The Highland Games--The Royal Braemar Gathering

On the first Saturday in September, a Gathering is held in Braemar. A Gathering is where the Highland Clans meet annually to compete in traditional contests such as dancing, tossing the caber, stone toss, weight toss, tug o' war, footraces, high jump, long jump, and of course, bagpiping. The bagpipers come out in droves. These games have been held for centuries. The gathering at Braemar has become "The Gathering".

In 1848 Queen Victoria started attending the gathering at Braemar and the Royal Family has been coming almost every year since. The Queen usually comes in the afternoon. We left around noon so we aren't sure if she came. Last year, Queen Elizabeth, Prince Phillip and Prince Charles all attended.

Balmoral Castle

The Queen has a Royal Castle in Balmoral, about 10 miles from Braemar. This is the castle where Queen Elizabeth went into seclusion when Princess Diana died. It is said to be her favorite castle.

The Scottish Thistle

Hotel in Braemar

Street Performer

Young Pipers

Older Pipers

Colorful Pipers

Drum Major

Another Drum Major

The "Handicapped" Hundred Yard Dash

Notice where all of the contestants are to begin the race. Lane 1 is well up the field. Lane 2 is standing towards the back. Lane 3 is about 10 yards in front of Lane 2. Lane 4 is about 20 yards behind Lane 2. I am not sure how the handicaps are figured but the distances are different for each runner.

A local bagpipe band performing during the games.

The Tug O' War

Traditional tug o' war with 2 sides trying to pull each other. We had received quite a bit of rain during the 2 days before the competition so by the end of the competition, the contestants made a muddy rut with their feet. Notice in the background where a contestant throws the 28 pound weight.

The 28 pound weight toss

The Caber Toss

There is nothing quite like picking up a telephone pole, running with it and then flipping it end over end. Getting the balance right to begin with is the key. The caber is quite heavy. There were quite a few "near misses" when the caber fell and almost hit people standing close by that weren't paying attention.





Traditional Scottish Dance called the Hulachan performed by some young kids.




Two seasoned performers.




Throwing the weight (look close--it is a short video).



The Stone Toss--an early form of the shot put. Remember the scene in Braveheart where Amish (Hamish?) throws the stone at William Wallace.




The combined Bagpipe Bands March. This is approx 300 Band Leaders, Bagpipers, and drummers marching together. You don't usually see this many pipers in one group.