Scottish Highland Games in Dunoon, Scotland (2017 Cowal Highland Gathering)

Come join us for the Scottish Highland Games in Dunoon, Scotland as we attend the Cowal Highland Gathering (also known as the Cowal Games) held annually on the final weekend in August.
To attend the 2017 Highland Games we came all the way from Glasgow, Scotland where we rented a van and did a road trip to Dunoon. Arriving to Cowal Games early in the morning allowed us access to the pipe bands as they practicing and a chance to grab some Scottish food before it became really busy. We ended up devouring Haggis, Neeps and Tatties along with a Beef Stovie. It was perfect considering it was a wee bit chilly in the morning.
Our host for the day was Alan Pettigrew who helped show around the facilities of the Cowal Highland Gathering and explained all of the events taking place for the day. One of the highlights was getting a chance to see all of the different trophies on display.
The Cowal Games are the largest Highland Games in the World attracting over 3500 competitors and roughly 23,000+ spectators. The first Cowal Games was held in 1894 and it is an annual event. Additionally, the Cowal Highland Gathering hosts the World Highland Dancing Championship.
In terms of games, the heavy events are one of the biggest categories including Caber toss, Stone put, Scottish hammer throw,
Weight throw, Weight over the bar, Sheaf toss and Maide Leisg. We enjoyed taking in as many of the heavy events as possible but a personal highlight for us though was the piping bands and also the wrestling.
If you have a chance to attend the Highland Games while in Scotland we would highly recommend it.
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Scottish Highland Games 2017 in Dunoon, Scotland (Cowal Highland Gathering) travel video transcript:
Our last adventures of summer was a Scottish road trip to the Highland Games. We had been to the games once before in Canada, but now it was time to experience the real deal right where it all began, so after enjoying a few days in Glasgow, we hit the road. Our destination: the Cowal Highland Gathering in the town of Dunoon.
Our journey took us out of Glasgow and then north along the shores of Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park.
From there we continued along the shores of Loch Fyne and Loch Eck, before arriving at our destination in Dunoon and drove to our AirBnB, which was set in an old merchant’s manor right by the water.
Next, it was time to enjoy some of the events. Bagpiping is an integral part of the Highland Games with both solo pipers and pipe bands competing, and we happened to be there on the day the Cowal Pipe Band Championship was taking place, so we had to check that out.
We also watched some Highland dancing. The Cowal Highland Gathering was hosting the Scottish and World Highland Dancing Championships, so there were dancers from around the world competing that day.
But now let’s meet the man who was showing us around the Cowal Highland Games.
Hi my name is Alan Pettigrew. I've come down here for the Cowal Highland Gathering. The biggest and most prestigious games in the world. I'm here in Dunoon in Bonnie Scotland.
And today there is going to be a fantastic day and we've been here doing these games for about a 120 years.
Today in the heavy events we have 6 events to vie for this prestigious championship. We have the famous Cowal Stone which is 14.3 kilograms. We have the 16 pound shot. The 28 pound weight for distance. The 16 pound scott hammer.
This is the original hammer which Scotland gave to the world of International athletics. A wooden shaft which then changed to a wire handle and used in the Olympics and World Championships all over the world.
And after this event we have the 56 pound weight over the bar for height and then last but not least we have the famous till hall caber.
We were both thrilled to be treated with much better weather on the drive back to Glasgow, so we made it a point to stop and enjoy the scenery.
And that’s a wrap for our road trip to the Cowal Highland Gathering. We were only there to experience 1 day of the events, but we hope this video gave you a little taste of what Scotland’s Highland Games are all about.
This is part of our Travel in Scotland video series showcasing Scottish food, Scottish culture and Scottish cuisine.
Music by DJ Quads: / aka-dj-quads

[@Watfordherts1971]

My wife is Scottish and we will watch this over dinner tonight when we are in from work , can't wait as you 2 make superb vlogs and so interesting, all the best guys and safe travels

[@samuelandaudrey]

Thank you very much! Where in Scotland is she from? We've been very fortunate having had the opportunity to visit Scotland now 3 times in the past 4 years. We absolutely love visiting :)

[@Watfordherts1971]

Samuel and Audrey - Travel and Food Videos she is from Dunfermline Fife , just across the fourth bridge

[@mpullen99]

Attended in the late '80's when my submarine was in Holy Loch. My clan (MacKinlay) is from north east of the area. Always had a great time at Cowal Games.

