Highland Games: Strength, Skill & Scottish Heritage

Around 1040 AD, it’s said that King Malcolm III of Scotland was looking for the fastest man to be his royal messenger. So, he held a foot race up Craig Chonnich near Breamar. That day was more than just a win for a really fast Scot—it was, some say, the first iteration of the Scotland Highland Games.

There’s a lot of history between that medieval moment and now, but the pride, athleticism, and competition live on in the Highland Games. Held every summer across the country near lochs, beside castles, and amidst the heather, there are bagpipes and Highland dancing, hammer throw and caber toss competitions, and lots of food and drink. And, when you go on a summer Scotland hiking tour, you can experience the roaring Scottishness of it all on August 2-9 this summer!

The History of the Highland Games

While the story may have started with King Malcolm III, there’s much more to the Scottish Games tradition. As anyone who’s ever watched Braveheart knows, Scotland’s clans were filled with proud people, fearsome warriors, and a huge sense of community. In medieval Scotland, warriors displayed their fighting skills and strength at clan gatherings, though not in events as organized as today’s Highland Games. These exhibitions were important to clan chiefs, who used them to choose the most capable men for battle. Between these physical contests, clans would celebrate with music, dancing, and feasting.

Following the Jacobite defeat at the Battle of Colloden in 1746, the British government under King George II passed legislation to break the clan system and suppress Highland culture. The bans prohibited traditional clothing like tartans, restricted Highlander gatherings, and heavily discouraged the use of Gaelic. Over the course of generations, these measures eroded the Highland way of life and identity.

Things began to change with the repeal of the Dress Act in 1782, which allowed Highlanders to wear their traditional clothing. Then, thanks to the novelist and poet Sir Walter Scott, King George IV visited Edinburgh in 1822, which helped rehabilitate Highland traditions in the eyes of the British public. But Queen Victoria’s deep love for Scotland turned the tide and sparked a revival of the Highland culture. She bought Balmoral Castle in 1852, and her enthusiasm for Highland customs made Scottish traditions fashionable and helped preserve them for future generations. The Braemar Highland Games (where that original race was said to be held!) became a royal favorite and remains so today.

What are Scotland’s Highland Games?

Geamannan Gàidhealach (the Highland Games in Scottish Gaelic) represents a reclamation and preservation of Highland culture. The games are a festival of sorts that combines athletic events (like tossing massive tree trunks) and track events with piping and dance competitions. Though rooted specifically in Highlander tradition, the games are deeply tied to the Scottish cultural identity through sports, tradition, history, legend, and literature – all elements you can experience firsthand on our Scotland Highlands & Islands hiking tour.

Traditional Highland Games Events & Legendary Athletes

The Caber Toss

Caber is the Scottish Gaelic word for “pole” or “beam,” and the caber toss is the most iconic Games event. Typically 19-feet long and weighing about 175 pounds, a caber is hoisted, balanced vertically, and then tossed so it turns end over end. The point isn’t to throw it far—in true warrior tradition, it’s about accuracy. A perfect “12 o’clock” position (landing directly away from the thrower) is the ideal.

Donald Dinnie, perhaps Scotland’s greatest athlete, dominated this event in the 19th century, reportedly tossing cabers that modern competitors wouldn’t even attempt. His legendary performances began at the Ballater Highland Games in 1868, where he set new records in the heavy events that established his reputation. At the Inverness Highland Games in 2014, caber tossing reached spectacular heights when 66 athletes simultaneously tossed cabers successfully, establishing a Guinness World Record during the 150th anniversary of the world’s oldest Highland Games stadium.

The Scottish Hammer

The origins of this event may lie in Celtic folklore. Cúchulainn, the legendary Gaelic hero, was said to possess the battle rage of a warrior with superhuman abilities. In one famous tale, he seized a chariot wheel with its axle still attached, spun it around his head, and hurled it with incredible force to defeat his enemies. In doing so, he may have inspired the Scottish hammer throw.

You may have seen a modern Olympic hammer throw, but the name is the only thing connected to what you’ll see at the Games. Instead of a handle wire attached to a metal ball, the Scottish hammer is a metal ball attached to a wooden handle, and it weighs either 16 or 22 pounds. While Olympians can spin and release, Highland competitors must throw it as far as they can without moving their feet.

Bill Anderson, a.k.a the “King of the Heavies,” dominated the Highland Games for three decades. In 1969, he made history when he became the first man to hurl the hammer over 150 feet at the Lochearnhead Games. Hamish Davidson was another formidable competitor who battled against greats like Bill Anderson at prestigious events including the Crieff Highland Gathering, where he claimed the Scottish professional heavyweight championship in 1979. Today, the hammer throw continues to be one of Scotland’s most technically challenging events. At the Stirling Highland Games in 2022, history was made when members of the Wounded Highlanders team broke world records in the adaptive hammer throw competitions.

Stone Events

Like the shot put, the stone put is about throwing a large, spherical projectile as far as possible from the designated circle. There are differences in technique, but things really diverge at the weight of the missile. There’s a legend about the Scottish Giant, Gog Magog, who, after quarreling with another giant, scattered large stones across Scotland and challenged any mortal man to move them. Today, some stones used at the Scotland Games are said to have been originally placed by giants as tests of human strength. The Isle of Skye Highland Games honors the ancient origins of these events—competitors use natural stones collected from the island.

