Crieff Highland Gathering – Crieff, Scotland 2026
Overview
The Crieff Highland Gathering, a longstanding tradition in the heart of Perthshire since 1867, is one of Scotland’s premier Highland Games, bringing together athletes, musicians, and families for a day of exhilarating competitions, lively performances, and cultural festivities that embody the spirit of the Highlands. Organized by the Crieff Highland Gathering Association, it attracts thousands to Market Park, showcasing the best of Scottish heritage through caber tossing, tug-of-war, piping, Highland dancing, and track events, all while fostering community pride in the historic market town of Crieff. As a not-for-profit event, it emphasizes inclusivity with affordable entry and family-friendly activities, supporting local charities through proceeds and volunteer efforts, blending athletic prowess with the skirl of bagpipes against the backdrop of rolling Perthshire hills.
For 2026, the gathering continues its legacy on the first Saturday in August, offering a full day of traditional and modern Highland fun, from junior races to massed bands, creating those timeless moments of tartan-clad triumph and communal cheer that make it a must-visit for anyone seeking an authentic taste of Scottish pageantry.
Event Highlights
- Main activities or performances: Traditional heavyweight events like caber tossing, hammer throw, and sheaf toss; track and field races including hill runs and sprints; Highland dancing competitions in full regalia; piping and drumming solos with massed bands marching; tug-of-war pitting teams in fierce rivalry.
- Special traditions or features: Annual opening parade with pipe bands and clans; junior Highland Games for young athletes; ties to the Royal Scottish Highland Games Association for authenticity; charity raffles and supporter contributions funding community causes.
- Unique attractions for visitors: Family-friendly junior events and pet shows; craft and food stalls featuring local Perthshire produce; interactive strength tests for spectators, blending competitive edge with entertaining cultural immersion.
About this event
- Founded in 1867 as a local athletic and cultural gathering, evolving into a key Perthshire tradition organized by the Crieff Highland Gathering Association.
- Focuses on traditional Highland sports, music, and dance, attracting 5,000+ annually with a mix of professional and amateur participants.
- Held on the first Saturday in August, emphasizing family entertainment and community ties, with support from local sponsors and volunteers.
- Features a full program of events from 10am to 6pm, including parades, competitions, and performances, fostering inclusivity for all ages.
- Promotes Scottish heritage through affiliations with national bodies, with proceeds supporting youth sports and local charities.
- Celebrates Crieff’s market-town charm, offering a warm welcome to visitors with opportunities to engage in games and crafts.
Why attend
Attending the Crieff Highland Gathering means immersing yourself in a whirlwind of tartan and triumph, where the thunderous crash of a caber meets the soaring skirl of pipes, whipping crowds into a frenzy of cheers that echo across Perthshire’s hills—it’s the exhilarating rush of watching a kilted athlete conquer the hammer, pausing for a family sprint that has kids giggling in the grass, all framed by the festival’s infectious joy that blends athletic awe with musical magic. With its affordable warmth and inclusive vibe, it’s a Highland hug for sports fans and families, sparking those spontaneous sing-alongs and stone-tossing tales that linger like mist on the moors.
Beyond the field, you’re upholding a 150-year legacy that unites the community and inspires young competitors, your cheers a soft boost for local causes and cultural continuity. Whether you’re a strength seeker trying the sheaf toss or a melody lover swaying to the bands, the festival’s fusion of power and pipes delivers those heart-pounding, heel-kicking highs—perfect for an August outing where Scotland’s spirit strides bold and bright.
Date & Duration
- Dates: August 1, 2026
- Duration: 1 day
Venue / Location
- Main venue: Market Park, a spacious open field ideal for events, races, and crowds with easy access from town center.
- Additional venues: No formal additional sites; all activities centered at the park for a compact experience.
- Main event Google location address: Market Park, Essendy Road, Crieff PH7 4HU, Scotland
Ticket Information
- Tickets are sold online via the official website (crieffhighlandgathering.com) or at the gate; advance purchase recommended for parking passes.
- Entry is paid, with family discounts to encourage group attendance.
- Ticket pricing in USD only: General admission ranges from $10 to $12 USD.
- Minimum and maximum tickets pricing: Minimum $10 USD (standard adult ticket); maximum $12 USD (family or premium entry).
- No lottery system; first-come, first-served with potential group deals via email.
- Special seating or VIP options: Limited VIP for $20 USD including reserved seating and lounge access; standard general admission for flexibility.
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Contact Information
- Email: secretary@crieffhighlandgathering.com (general inquiries and ticket support).
- Phone: Not specified; use email or website form for responses within 48 hours.
