Strong women to the fore in Pitlochry Games

Changes for 2026 includes more women ‘heavies’

The A9 slip road closure will impact one of Scotland’s oldest Highland Games this weekend, but thousands will see a major turnout in traditional heavy events – from women.

Pitlochry Highland Games is a stand-out in the Games calendar and around 5000 spectators are expected to line the Recreation Ground on Saturday.

And while the closure of the A9 slip-road means the traditional pipe band march down Atholl Road will be postponed until 2027, attendees will witness a growing number of females in the Heavy events.

Entries across all categories have been strong but the number of women booking in for the traditional Heavy disciplines has been a shining light.

Strength-based activities such as Caber tossing, hammer, putting and weight throwing have been more associated with male competitors down the years.

However, no fewer than 9 entries have been received for Pitlochry this weekend, a welcome increase.

Full programme

Fifteen pipe bands, 9 tug-o-war teams, 50 track and field athletes and 40 individual pipers are on the day’s roster alongside Highland dancing and children’s events.

A further change this year, due to construction of the new Tesco, is the introduction of a day-round Park and Ride facility, 15 minutes away in Ballinluig.

The car park opens at 9am and will run throughout the day on a first-come-first served basis, with the pick-up/drop-off at Fisher’s in Pitlochry.

The first bus will leave for the Games around 9.20am, with the last bus back being 6.30pm. All buses are free.

Organisers have made the changes to the Pipe band march and parking through necessity but also to ‘avoid further disruption to traffic and businesses in Pitlochry’.

Attendees are being asked to use the Park and Ride facility ‘to help manage traffic flow and limit congestion in the town centre’.

A rich history

Pitlochry Highland Games is notable for being one of the first to re-establish, back in 1852.

The Proscription Act following the Battle of Culloden was passed in order to weaken the chance of another rebellion beginning in Scotland.

The wearing of Highland dress became a punishable offence and touchstones of Highland culture such as pipes and traditional games were restricted.

However, the Games in Pitlochry were resurrected and the event is now one of most popular – and latest- events in the Scottish Games calendar.

To book tickets and for all info, visit: -www.pitlochryhighlandgames.co.uk

To read more on the A9 slip-road closure, click here.