Pitlochry Highland Games

The day after we returned the van the Highland Games were on in Pitlochry. It was one of the last of the season. This was my first Highland Games and I was mostly looking forward to the heavy weights – men in kilts throwing funny things. It was so hot it made me feel at home.

This was the first thing we saw as we came into the games. Just before the referendum it was absolutely everywhere.

Highland Dancing. Apparently this one is supposed to represent "the antics of a courting stag o a Scottish hillside"

Sailor's Hornpipe - apparently it's not a Scottish dance but it's been at the games for a long time. 

Putting the Stone

Throwing the Weight for a Distance

Throwing the Hammer

Tossing the Caber. Not many people could actually do this. You have to completely flip the caber over so it lands straight. It has nothing to do with distance.

The longest tug-o-war I've ever watched. It's best out of three and the first round went for about 20 minutes with literally  no-one moving. We gave up after the first round. 

And I included this one just because. The guy had just thrown a caber.