Scottish Tour Guide's Blog

Scottish Highland Dancing at Killin Highland Games, Scotland

This evening, I am posting images and video clips of my visit to the Killing Games held on Aug 3rd 2011.

Killin is a nice little town sitting on the southern tip of Loch Tay, in the centre of Scotland. The River Dochart flows through the town and then enters into Loch Tay where it is the principal feed. As will be evident from the images below, Killin is set in some impressive Highland scenery which adds an element of grandeur to the Games. This year there was the added bonus of warm and sunny weather resulting in a good turnout. Killin is also known for the scenic Falls of Dochart and as location of the the burial ground of Clan McNab.

Top image shows the Highland Dancing competition in progress.

Here is the shot putting competition in full swing.

Putting the Shot at Killin Highland Games, Perthshire

Here is the Games setting in context of local scenery.

Highland Setting for Killin Highland Games, Perthshire

Here is the Pipe Band crossing the River Dochart en-route to the Games.

Callendar Pipe Band crossing River Dochart at Killin

Piping Competition in process.

Piping Competitor at Killin Highland Games, Perthshire

Amongst the food stalls was this one selling Arbroath Smokies, a traditional Scottish smoked fish.

Arbroath Smokies on sale at Killin Highland Games

My tour group enjoyed this encounter with a tradition and culture dating back perhaps 1000 years.

This morning, group arrived Edinburgh Airport from where we proceeded as follows:

To Killin in central Scotland but en-route we made a brief stop at Kilmahog to view Hamish the Highland Cow and undertake some shopping.

Hamish, Highland Bull, Scotland

Next we arrived at Killin at the southern tip of Loch Tay. Here we spent a few hours watching the Highland Games which included Highland Dancing, Piping, Shot Putting, Hammer Throwing and the Callendar Pipe Band which marched the length of the town. Weather was very clement.

Callendar Pipe Band at Killin, Scotland

Killin Highland Games, Highland Perthshire, Scotland

Highland Dancing at Killin Higghland Games

Putting the Shot at Killin Highland Games, Scotland

Piping Competition at Killin Highland Games, Scotland

Next to the Crannog Centre at Kenmore on Loch Tay. This is a recreated loch dwelling of about 2500 years ago. The guide was very helpful and provided practical experiments of woodworking, fire making and other skills from the Crannog era.

Crannog Centre Tour Group, Scotland

Wood Turning at Crannog Centre, Scotland

Next to our lodgings for the night at Royal Hotel, Dunkeld.

Finally, after dinner we drove up to Pitlochry to view an Alan Ayckbourn play at the Festival  Theatre.

Theatre Group, Pitlochry, Scotland

Pitlochry Festival Theatre, Scotland

We finally returned to Dunkeld about 11.30pm after a long but fulfilling day.

Tomorrow, we head to Loch Ness.

Pipe Band at World Championships

Earlier today I visited historic Glasgow Green to view the 2010 World Pipe Band Championships entailing 239 bands from twelve countries.  In addition to the bands there was Highland Dancing competition and Highland Games in process. With benign weather conditions the event was very well patronised. I have never before encountered such a concentration of Pipe Bands and the event presented many video and photo opportunities examples of which are provided below.

Pipe Band

Video 1

Video 2

Video 3

Video 4

Video 5

Highland Dancing Competition