A day out at the Lonach Gathering

Barry Pickard
Oct 31
7 min read

Author: Barry Pickard

Hi, I'm Barry, the owner of Tailor-Made Itineraries and I have been designing bespoke self-guided tours for adventurous and curious travellers since 2015. I am a history graduate with a passion for travel.

I created this blog to show, through my own adventures, how you can have an incredible travel experience as an independent traveller, giving you the information to navigate the world with confidence.

What Are Highland Games?

The 177th Lonach Gathering

What's the most authentic way to experience Scottish Highland culture in one unforgettable day? I'll tell you exactly where—the Lonach Gathering in Aberdeenshire, and I've got the photos and the stories to prove it's worth the drive into the hills.

The thud of a 130-pound caber hitting the ground reverberates through my chest as a giant of a man in full Highland dress punches the air in triumph. Around me, the crowd erupts in cheers, bagpipes wail in the distance, and somewhere nearby someone's trying to explain to their bewildered children why grown men are throwing telegraph poles. The smell of freshly cut grass mingles with beer, whisky fumes from the tasting tents, and that particular scent of countryside events—trampled earth and excitement. Welcome to Bellabeg, a tiny Aberdeenshire village that swells to 7,500 people every August for Scotland's friendliest Highland Games.

I'm Barry, and I've been designing bespoke self-guided tours since 2015, which means I've attended my fair share of Scottish festivals and gatherings. But the Lonach Gathering? It's different. This isn't some tourist-focused spectacle put on for coach tours—this is 200 years of genuine Highland tradition, complete with armed spearmen marching through the morning and athletes competing in sports that date back to the 11th century. I drove out here from Aberdeen specifically to see what made this gathering so special, and I left already planning which Highland Games to visit next.

What you're about to read is everything you need to know about attending the Lonach Gathering—from what time the spearmen start their march to where you'll park your car in a field, what events you absolutely can't miss to why there are children hitting each other with pillows. This isn't just a list of events copied from the programme. This is my day at the Gathering, with practical tips, historical context, and the kind of details you only pick up when you're actually standing in the arena. Whether you're planning a Scotland road trip and want to time it around a proper Highland Games, or you're just curious about what actually happens at these events, you're in the right place.

Think of Scotland and you probably conjure images of kilts, bagpipes and stunning landscapes. Well, we found the perfect way of experiencing all three in one day – attend a Highland Games! From May to September, over 60 Highland Games & Gatherings are held every weekend throughout the country, and we decided to attend the Lonach Gathering. This event is held in August in the small village of Bellabeg, Aberdeenshire, just a stone’s throw from the beautiful Royal Deeside.

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Don’t forget that Tailor-Made Itineraries delights in creating bespoke self-guided tours. So, if visiting a Highland Games appeals to you, reach out to me by email. I would be more than happy to design a self-guided tour around your requirements incorporating a Highland Games event in a general tour of Scotland.

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What Are Highland Games?

What happens at a Highland Games, we hear you ask? These festivals are a chance for athletes to compete in traditional Scottish sports, and for pipers and dancers to face off in competition, all of which gives the crowds that attend great entertainment. From May to September, over 60 Highland Games & Gatherings are held every weekend throughout the country. At the Lonach Gathering, we were among around 7,500 spectators, which is perhaps a medium sized games. The Cowal Games being the largest in Scotland, with around 23,000 attendees and the largest in the world is held by The Caledonian Club in San Francisco, which attracts more than 50,000 visitors!

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The 177th Lonach Gathering

This was the 177th Lonach Gathering, but highland games have been held for many centuries throughout Scotland. Indeed, they may originate as far back at the 11th century, when King Malcolm III called participants for a race to the top of Craig Choinnich, near Braemar, hoping to find the fastest runner of the country that would become his personal courier.

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“Scotland’s Friendliest Games”, as the Lonach Gathering is known, was founded in 1823 by Sir Charles Forbes, 1st Baronet of Newe and Edinglassie. The society which was established to run the games had the original mission of preserving Highland dress and “supporting loyal, peaceful, and manly conduct; and the promotion of social and benevolent feelings among the inhabitants of the district.” After attending the Gathering, we think that they have done a great job in sustaining the tradition.

