Summer Festivals of Scotland

Edinburgh Military Tattoo,

Pageantry and military displays, runs for 3 weeks in August .The best day is late Saturday evening when fireworks take place.

Edinburgh Festival – and Fringe

The Festival lasts for most of the month of August is the world’s largest, most important arts festival. The Fringe Festivals coincidentally grew alongside the main festival. A massive fireworks display on the Esplanasde of Edinburgh Castle takes place on Saturday 2 Sept.

Firth Ceilidh, Orkney Islands

Annual event in August with local artists, a supper and traditional Gaelic dancing. We are too late for it but there are usually other small local ceilidhs during the month.

World Pipe Ban Championships, Glasgow

Gathering of the more than 100 pipe bands in August

Arbroath Sea Festival

Weekend festival in August of Arbroath’s maritime traditions, with fresh fish displays, cookery demonstrations and tastings. Home of the Arbroath Smokie (line caught haddock, smoke cured over oak chips and then poached in milk)

Braveheart Convention, Stirling

Gathering of Braveheart enthusiasts at Airth Castle Hotel, near Stirling, for a 3 day convention each August including talks, evening ‘Braveheart’ style banquet with dancing and an afternoon re-enactment of Wallace’s attack on Airth Castle

Highland Games:

These are held across the highlands in the month of August and early September. Here are some highlights:

Kinloch Rannoch, West Perthshire

Highland dancing, pipers, tug-of-war, hill race, tossing of the cabers, hammer and stone throwing, and the long jump. Picturesque setting.

Cowal Highland Games, Dunoon

People’s games led by the people. Highland dancing, pipers, tossing of the cabers, hammer and stone throwing, and the long jump. Largest Highland games in the world, featuring the World Highland Dancing Championships, shinty and heavy athletics. Big enough to rival Braemer