Nairn Highland Games

The Highland Games at Nairn are something of a institution in this corner of the Moray Firth coast. If you've never caught a caber toss or a heavy athletics event in person, it's worth carving out a day to see what the fuss is about. You'll get the full works - grown men heaving tree trunks end over end, stone throws, hammer tosses, and the obligatory bagpipe competitions that seem to go on half the day. The atmosphere is properly local, not sanitised for tourists, which is either brilliant or a bit chaotic depending on your tolerance for unpredictability.

The event attracts a genuine mixed crowd - families who've been coming for years, serious competitors from across Scotland, and enough Highland dress to make you wonder if anyone actually wears regular clothes round here. Children under about twelve might find the initial spectacle mesmerising, though they'll likely flag after a couple of hours once the novelty of sweating blokes in kilts wears thin.

Nairn itself is only a short walk from the games, so you can grab a bite beforehand and use it as your base. The town's not pretentious, which suits the event. If you're camping at Barrow Campsite just outside town, you're perfectly positioned to roll over and catch the action. The games typically run in summer - exact dates shift year to year, so check ahead. Entry costs vary, but it's rarely expensive. Dress for Scottish weather: waterproofs are non-negotiable.