Clocking in at 20 to 26 pounds, the Braemar Stone is thrown from a standing position. The Open Stone weighs 16 to 22 pounds, and athletes can use running momentum. For context, an Olympic men’s shotput weighs about 16 pounds, while a women’s is 8.8.

The Light Events

Running

When King Malcolm III held a foot race in search of who would be the fastest messenger in the land, little did he know that he’d start an enduring tradition. Today, these races remain central to games like the Newtonmore Highland Games, which began in 1945 as a welcome-home celebration for returning World War II servicemen. At the Isle of Skye Highland Games, running events gain special significance. The races are divided into “open” competitions for international athletes and “local” races for residents of Skye and neighboring islands, creating both a world-class competition and community celebration.

Jumping Competitions

In medieval Scotland, the ability to leap across streams or rocky outcrops during battle could mean the difference between life and death. The Games’ high jump and long jump competitions echo the physical skills warriors would need to survive battle. At events like the Luss Highland Games, competitors leap for victory with Loch Lomond’s sparkling waters as their backdrop. Over in Forres, the Games are set against the scenic beauty of Cluny Hill, making every jump a picturesque feat.

Maritime Events

Off the west coast of Scotland lie the Inner and Outer Hebrides, home to the ancient Clan MacLeod and Clan MacDonald. These highlanders were known (and feared) for their skill on land and at sea. At the Isle of Skye Games, this tradition takes center stage with rowing and sailing competitions in the picturesque Portree Harbor. Dating back to when sea travel was essential for Highland communities, these races celebrate the seafaring skills that connected isolated coastal villages.

The Cultural Events

Highland Dancing

If you lived in Scotland in the medieval era, you’d recognize Highland dancing as war dancing. After a triumphant battle, warriors would dance what is now the Highland Fling over a targe, a small round shield with a spike in the middle. One of Scotland’s oldest dances, the Sword Dance (Gille Chaluim), carries a powerful legend—King Malcolm III reportedly danced it in 1054 after defeating one of Macbeth’s chiefs at Dunsinane. Highland dancing evolved into forms of cultural resistance during periods of oppression. The Seann Triubhas became an act of defiance after the Jacobite Rebellion, with its movements symbolizing the Highlanders’ spirit of resistance. The Gourock Highland Games has celebrated this tradition since 1956, when it first established the West of Scotland Highland Dance Championship, which continues to draw Scottish fans today.

Bagpiping

Hear bagpipes and you immediately think of Scotland—the instrument’s origins stretch back thousands of years. Versions have been documented in ancient Mediterranean civilizations as early as 400 BC. While no one is certain exactly when bagpipes arrived in Scotland, they became firmly established in Highland culture by the 14th century.

By 1746, the bagpipes had become so intrinsically linked to Highland warrior culture that they were even deemed an instrument of war by the British at the Battle of Culloden. According to Highland lore, piper James Reid was executed not for bearing arms against the crown but for playing the Highland pipes to incite troops to battle.

Of all the piping families in Scottish history, the MacCrimmons of Skye are the most renowned. Legend tells that a MacCrimmon ancestor received a silver chanter (the melody pipe) from a fairy woman, which blessed the family with extraordinary musical abilities. This mystical connection to the Isle of Skye continues to this day.

Where and When are the Highland Games in Scotland?

Games season typically begins in May with events like the Atholl Highland Games near Blair Castle, where the only private army in Europe—the Atholl Highlanders—performs spectacular military drills alongside traditional competitions. As summer progresses, the calendar fills with distinctive events—the Luss Highland Games offer competitors and spectators stunning views across Loch Lomond, while the Bridge of Allan Highland Games near Stirling boast some of Scotland’s most prestigious heavy events competitions that attract elite athletes from around the world.

Coastal communities host their own variations—the Bute Highland Games feature competitions against the backdrop of the island’s Victorian architecture, and the Inverkeithing Highland Games bring the traditions to the shores of the Firth of Forth. In mountainous regions, events like the Killin Highland Games nestle among dramatic peaks, offering a more intimate gathering that maintains close ties to local clans and traditions.

The Isle of Skye Highland Games, held annually in early August at “The Meall” in Portree, stand out as one of Scotland’s most picturesque competitions. Here, the competition feels personal rather than commercial, with local competitors from Skye and neighboring islands participating alongside international athletes.

Tickets to the Highland Games are typically available at the entrance on the day of the event, though some of the larger gatherings (like Braemar) offer advance tickets online. Prices are generally reasonable, making them accessible to locals and visitors alike.

JOIN US FOR THE SKYE HIGHLAND GAMES

Step into centuries of living Scottish tradition at the Isle of Skye Highland Games on our Scotland Highlands & Islands hiking tour. You’ll witness the dramatic caber toss, marvel at the Scottish hammer throw, and enjoy spirited Highland dancing while wandering among craft and food stalls.

Our Scotland adventure features this cultural highlight on Day 5 in Portree, with the option to hike for half the day. While the Highland Games tour is a special feature of this day’s itinerary, the full tour explores Scotland’s most spectacular landscapes from Orkney’s ancient stone circles to the misty shores of Loch Ness. With knowledgeable guides and small groups, you’ll experience Scottish heritage most visitors never see.

Contact us to learn more about our August Scotland trip departure, where ancient traditions and breathtaking scenery will create memories that last a lifetime.