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Crieff Highland Gathering
The Gathering today
Today Crieff Highland Gathering is regarded as one of the premier games in Scotland, and we are very excited to be a part of this historic, annual event now that we have joined the local community. The very first Crieff Highland Gathering was in 1870 and pipers, dancers and athletes have competed every year since then, with the exceptions of 1914-18 and 1939-49, and more recently during the 2020-21 Covid pandemic, when no gatherings took place. The Games are a major annual local and tourist attraction in the area attracting circa 6000 people, thanks to the hard work of a dedicated committee of volunteers.
Chieftains since 1950 have included famous names such as Ewan McGregor OBE, Kenny Logan, Elaine C Smith, John Beattie, Allan Wells MBE, and Brigadier Melville Stewart Jameson CBE as well as many local and prominent businessmen. Ron Clark has been elected Chieftain for 2024, a retired teacher with 22 years at Crieff High School under his belt his local connections couldn't be stronger, not to mention that Ron is an award-winning piper; taking the Pibroch at Lonach Gathering, Aboyne and Perth, before judging solo piping at various Highland Games for many years.
We were proud to supply the tartan for Ron's tartan shield, which was made in his chosen tartan, Cairngorm, by the Director of Crieff Highland Gathering, Jimmy Comrie BEM. Brooches have been made of the remaining Cairngorm fabric for each of the committee members.
The Gathering is held in the centre of Crieff at the iconic Market Park, with a full programme of traditional Highland games competitions on offer including Running, Youth Running, Cycling, Highland Dancing, Heavyweights, Light Field, and Tug o War. Piping Performances will take place throughout the day as well as the spine-tingling salute to the Chieftain and the customary Massed Pipe Bands finale. Head to the Aldi Arena area of the Park for some top class traditional music.
There can be little doubt that traditional Games of agility and strength have been practiced in the Highlands from very early times. Formalisation and annual gatherings began around 1820 as part of the revival of Tartan and Highland Culture encouraged by Sir Walter Scott. In 1848 the Braemar Highland Games was attended by Queen Victoria. By this time the competitions were much as they are today with traditional stone and hammer throwing, tossing the caber, piping and dancing along with running and jumping events.
Early Highland Games in Strathearn and further afield
Katie from our Crieff shop is also a graduate in Scottish History from Glasgow University and has had a lovely time delving into the history of Highland Games:
In 1825 the Highland Club announced to the aristocracy, gentry, and professional class of the day that they had been 'instituted for the preservation and encouragement of manly national games and exercises'. Other Highland societies had been founded for the sociability of elite and professional men for reasons of philanthropic and political purpose and leisure; this club was to champion Scotland's games in order to retain its specifically Highland 'manly martial spirit', so promoted during the Napoleonic Wars and in contemporary romantic works.
Early Games
Early games or 'fetes' and 'meetings', such as those held at the Glengarry estate by Alisdair Ranaldson Macdonell of Glengarry and his exclusive Society of True Highlanders were duly noted for their vigorous, and in the case of Glengarry's games, grotesque character. Glengarry shocked his guests, ‘gentle’ or otherwise when he had cows pulled apart limb from limb at the 1822 games in an apparent test of strength. Another early games was held during the Northern Meeting, founded in 1788, a week of social activities with pony racing, balls, and dinners which added a Highland games to its calendar in 1840. However not all early Highland societies and games were an elite exercise. The Braemar society was founded in 1800 by local workmen as a charitable Highland foundation during times of economic hardship. It was in 1832 that the first games were held by the group at Braemar, after the society renamed themselves the Braemar Highland Society in 1826. Predating games were grand competitions in events that constitute elements of modern gatherings, such as Highland dancing and piping, as well as poetry composition.
What of local Games in Strathearn?
