Visit beautiful Dunkeld, a Highland whisky distillery, and the famous Tattoo.
- Home
- 1 Day Tours
- Highland Games
1 Day
Join us on a day tour to Scotland’s Highland Games 2026 where you can soak up the atmosphere and experience the excitement. The Games, or Gatherings, take place in towns and villages throughout the country and are a highlight of the Scottish calendar, making for a truly memorable day out amongst grand Highland scenery.
Tour Highlights
Inclusions
Passionate Local Guide
Live Commentary & Storytelling in English
Scenic Drive through the Highlands
Ticket to the Highland Games 2026
What Other Explorers Say
If you have never been you have to go at least once. And we saw the King and Queen! Watching the feats of strength was amazing!
Dutche
15/09/2025An excellent day out, watching the Highland Gsmes was a highlight of our trip to Scotland. Our driver and guide, Karis, was fantastic, keeping us entertained along the way.
Roulak
14/09/2025Tim was so much more than a bus driver. He was awesome. His brief Scottish history put so much into perspective and the tidbits along the way broke up the journey. The experience itself was well planned from travel to admission and all the rest.
Mark
07/09/2025A very relaxing tour. Very informative, professional and prompt. Rich the driver/tour guide was funny and helpful. Had heaps of local knowledge and was far from ordinary. Bus was comfortable, check-in process in the morning was very smooth. Travelling again this week on a three day Skye tour. Very confident I will have another great journey. Great playlist of Scottish music.
Fay
06/09/2025I had a wonderful time at the Atholl Games. Charlie was fantastic, a good driver and very helpful - educating us all on the Scottish history and scenes along the way to the Atholl Gatherings. Very glad I participated in this fabulous day!
Jackie
27/05/2025Had an incredible day with Highland Haggis Tours at the Highland Games! Our guide Charlie was fantastic—knowledgeable, fun, and made the whole experience unforgettable. The ride was smooth, the scenery was breathtaking, and the games were an absolute blast to watch. Thank you for an amazing adventure!
Donna
25/05/2025Amazing job Charlie, lots of fun and banter on the trip. Easy to chat too, and amazing job driving the bus and keeping us all safe
David
25/05/2025Charlie was an amazing guide! She gave the perfect amount of history of the area and the games themselves, then gave us loads of free time. I could not recommend this more!
Kara
25/05/2025We had the most lovely day going to the Highland Games with Charlie! She was so sweet and knowledgeable and has excellent taste in music! She also gave us great stories and recommendations on the way back, definitely take this tour!
Josh
25/05/2025Charlie was great! She was adaptable and entertaining, would recommend everyone to listen to her jokes and history lessons. The Blair Atholl was an amazing experience and I am so glad I was able to enjoy the games.
Deanna
25/05/2025This was our first visit to Edinburgh and we couldn’t miss a trip to the Luss Highland games. The coach ride was a very comfortable, beautifully scenic 2hour trip to the “west is best”. Sophie is a fantastic storyteller and great DJ - so many good Scottish tunes. I highly recommend this tour!
Amy
06/07/2024Brilliant day, plenty of free time to enjoy the games and explore the local area. Sophie was a fantastic guide, funny, approachable and friendly and made everything so easy today!!
Mia
06/07/2024Great day out to watch the Scottish Highland Games. If you've got an extra day in Scotland and the games are on, highly recommend it. Sophie was also fantastic, cheery personality and some quick insight into the history of Scotland as we drove through.
Elena
06/07/2024Phil was a great guide for our day trip to the Braemar Gathering. He was informative, pleasant and professional. A++++++++ The bus was clean and comfortable with no issues.
Gina
10/09/2023This trip was great! Highly recommend. It was so fun to see the Games, and our guide stopped at some really nice, off the beaten path places on the way there. Overall a really great day trip.
Hannah
12/06/2022Frequently Asked Questions
All our tours to the Highland Games depart from Edinburgh city centre. For more details on your pick-up location, please visit our Departure Info page.
Our Highland Games tours typically last around 9 hours*, except for the Braemar Highland Games, which lasts approximately 13 hours*.
*Length of tour may vary depending on traffic and weather conditions.
The Highland Games 2026 programme is going to be released soon. We're currently working on releasing this tour for 2026 - check back soon for dates and details.
Yes, tickets to the Highland Games are included.
The world-renown Braemar Highland Games takes place on Saturday 5th September 2026.
