The origins of the Braemar Gathering are believed to have been in the 11th Century, when King Malcolm Canmore (King Malcolm the Great Chief) visited Braemar. We know for certain that it was customary since medieval days for Clan Chiefs to gather their followers together in the autumn, when the deer were fat, for a hunt lasting for several days. During that time there would be competitions to select the strongest, the fleetest, and the most skilful warriors. Hundreds of tinchel (beaters) would be employed, and the deer killed by dirks or deerhounds. It was quite common for men also to be killed during this gory climax. In the evenings, sennachies (storytellers) would vie with each other, and pipers would display their skill on the great Highland bagpipe. The host Chief and his guests would watch and listen from the comfort of a rustic bower or lunquard, built specially for the occasion, and decorated with heather, fir boughs and rowan berries.

The best known of such gatherings was that held in the Forest of Mar by the Earl of Mar in 1715, the huge hunt being a pretext for a conference to plan a nation-wide Jacobite uprising, and culminating in the raising of the Standard on 6th. September 1715, on a knoll where the Invercauld Arms Hotel now stands.

After the carnage and barbarity which followed on Culloden, all such gatherings were banned for a time, but could not be completely supressed. In Braemar, on a prearranged autumn day, a piper would make his way down Glen Dee, gathering followers as he went. At the end of the lesser glens, folk would join the procession, then in Auchindryne (Field of the Thorn), the villagers would tag on. Up Glen Clunie they would go, steadily gaining numbers, then down the other side to the Market Stance in Castleton. The games would then begin, with exactly the same sort of competitions we see today. This was to become the Braemar Gathering, and it was well established by the year 1800, with the procession being known as the Vrichts' Walk, because of the many wrights in their white aprons.

In 1832 the Highland Society resolved to give £5 for prize money at the Gathering, and this marked the start of regulated competitions. Ever since then, the Braemar Highland Society (Royal since 1866) has organised the Gathering, which has been held at various venues, including five times at Balmoral, by Royal command.

1848 marked the first of Queen Victoria's many visits to the Gathering. The Duke of Leeds at that time leased much of the shooting on Mar Estate, and he required all of his staff to wear highland dress, an example followed by Invercauld and Balmoral. These three contingents of highlanders were paraded as a Guard of Honour for the Queen, who was delighted. Thus commenced a Royal patronage, which has continued to this day.

There are now 66 events, the prize money totals over £12,000. The all-time record crowd was in 1952, when over 31,000 people came over the hills to see their new Queen. In 1953, Coronation year, there was a crowd of over 19,000, and since then the numbers have stabilised at around 18,000.

The Gathering is always held on the 1st Saturday in September. Booking enquiries should be made to The Secretary, Braemar Royal Highland Society, Coilacriech, Ballater. The Society regrets that accommodation bookings can not be dealt with.

The Princess Royal and Duke of Fife Memorial Park on Games Day


The Royal Pavilion