First time at a highland games

**kilted2000** · 25th February 22, 07:04 PM

I hope it is ok to post this here, but I was very excited and I wanted to share. I am trying to figure out if I can justify a trip to Scotland, England, Wales, and possibly Ireland this September, Covid willing of course. I haven't been to Scotland for twenty years and it's been eleven years since I've been to the U.K. The one concrete plan I have made is to finally go to my first highland games. Did I pick a good one?

Anyone want me to say hello to HRH the Queen or Prince Charles for them while I am there?

**DunRovinStation** · 25th February 22, 08:35 PM

I could only dream.
GO! And have a wonderful time.

**Jock Scot** · 26th February 22, 03:22 AM

I shall be interested to read of your observations and impressions.

**OC Richard** · 26th February 22, 05:24 AM

That's very cool!

I've never been to those Games, I've only seen videos and photos.

Here's one https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X6M9NxmCDjo

The Royal family is driven to their podium. Evidently a portion of the Games has taken place, due to winners of Highland Dancing being presented.

I'd like to see the schedule to find out if it's like Games I've attended, with solo piping contests in the morning, the Pipe Band contest in the afternoon, and Highland Dancing more or less throughout the day.

**neloon** · 26th February 22, 08:11 AM

It's not really the best of games because you more or less have to stay glued to your seat and can't "wander round". Really the smaller games are the best in my opinion - say Drumtochty, Tomintoul, Glenisla*. Lonach is always very good, a week before Braemar.
By the way, Braemar is titled a "Gathering" not a Games.

Alan

* Here is the Duke of Rothesay at Glenisla!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2WbvePOEFj0

**Jock Scot** · 26th February 22, 11:38 AM

Originally Posted by neloon

It's not really the best of games because you more or less have to stay glued to your seat and can't "wander round". Really the smaller games are the best in my opinion - say Drumtochty, Tomintoul, Glenisla*. Lonach is always very good, a week before Braemar.
By the way, Braemar is titled a "Gathering" not a Games.

Alan

* Here is the Duke of Rothesay at Glenisla!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2WbvePOEFj0

Alan, raises a very good point. I have been to the Braemar Gathering many years ago and other games too, but in all honesty they are not really my thing. For me, I really enjoy the venue of the Blair Atholl gathering and games, but from memory they are held rather earlier than your schedule may allow.

**OC Richard** · 2nd March 22, 03:51 AM

I have a different view than many; being a piper and Pipe Band person I'm mostly interested in Games with decent-sized Pipe Band competitions.

Here are the pre-Covid contests sanctioned by the Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association. One would need to check each individual Games to see what the 2022 status is.

https://rspba.org/results/bands/contests/2019

September Games with RSPBA contests are Peebles, Innerleithen, and Pitlochry.