[@samuelandaudrey]

That is really cool to hear! Do you think you'll try to attend another one in the future?

[@georginaandrew_xx]

I live in Scotland and compete at the highland games all Summer every weekend 😍 I have been to Dunoon 7 times!☺️

[@samuelandaudrey]

Oh, that is fantastic! Wow, 7 times. Such a cool event. Where else do you really like to go?

[@georginaandrew_xx]

Samuel and Audrey - Travel and Food Videos I love Skye, it is so beautiful🌄 Glasgow is great for culture and shopping🏙 and Aberdeenshire has some amazing castles and landmarks⛰ I’m a highland dancer😍

[@bjoeljones]

Excellent video. It was good to see Rest And Be Thankful again, as well as the Highland Games in Cowal.

[@samuelandaudrey]

Thank you very much! It was a great trip overall :)

[@thegrumpygenxer]

Love your videos. Watched a couple of them before going to Scotland with the family this last summer.

[@samuelandaudrey]

Thank you! How was your trip?

[@thegrumpygenxer]

Well to use a phrase I heard my cousins say a lot, "it was Amazing"! I was born in Greenock, a little town on the Clyde river about 20 minutes outside Glasgow. This was my first time back since I was 12, that's 38 years! It was great seeing family I hadn't seen in awhile, and ones I had only met on facebook. Before going I was watching all the video blogs I could so I could plan our trip, we were there for 3 weeks. Yours were great, couldn't wait to go to Edinburgh for some Haggis,neeps and tatties! We're already planning our next trip back, so keep the video's coming! Cheers.

[@DelightfulTravellers]

Hey guys! Great Vlog!.. we recently just discovered your channel. It's amazing! We're also fellow Canadian Travellers!!! We're watching your Poland videos now for tips! We're headed there soon :) - Trevor

[@samuelandaudrey]

Thank you Trevor! Where in Canada are you from? Ah, that is exciting to hear. Hope you have a great time.

[@DelightfulTravellers]

Halifax, Nova Scotia - East Coast. You guys?

[@WanderLustMike]

Thanks for highlighting the games! We hope to witness them in person some day as well.

[@samuelandaudrey]

Thank you! Highly recommend going. It is quite the event.

[@drewlucero3916]

Another great vlog thanks for sharing this awesome adventure 👀📸👍👍👍👍📸

[@samuelandaudrey]

Thank you very much! We had a lot of fun attending :)

[@justalkeenan]

I was born and lived for most of my teenage years across the water from Dunoon, spent a great deal of time there cycling around the different Loch's and camping. Glad you guys caught The Highland games, the one at Dunoon is one of the bigger ones but all throughout the summer you can usually catch one at the weekend and some of the more local ones you can participate in with local events like pulling a taxi, rolling a bale of hay and lifting a big bloody stone hahaha. Also stovies are one of those things that you seemed to get on a Sunday when there was a load of leftovers and your mum or grandmother just threw it all in a pot and gave it to you. In my house we would serve it with a loaf of bread on the side, butter that bread up and spread the stovies on it to make a stovie sandwhich.... Sounds gross and pretty much is but you can't go far in Scotland before we either batter and fry something or put it on a roll or piece. Its a shame you two didn't get a chance to take a wander up pucks glen which is across from the Benmore Botanic Gardens, there are some lovely Redwood trees and just some generally beautiful scenery. I live in Glasgow now, if you are ever back this way give me a shout as I would be more than happy to show you around and also give you a few other places to visit.

[@samuelandaudrey]

Thank you! That is really cool to hear. Ah, pulling a taxi event sounds fun/hilarious. That is good to know about Benmore as we'd love to come back and do a road-trip again soon.

[@DarcyMarieTCB]

Such a fun filled video. I love watching your travel videos. You two are loads of fun!! So entertaining!! Be safe!! Enjoy all your travel endeavors. Xo---Darcy😘

[@samuelandaudrey]

Thank you very much! We sure enjoyed attending the Highland Games. It was a great experience :)

[@juliegoodwin6850]

What a perfect day! Just gorgeous!