The Highland Games are annual events celebrating Scottish culture and heritage, featuring athletic competitions, music, dance, and various festivities.
Also known as the Braemar Gathering, the Highland Games in Braemar stand out for their royal patronage, with regular attendance by members of the British royal family. It holds historical significance in Scotland, attracting a global audience year after year.
The Highland Games feature a variety of exciting events such as caber tossing, tug-of-war, hammer throwing, and traditional highland dance competitions. Paired with lively bagpipe music, it's one of the most authentic ways to experience Scottish culture and heritage.
While our coaches don't offer onboard toilets, rest assured that our itineraries include regular comfort stops, allowing frequent access to restroom facilities.
Our guides are unable to assist with wheelchairs or provide physical assistance during boarding or disembarking from the coach. Passengers should be capable of boarding and disembarking independently using the access stairs or with the help of a traveling companion. Foldable wheelchairs can be stored in our onboard luggage storage during travel.
Please note that some stops on our tours may involve rough terrain or only be accessible by steps.
It's important to be aware that your accommodation may have limited accessibility for wheelchair users. More info can be found on our Accessibility page.
Yes! Our routes include stops where you can grab a snack or recharge with a drink. Occasionally, we pause at shops offering local souvenirs as well. For precise details about timing and stops, don't hesitate to inquire with your guide.
Our itinerary (in tab 2, 'Itinerary & Departure') provides a helpful outline of what to expect on the day. We refrain from providing additional details beyond what's outlined there, as factors like weather, traffic, and the preferences of our driver guides may lead to slight deviations. We also believe that part of the excitement comes from the unexpected surprises along the way! Rest assured, your journey through Scotland will be unlike any other.
If you need to cancel your tour, you will need to inform us in writing by sending an email to info@highlandexplorertours.com. You can find our cancellation and refunds policy in section 3 in our Terms and Conditions.
Feel free to visit our general Frequently Asked Questions page for answers to common queries, or reach out to us directly via our Contact Us page.
- Home
- 1 Day Tours
- Highland Games
Sun 14 June 2026 Glamis
Sat 04 July 2026 Luss
Sun 02 August 2026 Bridge of Allan
Sun 16 August 2026 Crieff
Sat 05 September 2026 Braemar
Sat 12 September 2026 Pitlochry
The Highland Games are renowned worldwide as a test of strength between Clans. These athletic contests date back over 900 years and offer a fantastic spectacle, featuring Highland dancing, pipe band displays, hammer throwing, tug-of-war, and caber tossing.
We’ve designed a series of day tours that take you to different Highland Games across Scotland, each with its own unique local charm and character. Our 2026 programme includes a variety of events, including a special tour to the world-famous Braemar Gathering, which has been attended by members of the Royal Family since Queen Victoria’s visit in 1848.
1 Day Tour Itinerary & Map
Sun 24 May 2026 Blair Atholl
Sun 14 June 2026 Glamis
Sat 04 July 2026 Luss
Sun 02 August 2026 Bridge of Allan
Sun 16 August 2026 Crieff
Sat 05 September 2026 Braemar
Sat 12 September 2026 Pitlochry
The Highland Games are renowned worldwide as a test of strength between Clans. These athletic contests date back over 900 years and offer a fantastic spectacle, featuring Highland dancing, pipe band displays, hammer throwing, tug-of-war, and caber tossing.
We’ve designed a series of day tours that take you to different Highland Games across Scotland, each with its own unique local charm and character. Our 2026 programme includes a variety of events, including a special tour to the world-famous Braemar Gathering, which has been attended by members of the Royal Family since Queen Victoria’s visit in 1848.
Day Highlights
Departure Point
60 High Street, EH1 1TB, Edinburgh
We depart from our blue corner shop at 60 High Street, centrally located on the Royal Mile in the Old Town of Edinburgh. A useful landmark to find us is the Radisson Blu Hotel, situated just one street further along.
Not sure how to get here? Find more info on our Departure Info page.
Departure & Return Time
Tours Dates & Prices
Choose a departure date, number of people and accommodation option.
- Home
- 1 Day Tours
- Highland Games
You're All Set!
All experiences are included in this tour, so there's nothing more to add here.
Tours We Think You'll Love
Viking Fire Festival and magnificent seaside scenery on the remote Shetland island.
Visit remote islands of Mull, Iona and Staffa, and enjoy a wildlife cruise.
Authentic Highland whisky distillery visit, a stunning glen, and a scenic walk in The Hermitage forest.