Planning a trip to Scotland in the weeks to come? Consider a visit to one of the many Highland Games throughout the country.
The games hark back to times when clans would compete in events that tested a warrior’s skills. Today, the games offer a mix of dancing and piping events, along with tests of strength, such as the caber toss and hammer throw.
Those interested in taking in some of the more than 60 organized games staged annually can start planning via the website of the Scottish Highland Games Association at www.shga.co.uk. The site includes an interactive map with dates, locations and contact information.
Games take place from the end of May through mid-September. Since this year has been a wet one, many of the recent competitions were canceled because of waterlogged fields. But some of the best-known games are yet to come: The Cowal Highland Gathering, billed as the world’s biggest, is scheduled for Aug. 23-25; the Braemar Gathering, often attended by the royal family, is scheduled for Sept. 1; and the Pitlochry Highland Games are scheduled for Sept. 8.
