What is the Braemar Gathering?
Highland games are held in towns and villages all over Scotland every summer, but one is famous above all: the Braemar Gathering, held on the first Saturday of September in the village of Braemar, in the Cairngorms, not far from the royal estate of Balmoral. Legend traces the games back to King Malcolm III, who is said to have held contests to choose the fastest and strongest men of the Highlands as his messengers and soldiers.
The modern Gathering has its roots in the Braemar Highland Society, formed in 1815, which held its first games with prizes in 1832. Queen Victoria, who fell in love with Deeside, attended in 1848, and since then the reigning monarch has been the patron of the games. Members of the royal family usually attend, and the society has borne the title "Royal" since 1866. Around 16,000 spectators come each year, filling the grandstands around a green arena in the Princess Royal and Duke of Fife Memorial Park, with the hills of Deeside all around.
The programme is classic Highland games. The "heavies", strong men in kilts, toss the caber, a tree trunk that must land end over end, throw the hammer and put the stone. Teams compete in tug-of-war, athletes run track races and a hill race up the slopes above the park, and Highland dancers perform intricate steps on wooden stages. Through the day, pipe bands play, and the massed bands march together across the field, one of the great sounds of Scotland.
The atmosphere is part sporting event, part country fair, and the setting, deep in the mountains of Royal Deeside, is magnificent.
What to expect
The Gathering is a one-day event, running from morning until late afternoon, with events in the arena all day.
Morning
The games begin
The gates open in the morning, and the first heavy events, races and dancing begin, with pipe bands playing as the stands fill.
Afternoon
The royal arrival and the massed bands
In the afternoon, members of the royal family traditionally arrive at the royal pavilion, and the massed pipe bands march across the arena. The caber toss and tug-of-war draw the biggest cheers.
Late afternoon
The hill race and the finals
Runners race up the hill above the park and back, the final heavy events are decided, and the day ends with the prize-giving.
Tug-of-war at the Braemar Gathering
Photo by RonAlmog / flickr · CC BY 2.0
Planning your trip
Getting there
Braemar is about 90 kilometres west of Aberdeen, which has the nearest airport and railway station. Buses run along Deeside from Aberdeen, and extra buses are often laid on for the Gathering. Driving is the most practical option; parking is available near the park, but traffic on the day is heavy.
Where to stay
Braemar has only a few hotels, guesthouses and cottages, which are often booked a year ahead for the Gathering weekend. Ballater, about 30 minutes away, has more choice, and Aberdeen has plenty of hotels for those happy to travel on the day.
What it costs
Tickets are moderately priced, with general admission much cheaper than grandstand seats. Accommodation in the Cairngorms National Park is the main expense, especially for the Gathering weekend, when demand far outstrips supply.
Go like you know
- Wear a waterproof jacket over your tartan; everyone else will.
- Watch the caber toss closely: the throw is judged on how straight the caber lands, not how far.
- Visit Braemar Castle and walk in the Cairngorms on the days before or after the games.
- Bring cash and a picnic; queues for food can be long in the afternoon.
- Stop at Balmoral's gates or the village of Ballater on your way along Royal Deeside.
- Edinburgh's Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo, in August, is the other great show of Scottish pipes and drums.
- For a very different contest of strength and skill, see Mongolia's Naadam, in July.
Frequently asked questions
When is the Braemar Gathering?
On the first Saturday of September every year. In 2026 it was held on September 5, and in 2027 it is expected on Saturday, September 4, following the same rule. Tickets usually go on sale in the spring through the Gathering's official website.
Does the royal family attend?
Traditionally, yes. Since Queen Victoria's visit in 1848, the reigning monarch has been patron of the Gathering, and members of the royal family usually attend in the afternoon, watching from the royal pavilion. Their attendance is not announced in advance and is never guaranteed.
What is the caber toss?
The caber is a long, heavy tree trunk. The athlete lifts it upright, runs forward and throws it so that it flips end over end. The best throw lands straight ahead of the thrower, in the twelve o'clock position, and is judged on accuracy, not distance.