The Spearmen

The unique feature of the Lonach Gathering is the march of the spearmen. These local Highlanders, from the surrounding area of Strathdon, march the Bellabeg vicinity from 8am till lunch time, dressed in full kilt attire, carrying their spears. The highlight of the Gathering is when the spearmen march round the arena on two occasions during the afternoon. Both times, they are followed by Massed Pipe Bands. Most of the spearmen are from the Forbes clan, although there is a section for the Wallace and Gordon clans as well, each with their own tartan.

We arrived at the Gathering from Aberdeen just as the festivities were starting. Whichever route you take from Aberdeen – along Royal Deeside or Donside – the landscape is stunning, with the car journey taking almost an hour and half. Bellabeg is quite isolated, so a car is essential. Parking takes the form of several large fields, and we found them to be well maintained and marshaled.

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The Heavy Events

Throughout the afternoon, we spent some time watching the various events taking place in the arena. The Gathering’s heavy events including the Shot Put, Hammer Throwing (the metal ball is attached to a wooden pole), Weight For Distance (throwing a metal ball and chain), and Weight For Height (throwing a metal weight up over a horizontal pole).

Tossing the Caber at The Lonach Gathering

Perhaps the most iconic heavy event, however, is the Tossing the Caber. Here the strongman lifts a long log of Scots Pine, then, after a short run, attempts to throw the log in the air, end over end, so that it lands in the 12 o’clock position. Amazingly, we saw several competitors complete a full toss.

The Light Events

In between times, there was also the light events to keep the crowd entertained - long race; high jump; short race; long jump; hop, step and leap; ¼ mile race; hill race. There was also a Tug O’War competition, as well as sporting events for children. These events even included Pillow Fighting, with the 12 years or over category being won by a young Polish lad, demonstrating how multi-national the competitors are! We were very impressed by all of their efforts.

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We weren’t the only ones that have admired the sporting prowess of competitors. Did you know that Baron de Coubertin, the organiser of the modern Olympic movement, was so impressed by the heavy events he saw in Scotland that he added 3 parts to 'his' Olympic Games? Two of them are still on the program: shot put and hammering. The missing third event being the Tug O’War.

Bagpipes and Dance

Music and dance form an important part of the games, indeed, it is hard to avoid the sound of bagpipes throughout the whole afternoon. It is thought that these competitions were very significant for the Clan chiefs who presided over the early Highland Games, as it allowed them to select the very best pipers and dancers to be part of the household, providing the very best entertainment during special events.

Highland dancing at The Lonach Gathering

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As well as the competitions, we found that the Gathering had plenty to entertain us. There were amusement rides for the children; stalls run by local businesses and charities, including ample opportunity to try samples of Scottish whisky, gin and ale; and of course, there was a well-stocked beer tent!

Conclusion

The Lonach Gathering isn't a performance for tourists—it's a living tradition that's been celebrated by this Aberdeenshire community for 177 years, and somehow they've managed to keep it feeling authentic, welcoming, and genuinely special. From the moment those spearmen marched into the arena to the final caber toss of the afternoon, I found myself caught up in something that felt both ancient and immediate. What struck me most wasn't just the strength of the athletes or the skill of the dancers, but the fact that everyone—from the Polish kid winning the pillow fight to the local farmers competing in the tug o'war—seemed to be having the time of their lives. For independent travellers looking to experience Highland culture beyond the Edinburgh tourist trail, this is as real as it gets. No admission gates, no queues, no performances—just a field in Aberdeenshire where tradition comes alive every August. And yes, there's a beer tent with excellent Scottish ale. If you're planning a summer trip to Scotland, seriously consider timing it around one of the dozens of Highland Games held every weekend from May to September. The Lonach Gathering might call itself "Scotland's friendliest games," but I reckon it's also one of the most memorable days out you'll have in the Highlands.