[@samuelandaudrey]

Thank you! We got very lucky :)

[@colombianaenoklahoma]

I really enjoy watching your videos! Great editing! Thanks for sharing! I have a suggestion the subtitles in Spanish are wrong sometimes! I meant it doesn't have the right translation.

[@samuelandaudrey]

Thank you for letting us know. The original English ones should be correct though.

[@ArvinTravels]

The steering wheel on the Van is on the other side, did you have any issues driving on the left side?

[@samuelandaudrey]

It takes some getting used to but the trickiest part on this trip was driving the big van on the small roads.

[@BillGreenAZ]

Very cool. I've heard much about these games. It's nice to see where they actually take place. It's also to see a good Scotsman (Sam) partake of some haggis.

[@samuelandaudrey]

Hahaha..thanks! It was sure fun.

[@scottishdmck2875]

I think we can forgive his pronunciation of Loch Lomond since he didn’t say Glasgow as Glass-Cow like most Americans, Hope ye enjoyed 😂

[@samuelandaudrey]

We had an awesome time! We felt lucky to be there.

[@holistic_meg_]

Haha I did giggle a bit 😄 it's pronounced 'low-mund' not law-mond 🤣😆

[@danad8716]

As usual, another interesting video! It was good to see the brief drone video photography, maybe a bit more in the future. Also, how was it driving when sitting on the right side of the vehicle? That must be a bit awkward at first. Have a wonderful time on your next destination!

[@samuelandaudrey]

Thank you! We're hoping to use the drone more often. We often don't use it in cities though. Ah, that was a bit challenging but the biggest issue was the size of this van on the tiny roads.

[@QWERTYOP80]

How on earth did you pull off those shots in the first 25 seconds of the vid?! Seems like you guys are taking production to another level! 😧

[@samuelandaudrey]

Thank you very much! We have a new camera (Panasonic GH5 which does really nice slo-mo) and our drone (which we haven't been using much lately) sure came in handy on this trip :)

[@RealSpaceHobo]

After watching your Scotland vids I have developed a groundbreaking theory: Hipsters originate from Scotland.......:-)......glad to see that even in cold highlands, Sam won't let go of the Jodpur shirt - figures......that Puma thing couldn't keep that secret.....:-)

[@samuelandaudrey]

Hahaha...I think you're on to something with the hipster theory ;) That Jodhpur shirt is my prized possession at the moment...haha

[@scottishdmck2875]

The Kevin and Perry outfit makes this video 😂

[@samuelandaudrey]

Thank you!

[@pabloboltonio7782]

Great video! Where are you guys off to next?

[@samuelandaudrey]

Next is Ukraine! :)

[@s125ish]

Great video, I live just outside Glasgow so Dunoon isent a million miles away , though I usually I get ferry from gourock . Shame to say I've never been to a Highland games .

[@samuelandaudrey]

Thank you! Ah, maybe you can attend your 1st next year. Would highly recommend it :)

[@paulcraig6976]

I'm the wrestler getting beat in this video... great footage :)

[@samuelandaudrey]

THanks Paul! Cool to hear! Have you competed every year?

[@margaretdevries8090]

Stovies, were traditionally, sliced potatoes, onions, and sausages ! In a great thick brown sauce ! Mince and tatties were ground beef onions and carrots cooked in gravy (Bisto ). Let it simmer, It was not mashed like those shown !!

[@samuelandaudrey]

Oh, that sounds delicious Margaret!

[@MrGarytc]

Neeps, Tatties and Stovies I enjoyed this video on Scotland culture. Always assumed the Highland Games was staged somewhere much more northern but I dunno maybe if it was hosted in Edinburgh they would get more tourists attending.

[@samuelandaudrey]

Thank you! We really had an awesome time :) What I didn't realize is that the games are held all over Scotland. I think it is worth checking out if it is happening nearby but the games in Dunoon are the biggest and they were fantastic.

[@shaolindreams]

Do you mind if i ask where Sam's family is originally from?... being a redhead.. i presume he's pretty close to his ancestral home :)

[@dwarren1010]

Was it challenging to drive on the opposite side of the road

[@samuelandaudrey]

It still feels a bit strange but we're getting more used to it now having done it a few times. The biggest challenge was the size of this van on the small roads.

