They are synonymous with Scotland, and have been part of Scottish culture for over 1000 years but, thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic, this year’s Highland Games will be an entirely virtual event!
In 2020, for the first time ever, everyone can have a front row seat to enjoy the very best of Scottish culture and competition from the comfort of home as some of Scotland’s most renowned Highland Games go virtual.
The Highland Games are a traditional feature of summer across Scotland, particularly in rural areas, celebrating Scottish and Celtic culture and centred around a variety of competitions such as heavy athletics, piping, drumming and Highland dancing.
Be Part of the Action
Spectators can tune into the world’s biggest Highland Games with Cowal Highland Gathering’s virtual event and enjoy three days of online entertainment from 27-29 August 2020.
This year will be the first time the games haven’t taken place since the Second World War. To keep spirit of the games alive in 2020, The Cowal Highland Gathering is broadcasting interviews with past and present competitors, archive film footage and music from some of the biggest names to play at the games via their Facebook and YouTube platforms in their 126th year. There will also be plenty of opportunities for the online audience to take part, including a virtual 5k run that anyone, wherever in the world, can take part in.
Reputed to be one of the best Highland Games in Scotland, so good that even the Queen and other members of the Royal family attend each year, is The Braemar Royal Highland Gathering. Sadly, this year’s spectators will not have the opportunity to brush shoulders with royalty but can instead experience the excitement of the games anywhere in the world. Spectators can tune into the Braemar Gathering on 12 September 2020 and enjoy a jam-packed and traditional programme of competitions and events including heavy athletics, piping, highland dancing, track and hill racing as well as a tug of war.
A Gathering of One’s Own
Watching the games will inspire some spectators to become competitors, and there are plenty of ways to enjoy the friendly, competitive spirit of the Highland Games in homes and parks across the world. Now is the perfect time to assemble the clan and rise to the challenge with the Homemade Highland Games 2020.
With a collection of simple household items such as a brooms, pillows, and wellies: living rooms, parks and gardens can be turned into a little slice of Scotland as family and friends battle it out to become the 2020 Homemade Highland Games champion.
Homemade Sheaf Toss
The Sheaf Toss is a traditional heavy athletics competition at most Highland Games where competitors throw a sheaf or filled bag over a high bar using only a pitchfork. In the homemade version the rules will differ slightly. Instead of seeing how high it can be thrown, see how far it can be tossed. For the game you will need:
- A pillowcase filled with clothes, straw or anything soft to use as your sheaf
- a pole (a broomstick or sweep is fine
- a marker to mark the starting line and the spots on the ground where the sheaf has landed
Game Rules:
- Get your homemade sheaf and pole
- Create a starting line and place your sheaf at it
- Take turns, try to lift up the sheaf and catapult it into the air so it goes as far as possible (don’t step over the
- starting line- your toss won’t be counted!)
- Mark the spot where it landed and let the next player take their turn. You each have two turns each, who tosses it the furthest, wins!
Welly Throw
This game is inspired by the hammer toss where participants take a heavy metal ball attached to a pole and spin around before letting it fly as far as possible. This version much safer and just as much fun! All you’ll need is:
- A welly (aka gumboot)
- A starting line
- A marker
Game Rules:
- Get your welly, stand at the starting line and grab the welly with both hands
- Either by spinning or by holding the welly in between your legs, throw it as far as you can without stepping over the line
- The one who throws the welly the furthest, wins!
- To make it even harder, make players face away from the starting line and throw the welly backwards over their head
Don’t forget to include track and field activities like sprinting, long jump and even three- legged races!
For more at home Highland Games inspiration check out VisitScotland’s Homemade Highland Games e-book
For further information about The Highland Games CLICK HERE.
IMAGE: Have your own fun with VisitScotland’s guide to Homemade Highland Games 2020!
