We are going to be in Scotland in September 2024 and want to go to one of the Highland Games. We are debating which of the two games to attend Braemar or Pitlochry. I do not care for seeing famous royalty - we want to just see an authentic Highland Game. Would love to hear thought on which one before we book.
Posted by
Lake District, England
5752 posts
Any Highland Games are "authentic". There are very rigid rules they operate under.
You can't have an inauthentic games.
The answer really lies in where you are before and afterwards, and whether you are on public transit or driving. I am guessing the former based on your Irish thread. On transit Pitlochry is easy by train, being a big train station on the Highland main line (Glasgow/Edinburgh to Inverness) which even has a day and a nght train to London. Braemar is a long bus ride from Aberdeen.
Posted by
Banchory, Scotland
268 posts
I see from a previous poster that you are likely to attend one of these highland games using public transport and agree that Pitlochry is the better event in this regard. It has a railway station and Braemar does not. Any journey to Braemar by public transport will involve a bus ride from Aberdeen or anywhere along the route which follows the A93.
It might be possible to join an organised group tour for the day from Edinburgh or Glasgow and make the journey to Braemar by coach. Companies such as Rabbie's or Timberbush could help you there and it is something you might like to look into. However if you do not care for seeing famous royalty then Pitlochry would be the games for you.
As has also been said highland games held in Scotland are authentic and indeed Donald F MacDonald of Charlotte, North Carolina based his vision of the Grandfather Mountain Highland Games founded in 1956 on the Braemar Gathering which he attended in 1954. Although I am far from an expert historian I believe highland gatherings and games have existed in one form or another in Scotland since the time of King Malcolm III (Malcolm Canmore) whose 35 years reign ended in 1093.
Posted by
RIchmond, BC,Canada
855 posts
I attended the Braemar games a few years ago, and really enjoyed it. I did it as a day trip from Edinburgh, though, as I didn’t want to deal with the problem of finding accommodation and parking in the area. It is the largest games outside of the Edinburgh tattoo. I think the company I used was Timberbush, but there are others that will also do it. There was quite a variety of events, but you should know that if you want to sit in the bleachers you have to pay more, otherwise you can just wander around all day to various events. The queen attended for a while, but other than a short ceremony when she arrived, it didn’t have much of an affect on the day.
Posted by
Banchory, Scotland
268 posts
Elle your posting history shows you wanted to attend the Braemar Gathering in 2017 and you planned to use a tour company to get there. Did you ever get to make that trip?
Posted by
OP
Longview, WA, USA
37 posts
We ended up going to Eastern Europe in 2017 and putting Scotland on the back burner for several years but it is now going to happen this year.
Posted by
OP
Longview, WA, USA
37 posts
Any idea how far in advance we need to buy tickets for the Pitlochry games?
Posted by
Lake District, England
5752 posts
I am surprised to see that you can book now- https://www.pitlochryhighlandgames.co.uk/
Equally at all games you can buy on the gate on the day.
Posted by
Banchory, Scotland
268 posts
We ended up going to Eastern Europe in 2017 and putting Scotland on the back burner for several years but it is now going to happen this year.
It's a big world out there and there's so much to see!
I just looked at the Pitlochry games website and there appears to be good availability for tickets. I don't know when they went on sale but the Braemar Gathering tickets (which I guess you are not now planning to attend) went on sale a few weeks ago. Tickets on the day might be the way to go just in case your plans change or the weather makes an impact on the event.