[@Bruce-1956]

You would have no problems in the highlands, there are roads with one track with passing places.

[@Bruce-1956]

'chilly and overcast', you mean a Scottish summer !!!!

[@samuelandaudrey]

lol

[@jamesfindlay7150]

Gone yerself big Alan

[@PradeepRaajkumar1981]

Beetroot dish.. love it...

[@samuelandaudrey]

Thanks! It sure was tasty. We needed that meal to keep warm.

[@edinburghcitymom6020]

I love your videos, but please practise could you practise Loch Lomond. You make it sound exotic and almost French like blancmange. It's easier to say Loch Lowmond...that would sound a tad more Scottish. Safe adventures, you make great videos.

[@samuelandaudrey]

Thanks for correcting our pronunciation.

[@Denise_CZ]

Song please? 2:07?

[@IamChrisL712]

I don't mind saying that I wouldn't want to get one of those athletes angry, even the girls looked tough.

[@samuelandaudrey]

I hear you! They were all really friendly though.

[@nottellingyoumyname6362]

Hello Sorry but you didn’t say Lots Of The Stuff Right

[@samuelandaudrey]

Oh, our bad.

[@nottellingyoumyname6362]

Samuel and Audrey - Travel and Food Videos Will you Becomeing To the Highland Games This Year

[@nevertedious1650]

Loch ‘Lomond’ 😂😂😂

[@andgainingspeed]

The most impressive Scottish feat of strength? Picking up the check? :)

[@samuelandaudrey]

Hahaha...well, fortunately the food at the event was reasonably priced

[@s125ish]

andgainingspeed or the bill as it known here ha

[@BillGreenAZ]

+andgainingspeed Q: How was the Grand Canyon formed? A: A Scotsman dropped a quarter down a gopher hole.

[@scottwhitley3392]

Sam looks like a Rangers Casual hahaha

[@samuelandaudrey]

Hahaha

[@dennisschwartzentruber3204]

Go Celtic !

[@dcanmore]

aaarrgh my ears ... Dear Sam, can you please pronounce Loch Lomond as 'Lowmund', cheers haha :)

[@dcanmore]

if you would like to do an alternative Scottish trip, try coast to coast from Eyemouth to Portpatrick, about 200 miles of amazing countryside and history (most of it bloody of course)

[@samuelandaudrey]

hahaha...sorry about that! Oh, that must sound annoying. Good to know the proper way of saying it.

[@samuelandaudrey]

Sounds fascinating! We'd love to do more travels in Scotland soon.

[@Big-cz8yz]

Samuel you look Scottish 😁👍

[@samuelandaudrey]

I think I am part Scottish to be honest :)

[@niamh2540]

They pronounced so many things wrong 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@samuelandaudrey]

Sorry about that!

[@cammysmith7562]

You could have just taking western ferrrys from Greenock

[@samuelandaudrey]

We wanted to experience a bit of the road. How much time would we have saved?

[@cammysmith7562]

Samuel and Audrey - Travel and Food Videos I’d say 40 mins but the drive down loch lomand is a must see

[@jawesomes6939]

She purtty... 😍

[@SuperGeorge2112]

pronounce LOW-MAND not LA mond

[@bernaemckissack6298]

Mmmm Mm cool

[@dcrerand2]

Sorry...had to stop and take a minute to figure out how he could so badly mispronounce Loch Lomond haha Never heard it said that way before lol

[@samuelandaudrey]

Ooops! Our mistake.

[@JACkEBOY532]

"Loch Low Mond" ahahhahahahhaha

[@samuelandaudrey]

Probably said pretty badly eh?

[@JACkEBOY532]

Samuel and Audrey - Travel and Food Videos haha aye. By the way you guys missed the most beautiful place on earth. Just at the Rest And Be Thankful there's a village called Loch Goilhead . If you ever comr back you honestly need to see how stunning this place is

[@ospreybird]

:-)

[@samuelandaudrey]

:)

[@nevertedious1650]

Loch ‘Lomond’ 😂😂😂