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1 day tour
Braemar Highland Gathering
From
£131.00
Tour Summary
Braemar Highland Gathering
One day tour
Highland Games are held throughout Scotland and are a lively celebration of Scottish culture. The Braemar Gathering is Scotland’s premier games event and has been taking place in its current form since 1832 but goes back in time almost 900 years!
Heavy Sports - watch the “heavies” compete in Tossing the Caber and Hammer Throwing
Tug O’War - cheer on your favourite team to victory
Bagpipes - listen to the sound of the pipes as solo players and bands compete
Highland Dancing – watch as dancers give dazzling displays of traditional highland dancing
Food and Drink - enjoy a real taste of Scotland by visiting the many artisan stalls
The Massed Pipes and Drums - marvel at the sight and sound as the bands come together to play in unison
Movie locations - Sunset Song, The Queen and Mrs Brown
Full Tour Itinerary
Scotland’s premier Highland Games - The Braemar Highland Gathering takes place in the pretty village of Braemar on Royal Deeside. This exceptional event has a long and noble history. It has taken place here, in one form or another, for over 900 years. Today it’s a World-famous celebration of traditional dancing, music and sportsmanship.
Before her death, Queen Elizabeth was the patron of the Braemar Highland Gathering for over 70 years and regularly attended the event with members of the Royal Family when she stayed at nearby Balmoral Castle. The current patron is HM King Charles III, whose attendance at the games maintains a tradition that dates back to 1848 when Queen Victoria first visited the event.
Your Braemar Highland Gathering tour starts in Edinburgh and will take you on a scenic journey through the ancient Kingdom of Fife then through Glen Shee to reach Braemar in Royal Deeside.
Once in the showground (admission is included), you’ll marvel at the kilted “Heavies” who show off their athleticism when they take part in contests like Putting the Stone, Throwing Weight and, of course, Tossing the Caber!
Listen to the grunts and groans as two teams battle it out on the Tug of War. After a long battle of too and fro the winners will receive their prize from a member of the Royal Family.
Over 100 dancers will participate in magical displays of Highland Dancing, one of the oldest dance forms and highly developed over many centuries. In their colourful tartan outfits, the contestants will compete in traditional dances like the Highland Fling and The Sword Dance. Hornpipe.
During your time at the Braemar Highland Gathering, you’ll get to enjoy listening to many Pipe Bands performing bagpipe music during the day. A real highlight will be the march of the Massed Pipes and Drums comprising all 12 bands performing in unison.
We’ll depart from Braemar in the late afternoon, returning to Edinburgh by mid-evening. What a memorable day this has been!
Frequently Asked Questions
What can I expect on this Signature Day Tour?
Travelling on a Signature one-day tour is a great way to discover the best of Scotland from your city centre base of Edinburgh, Glasgow or Inverness.
During your day of discovery we’ll introduce you to many aspects of our country: spectacular scenery, history, folklore, nature and much, much more.
Travel is provided by air-conditioned vehicle and each tour is led by an experienced driver/guide who will provide a live commentary in English.
There are stops planned at the key sights as well as for meals and comfort breaks.
How many people will be in the group?
The group size is normally between 16 and 33 passengers, however at times of peak demand larger coaches may be used.
Do you offer a hotel pick-up service on this tour?
We know that you will want to start your tour straight away rather than spending valuable time travelling around hotels.
By offering a single centrally located departure point we can get you to Scotland’s best scenery as quickly as possible .
Where does my tour depart from and return to?
Our tours depart from a central location in Edinburgh’s famous Royal Mile/High Street which is easily reached by public transport.
Full information on the departure time and place of your tour will be shown on your tour confirmation.
What features will the coach have?
You will usually travel in a modern eco-friendly touring coach which is equipped with air-conditioning, comfortable reclining seats, large picture windows and seat belts.
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Customer Reviews Overall Rating:
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Rating: (4 /5) 24 Sep 2025
The day overall was wonderful. There wasn't much direction when got to the games other than were to enter. Didn't realize that the included tickets were general, which meant no actual seat and didn't realize that I could have possibly purchased one. Found a place to sit on a hillside to watch the games. Otherwise, it was a good day. Definitely recommend going...also to leave a little time to take a quick walk at least down the main street of Braemar a little. It's a lovely town.
Tamara from Dayton, US
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Rating: (5 /5) 17 Sep 2025
Our guide was a wealth of knowledge & humor as well as a very safe driver. Would highly recommend this tour company & this guide.
Kenneth from Green Valley, US
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Rating: (5 /5) 12 Sep 2025
Took two two Scottish tours during our stay in Scotland and they were the highlight of the trip! Both bus drivers ( Nick and ??) were so fun, professional, and provided a great tour! Thank you so much!
Connie from New Bern, US
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