Dundonald games

Dundonald Highland Games celebrates traditional Scottish culture with a pipe band contest, drum majors, solo piping, highland dancing, heavy events, side stalls, massed pipe bands, a street procession and is held in the picturesque setting of Royal Dundonald Castle. Highland Games, A community orgainised event featuring, pipes band, childrens fancy dress, charity stalls.

It is unique in capturing traditional Scottish heritage and strong community spirit within the picturesque setting of Royal Dundonald Castle. Dundonald, Ayrshire, Scotland, UK. Taken on a cold afternoon and the sky was a clear blue Ancient Castle Dundonald North Ayrshire with the sun casting a shadow.

Gardener's Tower in the centre. Gwrych Castle, Abergele, North Wales. A young girl competes in the highland dancing. An engraving of Dundonald Castle, South Ayrshire, Scotland - scanned at high resolution from a book published in Dundonald, View of Castle, The ancient and almost derelict ruins of Dundonald castle that sits proudly above the town of Dundonald in South Ayrshire Scotland.

The castellated and domestic architecture of Scotland, from the twelfth to the eighteenth century. Thekeep has in this case, as in many others in the West, been added tothe primitive wall of enceinte. Use your skills. The professor has set you a task to prove you are fit to enter the school of Witchcraft and Wizardry. You have one hour to solve his riddles, collect what you need for school then find the magic wand and figure out the spell which releases you.

Complete the task in under an hour and you will be worthy of a scholarship to the School of Witchcraft and Wizardry! You have one hour to solve his riddles, finite what you need for school then find the magic wand and figure out the spell which releases you. Who should play? Parties This is a really different party event. Duel Adventure Two identical rooms. The Cowal Highland Gathering is renowned for the quality of its Highland dancing, drawing in the best performers from around the globe as they compete in the Scottish and World Championships.

Highland games once saw clan members go head-to-head in fierce competition - and you'll still see this enthusiasm when clans muster all their might in a tug o' war. These days, clan attendance at games is now more of a social and ceremonial affair. Some Highland games are part of a wider clan gathering - a celebratory get-together featuring parades, Scottish music and dancing, feasts, heritage events and much joviality.

The ceremonial role of chieftain is bestowed upon a member of the local community or clan chief, who then leads processions, opens the games and oversees the whole event with aplomb. Did you know that several games have boasted famous celebrity chieftains, including singer Susan Boyle and actors Ewan McGregor and Dougray Scott?

Some believe the roots of the Highland games date as far back as the 11th century, when King Malcolm III called a foot race to the summit of Craig Choinnich, near Braemar, in the hopes of finding the fastest runner in the land to become his personal courier. Many games still include a hill race, although the winner is no longer destined for a life of servitude! The games evolved into a test not only of strength and stamina, but also of creative dance and music skills, to keep kings, queens and clan chiefs entertained.

Highland games as we know them today have been celebrated around Scotland since the s and regularly draw in crowds of thousands. Amongst the most historic is the Braemar Gathering, which was awarded Royal Patronage by Queen Victoria and is still regularly attended by the reigning monarch and other members of the Royal Family. Highland dancing at the games was originally an all-male event, and it wasn't until the late 19th century that women started to enter.

The Cowal Gathering is renowned for the quality of its Highland dancing, drawing in the best performers from around the globe as they compete in the Scottish and World Championships.

The Highland games were so impressive, that the founder of the modern Olympics, Baron Coubertin, introduced the hammer throw, shot putt and the tug o' war after watching the Highland display at the Paris Exhibition. The hammer throw and shot putt are still included to this day. Haggis hurling began as a practical joke in the s but is now a popular event at many Highland games - there's even a World Haggis Hurling Association dedicated to the sport!

The current world record was set at the Milngavie Highland Games in , when Lorne Coltart hurled a haggis an impressive ft.

Visit advice page. Highland Games. How to Highland games videos Want to know how to caber toss, shot putt or weight for height? What are the Highland games? Where are the Highland games?

When are the Highland games? Experiencing the Highland games So, what's it like to spend a day at a Highland games? Heavy contests and field events Heavy contests, including the hammer throw and weight for height, see competitors putting their muscles to the test, while field events such as the hill race and cycling competition test speed and stamina.