- Website: https://crieffhighlandgathering.com (full program, bookings, and updates).
- Social Media: @BlairgowrieHighlandGames (Facebook for announcements, photos, and community engagement).
- Key Staff: Highland Games Association Committee (contact via email for programming queries).
- Press/Volunteers: Press inquiries to secretary@crieffhighlandgathering.com; volunteer opportunities via website form (TBD for 2026, English support available).
Getting There
- Nearest airports: Glasgow Airport (GLA), 60 miles away (1-hour drive via A9); Edinburgh Airport (EDI) for more flights, about 70 miles (1.5-hour drive).
- Public transport: Trains from London Kings Cross to Perth (5 hours via LNER), then bus to Crieff (30 minutes); local Stagecoach buses connect from Perth.
- Driving: Access via A9/A822, with free parking at Market Park and nearby town lots; SatNav postcode PH7 4HU.
- Cycling/walking: Crieff’s paths are bike-friendly; racks at park; Perth station to town 40-minute bus or taxi.
- Accessibility: Wheelchair-friendly park with ramps; taxis from Perth ($40 via apps); contact for priority parking.
Accommodation Options
- Budget stays: Premier Inn Crieff (town center, from $80/night, breakfast included); hostels like Crieff YHA ($50/night dorms).
- Mid-range: The Lodge on Loch Lomond (nearby, $100–130/night, family rooms); Comrie Croft ($110/night, parking).
- Luxury: Gleneagles Hotel (countryside, $150+/night, spa options); Muthill B&B ($140/night, gourmet).
- Festival packages: Bundled stays via VisitPerthshire.com with B&Bs; camping at nearby Comrie ($60/night pitches).
- Booking tips: Book early for August; check perthshire.co.uk for deals.
Reviews
- Perthshire pageantry paradise—caber crash and pipe perfection, a tartan triumph that twirled our souls.
- Crieff’s caber carnival chaos—family frenzy from first toss, folk folkloric with Highland hilarity.
- Market Park magic mastery—tug frenzy and dance delirium, a Scottish spectacle that stole our strides.
Maps
Contact
Video
FAQ's
What makes the Crieff Highland Gathering unique compared to other Scottish events?
As a Perthshire powerhouse since 1867, it's a compact caber carnival blending heavyweight heroics with folk frenzy for under $12, sans sprawl—just one day's delight at Market Park, spotlighting local lore via sheaf toss and Rotary kids' mini-games. Vibe's a vibrant vortex: folk folkloric with piping pandemonium, folk family frolics. 2026 upholds the undercurrent: August 1, evolving via association oomph. It's intimate immersion; Facebook for folk forecasts. Pro tip: Field frolic for folk supremacy.
When and where exactly will the 2026 gathering take place?
August 1, 2026, unfurls over 1 sun-splashed day at Market Park (PH7 4HU), Crieff's turf tango ground—ideal for toss-tossing sans squeeze. Gates from 10am–6pm; heavies, hills, hammers till dusk. Timed for August's amber, it syncs with Perthshire peeks for post-tug teas. Venues hug the field—taxi from Perth 30 mins. Updates via site; rain? Tented tenacity. Arrive 9am for prime perch.
How much do tickets cost, and how do I buy them?
Admission $10–12 USD (£8–10), a steal for Highland hoedown—standard adult min, family max with kids discounted. No frills; covers events, stalls, sans surprises. Snag via crieffhighlandgathering.com now—past years vanished vroom, first-come frenzy. Groups? Email bundles. E-tickets easy; refunds if rains relent. All-ages arms open; your buy boosts bay bands.
Is the gathering family-friendly, and what activities suit kids?
Highland haven for hordes—affordable access hooks hordes with Mini Games for mini-mighties, blending folk frolics with family frenzy. No bedlam; inter-set ice lollies ease ears, stalls spark souvenir sprees. Tots tap to pipes, tweens chase races; clans croon it's "our Perthshire pageant." Quiet corners by the caber; pack prams for path prances. Bonds burgeon brighter than bagpipes.
How do I get to Crieff for the festival?
Glasgow Airport's 1-hour A9 jaunt north, or Kings Cross trains to Perth (5 hours, $80 return) then bus to Crieff (30 mins). A9/A822 whisks cars to park (£3/day). Buses loop lanes; bikes suit the flat. Cycles cruise carriageways, walks whisper-wind—10 mins from bus. Site's stroll supreme, ramps reign. Shuttles? Seasonal. Once parked, field perfection—compact cadence. Locals lisp: Rail + ramble for rhythmic reveille.