Games had been held across Strathearn in the earlier part of the 19th century. The St Fillan's games were incredibly popular and held on 'the field and on the lake', with chieftains such as the future Marquess of Breadalbane and David Dundas of Dunira presiding over the event. The games were celebrated afterwards with a dinner and a ball at the assembly rooms in Crieff. Not just relegated to the after-party, Muthill and perhaps Crieff were stages for games held by the Strathearn Highland Friendly Society and competitors were awarded prizes such as a 'handsome pipe' and a 'silver snuff' by highly influential Highland societies, such as the Highland Society of London, for pibroch playing, stone putting, and shooting. These games along with a number of others, were attended by one of Perthshire's most interesting characters, General Sir David Stewart of Garth, a games, indeed Scotland, aficionado. He attended games across the Highlands and in particular attended gatherings held in towns and villages on the Highland frontier in Perthshire which were becoming popular spots for their beauty, proximity to major cities, and association with Walter Scott.
What comes next?
If the beginnings of modern Highland games were born from the romantic cultural phenomena and military needs of the long-18th century then they found flourishing support from the Victorians, when games were held with increasing regularity into the era of 'balmoralism' as Victoria and Albert built their Highland fantasy within the Aberdeenshire mountains, prompting a craze for all things Scottish into the collective consciousness. Enter Crieff Highland Gathering.
International Links
Did you know that Crieff Highland Gathering is twinned with the Ohio Scottish Games & Celtic Festival held at Cuyahoga County Fairgrounds every year? Run by The Scottish American Cultural Society of Ohio, the Games take place over 2 days and include all the traditional piping, heavy athletics and highland dancing competitions as well as the Kirkin' of the Tartan and Kilted Mile on Saturday morning and many other brilliant attractions. Particularly of interest has to be the "How to start a Scottish clan" workshop! On June 28th, 2008 the proclamation to become Twin/Sister games was signed by Mike Mihalic, President of the Ohio Scottish Games and then on August 17th by John McWilliam, the Chairman of The Crieff Highland Gathering. 3500 miles may separate the two events but a strong partnership has been formed and ideas and experiences can be shared across the pond.
We can't wait to be a part of this year's Crieff Highland Gathering and if you are in the area we look forward to seeing you there. If not then check back here in a few weeks as we will be updating this blog with a full review of our day out!
2024 Crieff Highland Gathering Round Up
What a brilliant day out! The Gathering started off in style with the Kilt runners flying past the ScotlandShop door where Katie and Anna were looking after early morning visitors to Crieff. Young and old were looking fighting fit as they sped down the hill. Then came the Pipe Bands led by Morrison's Academy marching down the High Street with the Chieftain tucked in behind in a very cool vintage car which we believe is possibly owned by Stephen Leckie of Crieff Hydro.
The sun was shining on Market Park and the venue is so perfect for the Games with it's grass bankings for the crowds to sit on and easy access for all. So many athletes young and old flying round the arena, some very impressive high jumping, heavy athletes flinging heavy items like they were nothing at all. Now have you heard the tradition of the tossing of the caber at Crieff which is like no other? Since 1994 Glenturret distillery has sponsored the "Crieff Challenge Caber" which takes place after the Scottish Championship has taken place. Atholl Estates in Pitlochry provided the original caber which was 20 feet long and about 7 inches in diameter. The new Challenge Caber came from the Drummond Estate near Crieff and is a monstrous 21ft 4 inches long! If competitors can toss this to 12 o'clock they win £1000. This has to be shared if more than two people achieve this mighty feat. £75 for the best attempt if no-one quite makes it!
Jamie Gunn won the Open Caber competition and also the best attempt at the Challenge Caber. He threw a "one o'clock" throw with the Open Caber and he got the Challenge Caber to over 86 degrees from horizontal, 5 degrees more and it would have turned over. So close!
So many lovely locals and tourists to chat to, a visit from Chieftain Ron Clark to the tartan tent, sadly no selfies with Ewan McGregor but we did spot him in the crowd. A big thank you to the organising committee on what was a great day.
