Camping at the Scottish Highland Games: Why a Tent or Campervan Can Be the Best Way to Experience Scotland
Every summer, towns and villages across Scotland come alive with the sound of bagpipes, Highland dancing, traditional music and the famous heavy events that make the Scottish Highland Games one of the country’s most iconic traditions. Visitors travel from every corner of Scotland and from around the world to compete, spectate and enjoy the unique atmosphere.
Because many Highland Games take place in smaller Highland towns and rural communities, accommodation can often become limited well in advance. Hotels, guest houses and B&Bs frequently sell out during popular events, and prices may rise as demand increases.
For many visitors, camping or travelling by campervan offers a flexible, affordable and memorable alternative.
Experience More Than Just the Event
One of the biggest advantages of bringing camping equipment is that your Highland Games experience doesn’t need to end when the final event finishes.
Many visitors spend the weekend exploring the surrounding countryside, visiting nearby lochs, castles and walking trails before heading home. Scotland’s summer evenings are long, making it the perfect time of year to relax outdoors after a day at the Games.
Whether you’re attending events in Braemar, Pitlochry, Ballater, Crieff, Inveraray or one of the many smaller Highland Games held throughout the country, camping allows you to make the most of your trip.
Everything You Need Is Usually Close By
Most Highland Games provide excellent facilities for visitors throughout the day.
You’ll often find:
Local food stalls
Scottish produce
Tea and coffee
Ice cream and refreshments
Toilets
Trade stands
Live music
Family entertainment
Many events continue well into the evening with ceilidhs, concerts or local celebrations, making camping nearby an attractive option rather than driving home after a long day.
Hire Your Camping Equipment Instead of Buying It
If you’re flying into Scotland or simply don’t camp often, buying all the equipment for a single weekend rarely makes sense.
Hiring your camping equipment allows you to travel lighter while still enjoying everything Scotland’s outdoors has to offer.
At Scotlander, we hire a range of outdoor equipment including:
Tents
Sleeping bags
Camping chairs
Gas stoves
Trekking poles
Rucksacks
Camping accessories
Everything can be collected near Edinburgh, making it convenient whether you’re arriving by plane, train or car before travelling on to your chosen Highland Games.
A Warm Scottish Welcome
One of the things that makes the Scottish Highland Games so special is that they’re community events. Many have been held for generations and are organised each year by local volunteers, clubs and committees who work hard to welcome competitors and visitors alike.
During Highland Games weekend, the host town or village comes alive. Cafés, pubs, shops and local businesses are often much busier than usual as people arrive from across Scotland and around the world. It’s an important weekend for many local businesses and a chance to showcase the very best of Scottish hospitality.
If you’re travelling by campervan or camping nearby, you’ll usually find that the extra visitors are simply part of the occasion. The community expects the town to be busy, campsites become lively, and you’ll often see tents and campervans throughout the surrounding area.
Like anywhere in Scotland, being respectful goes a long way. Use designated campsites where available, follow the Scottish Outdoor Access Code if you’re wild camping, dispose of litter responsibly and support local businesses whenever you can. You’ll be helping to ensure these fantastic events continue for generations to come.
Experience the Highland Games the Highland Way
The Scottish Highland Games have been bringing communities together for generations. Long before modern motorways, budget airlines and online hotel bookings, people travelled from surrounding glens, villages and towns to gather for a day of sport, music, competition and celebration. For many, it wasn’t simply an afternoon out – it was a summer event worth travelling for.
Today, not much has changed in spirit. Visitors still make a weekend of it, travelling from across Scotland and around the world to experience one of the country’s oldest and most cherished traditions. While hotels and guest houses are always an option, there’s something that simply feels right about staying outdoors.
Pitching a tent or arriving in a campervan lets you experience the Highlands in a way that’s difficult to match. Wake up surrounded by fresh Scottish air, brew your morning coffee overlooking the hills, spend the day watching caber tossing, Highland dancing and pipe bands, then return to your campsite as the evening draws in. It transforms a visit to the Highland Games into a proper Scottish adventure rather than simply a day trip.
One of the great things about Highland Games weekend is the atmosphere in the local community. These events are organised every year by dedicated local committees and volunteers who know exactly what’s coming. The extra visitors aren’t an inconvenience—they’re an important part of the occasion. Local cafés, pubs, restaurants and shops often look forward to the increased trade, while the town itself takes on a lively festival atmosphere that visitors quickly become part of.
It’s also one of the few weekends where seeing tents and campervans around the local area simply feels normal. Campsites become busier, roads become livelier and the whole community embraces the event. As always, being respectful goes a long way. Use designated campsites where possible, follow the Scottish Outdoor Access Code if wild camping, leave no trace and support local businesses wherever you can.
Perhaps that’s why camping feels so well suited to the Highland Games. They’re outdoor events celebrating Scottish heritage, held in some of the country’s most beautiful locations during the best months of the year. Spending the weekend outdoors, surrounded by Scotland’s landscapes and welcoming communities, feels like a natural extension of the experience.
If you’re travelling light or flying into Scotland, hiring camping equipment or an easy-to-drive automatic campervan allows you to enjoy the Highland Games without needing to buy or transport your own gear. Collect everything near Edinburgh, head north, and discover why so many people return to the Scottish Highland Games summer after summer.
Campervans Are Another Great Option
If you’d prefer a little more comfort, an automatic campervan can be an excellent way to explore Scotland during Highland Games season.
With unlimited mileage included, many visitors combine several events into one road trip, travelling between different parts of Scotland while enjoying some of the country’s most spectacular scenery along the way.
Make a Weekend of It
One of the best things about the Highland Games is that they’re held in some of Scotland’s most beautiful locations. Rather than making it a rushed day trip, many visitors turn it into a long weekend.
Spend the morning watching the caber toss, Highland dancing and pipe bands before enjoying local food and browsing the craft stalls. Afterwards, explore nearby walking trails, lochs or historic villages before relaxing around the campsite in the evening.
Because the Highland Games are spread throughout the Scottish summer, there’s almost always another event taking place somewhere else the following weekend. Many visitors even plan road trips around several Games, combining Scotland’s scenery with one of its oldest and most celebrated traditions.
Planning Your Highland Games Trip
Highland Games take place across Scotland from late spring through to early autumn, with July and August being the busiest months.
If you’re planning to attend more than one event, booking your accommodation, campsite or campervan in advance is always recommended.
You can also view our complete Scottish Highland Games Calendar to find upcoming events across the country and start planning your summer adventure.
Whether you choose a tent beneath the stars or the comfort of a campervan, experiencing the Scottish Highland Games alongside Scotland’s incredible landscapes is a fantastic way to enjoy one of the country’s most celebrated traditions.