Planning a trip to Scotland this summer? Consider attending a Highland Games, which is like a track meet crossed with a county fair.
If you’re interested in experiencing one of these “kilty pleasures,” you can find Scots squaring off in various competitions across the country. Each year, more than 80 games take place in different towns, villages, and castles on weekends throughout the summer (May through September). And in smaller towns, you can simply drop in and join the fun. You’ll pay about $10 at the gate and enjoy a day full of sport, fun, culture, and Scottish gut-bomb taste treats. I find that tourists are not only made to feel welcome, they are encouraged to give a couple of events a try themselves. (You’ll see me do just that in this clip from my European Festivals special.)
Before you go, be sure to pick up a copy of my Rick Steves Scotland guidebook. A new edition, freshly updated for 2018, is available now: https://store.ricksteves.com/shop/p/scotland-guidebook
