’.

As you would expect, the day has all that you would want from a Scottish Highland games, including caber tossing, hammer throwing and tug-o-war. Plus, the location enables the games to add a hill race to its events.

You can take part in the track and field events or just relax and enjoy the Highland dancing competitions or pipe band displays.

There will be afternoon teas, stalls to browse and this games event boasts its own dog show.

KENMORE HIGHLAND GAMES Wednesday July 4

The Kenmore Highland Games known locally as ‘the friendly games’ is organised by the Kenmore and District Sports Association and was started in 1972.

As well as all the traditional events, including Highland dancing, ‘heavy’ competitions, piping, and track events, the games has its very own ‘Throwing the Tirinie Stone’, an almost spherical stone found on Tirinie Farm, Kenmore, weighing 101lbs. Come and join this small community enjoy its big day out.

INVERARAY HIGHLAND GAMES Tuesday July 17

This is one of the big days in the Highland Games calendar, held in the shadow of Inveraray Castle at Winterton Park. It features the world caber tossing championship, so expect to hear accents from all over the globe.

His Grace the Duke of Argyll leads the parade to the games field through the Royal Burgh with Inveraray and District Pipe Band playing – this has to be one of the most iconic scenes in Highland life. There is also cycling and wrestling included in the packed programme. There’s so much going on and the day begins at 9am to include it all.

MULL HIGHLAND GAMES Thursday July 19

As venues go, they don’t come more spectacular than Erray Park, Tobermory. The games take place with the Sound of Mull and the hills of Ardnamurchan as the backdrop.

Events held include heavyweights, light field events and Highland dancing and the park is also a great place to begin – and end – a hill race with the pipe band playing and spectators cheering the runners home.

Mull games always has a great atmosphere and that extends to the trip there are back on the ferry. Make sure you get your tickets booked in advance as the boats are always packed on games day.

TAYNUILT GAMES Saturday July 21

Taynuilt Games will play host this year to a gathering of the Clan MacIntyre, with clansmen and women from all over the world attending. But then Taynuilt has always had a reputation for being a friendly games, and welcoming foreign tourists from far and wide. The games also has some great events for all to join in, from climbing the greasy pole to throwing the Nant Stone, a huge boulder taken from the bed of the nearby river.

The march through the village to the games field is always a wonderful sight.

SOUTHEND HIGHLAND GAMES Saturday July 21

There are bigger Highland games with larger crowds but is there another Highland games where people have this much fun or visitors are made to feel so welcome?

The tiny village of Southend, down on the tip of the Kintyre peninsula, holds its games in the afternoon into the evening.

There are all the traditional field events, piping and dancing and their own tossing the tyre competition. Southend always places an emphasis on children’s events.

ARGYLLSHIRE GATHERING OBAN GAMES Thursday August 23

The Argyllshire Gathering held in Oban is one of the grandest Highland games in Scotland.

The day before the gathering one of the top piobaireach, piping, events is held; if you’ve won the gold or silver medal at Oban then you are among world’s piping elite.

The march to the games field has a pipe band made up of the competitors and is traditionally led by His Grace the Duke of Argyll. The Oban Ball is held the night before the games at the Argyllshire Gathering Hall.

On games day there is a full list of field events at Mossfield Park including a schools’ shinty tournament and a hill race.

GLENGARRY HIGHLAND GAMES Saturday July 7

There are two Glengarry Highland Games; the one here in Scotland is held at the village shinty club playing field.

The other at Maxville, Ontario, has grown into one of the largest in the world, with 50 pipe bands taking part, as one of the competition venues for the American Pipe Band Championships.

Though the original is now in the shadow of the Canadian games, the spirit remains the same - a great day out for all the family with piping, dancing, track and field events with stalls to browse, food, and plenty of activities and races for children to take part in.

MORVERN GAMES & GALA WEEK runs from Friday July 13 to Sunday July 22

During the week there is something for the entire family, including a float parade, children’s sports, highland games, live music, duck race, clay pigeon shoot, open water swim, darts competition, pool competition, indoor bowls, Lochaline sand mine tour, table tennis tournament, dog agility, children’s cook day, allotment open day, herbal walk, church exhibition and teas, producers market, race night, heritage walk, bingo, quiz night, highland hustle, yoga, Drimnin cinema night, charity dinner at Whitehouse Restaurant, auction night for MS, Big Morvern Run, regatta, fishing competition, crab catching, shinty, survivors dance-beach party and lots more...

Morvern Games & Gala Week was reinstated in 1987 after a period of abeyance.

A highlight in the Morvern calendar, it is an opportunity for local organisations to hold events throughout the week with the support and assistance of the Games and Gala Week committee.

The week starts with the Morvern Highland Games held on the second Saturday after the first Monday in July.

This date is to coincide with Glasgow Fair with the intention of attracting the diaspora home for the holidays and enjoy the events throughout the week.

There will be a mini bus meeting the ferry from Mull and also picking up around the village. This should reduce traffic at the field and save people the long walk up the hill.

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CAMPBELTOWN HIGHLAND GAMES Saturday September 22

Campbeltown Highland Games will be held on September 22, taking place on the Hospital Field at Limecraigs, Campbeltown.

It will include a host of events, including athletics, heavy events, tug-o-war and family friendly fun events! Glen Scotia Distillery are sponsoring a Ceilidh Tent that will have live music and free drams! There will also be a fun fair, stalls and attractions for all the family. Highland dancing, Piping and Drum Major displayswill take place throughout the day.