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Monday 9am - 5pm Tuesday 9am - 5pm Wednesday 9am - 5pm Thursday 9am - 5pm Friday 9am - 5pm

Cowal Highland Gathering

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Cowal Highland Gathering

Cowal Highland Gathering Gathering together since 1894, Cowal Gathering will be held between 28 - 30 August 2025 in Dunoon Stadium, Dunoon, Argyll.
(550)

11/02/2025

We could watch this all day. Thanks to David Wilton Dance Clinics for posting and to our Adult World Highland Dancing Champion Rebecca Thow for demonstrating.

10/02/2025

YES! We'll be there!

07/02/2025

Our photo bombers aren't very subtle... 🤣

06/02/2025

A trio of Cowal Gathering legends. In 2017 Morgan Bamford received an Honorary Life Patronage from Ronnie Cairns and Billy Forsyth.

05/02/2025

Did you know you can support Cowal Gathering when you become one of our Patrons?

Patron support means that we can develop the Gathering, while honouring the event’s great history and traditions. You’ll also be helping to secure the event for future generations of competitors and spectators.

With packages starting from £45.00 click the link below to find out how you can get involved.

https://cowalgathering.com/about/patrons/

04/02/2025

What's the most fearsome beastie you'll come up against at Cowal Gathering? The Croc! 😁

03/02/2025

YES! We couldn't have said it better Brigadoon Dance Academy.

Keep striving to be the best version of yourself!
You continue to make us proud!! 👏

🍀 Good luck at the competition this weekend!

31/01/2025

This photo came up on our memories this morning. Who else remembers the 'showers' of 2019? 🤣

An evening rainbow over Dunoon Stadium in 2019. If you were with us in 2019 you'll understand just how grateful we were to see a rainbow after the day's 'showers'!

30/01/2025

We've not done a for a while so we're jumping back to 2017 when these young dancers were looking forward to stepping onto our dancing boards.

29/01/2025

It's all about the teamwork!

28/01/2025

Memories of happy days!

27/01/2025

Love this post and the importance of respecting yourself.

You're unstoppable!!
Claim it! Believe it! Put in the work and ACHIEVE IT!
📸 Sheri Sansbury

24/01/2025

How will you be celebrating Burns Night tomorrow, and where in the world are you?

Find out about the life and poetry of Robert Burns, as well as the Burns supper and this year’s Burns Night celebrations.

23/01/2025

Our Saturday afternoon Live Music Tent remains one of the most popular places to be on Cowal Saturday afternoon.

22/01/2025

This can only mean one thing. Heavy athletes from Scotland, Austria and Germany are on their way...

21/01/2025

We're a bear down! Our intrepid adventurer Ghillie set off for another Canadian adventure in October and as yet hasn't made it home.

We believe he's been caught up in the Canadian postal strike and that he'll be making his way back in his usual orderly fashion, but as you'll understand we can't take any bookings for him to attend events at the moment.

This is also why Ghillie's e-book has been delayed, we'd had our fingers crossed he'd arrive before Christmas and we'd receive a flurry of requests for him which we can't guarantee we can honour. We will go ahead and publish it on our website over the next week or so and then move on with our Memories Book.

Remember, Ghilie has been travelling around the world since 2017, and even spent lockdown in Canada when COVID restrictions came in. We have been extremely lucky with all the many ways he's crossed countries and we have loved seeing so many people having fun with him. Without a doubt he has spread the spirit of Cowal Gathering wherever he went.

We're confident he'll turn up and we'll let you know when he does. But for now, Argyll - who was the face of Cowal's Virtual Gathering will step up to the mascot role.

To paraphrase Top Gear: 'He isn't Ghillie, but he is Ghillie's less travelled cousin...' 🐻🐻❤️

20/01/2025

This is a milestone year for UKA Dance.

This event on 7th February will see us celebrating our Coral Anniversary - 35 years!
For more info on this gathering, please use this link: https://ukadance.co.uk/events/post/35th-annual-highland-gathering

17/01/2025

We have this photo hanging in our Hillfoot Street office. It's one of our favourite pictures, but we don't have names for any of the dancers.

Can you help?

Address

54 Hillfoot Street
Dunoon
PA237DT

Opening Hours

Monday	9am - 5pm
Tuesday	9am - 5pm
Wednesday	9am - 5pm
Thursday	9am - 5pm
Friday	9am - 5pm

Telephone

+441369703206

Website

http://www.cowalgathering.com/

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Videos

Do you need some inspiration to help you reach your goal? Then we've got the video for you. It was sent to us by Louise Parker. These are her words: 'Sam Parker dances with Maryann McCreadie and has been to Cowal for many years. She would initially go home with no call backs, then progress to championship points, She just missed out on top 6 twice but then exceeded all expectations by taking home the title of 17yrs Scottish National Champion with 3 firsts and a 4th. 'We are so grateful for the support from Maryann and her friends, watching Sam cry on the stage as she was announced as champion supported by all her lovely friends. Her new lucky mascot of a mini made by Sew me Sew you certainly brought her lots of luck.' Never ever stop reaching for your dreams.

This was Rosie's first Cowal Gathering, but her reaction to the pipe bands shows it won't be her last! Rosie, we're looking forward to watching you play on the Stadium with a pipe band or dance on the Cowal boards in the future 🤩

2024 Salute to the Chieftain

We are privileged to have this view of the massed bands playing the Salute to the Chieftain. And to round off our posts tonight we'd like to share it with you.

Did you miss yesterday's new World Highland Dancing Champions performing their Champions Fling? Or do you just want to watch it again? Enjoy some world class dancing from Juvenile World Highland Dancing Champion Aisla Gocan-Wright, Junior World Highland Dancing Champion Eilidh Gammons and Adult World Highland Dancing Champion Rebecca Thow.

Don't miss tonight's March Down the Street which will take place at the end of the Stadium events. There is a prize for the Most Entertaining Band, sponsored by The 51st State & La Cantina.

Coming for the day? Remember that the fun doesn't stop after the Stadium events are over. There's still the March Down The Street and the Cowal Gathering finale with the Western Ferries sponsored fireworks at around 9.00pm 🤩

Did you join us at last night's Gig at the Gathering? If you did you'll have seen Reely Jiggered, The Laurettes and Torridon. And, if you caught a photo of Derek MacIntyre's new suit please post it below.

If you're a fan of seafood then you must visit the Bakkafrost stand where you'll find food demonstrations every hour throughout the afternoon. We're particularly interested in the roasted smoked salmon demonstration!

Postbox toppers

Thank you to everyone who gathered with us today, whther in person or online. We're going to leave you tonight with our crocheted Cowal legends. Make sure you get your photo taken with them at our photo boards. Goodnight and we'll meet again tomorrow.

Even when the Stadium events are over there's still more fun with the March Down the Street. There is a prize for the most entertaining band, sponsored by The 51st State & La Cantina.

The boys are back in town! Join Team Scotland, Team Austria and Team Germany as they battle it out to win the Cowal International Heavy Athletics Championship on Cowal Gathering Saturday. Thank you to Bakkafrost for their continued sponsorship of our heavy athletics programme.

Huge thanks to SandyDisselduff for sharing this fabulous footage with us. We're pretty sure Alan Pettigrew would have something to say about the health and safety regulations on the stadium! 😁

Shortcuts

Cowal Highland Gathering - the world’s most spectacular Highland Gathering

The Cowal Highland Gathering held in Dunoon, Argyll, is the largest, most spectacular Highland games in the world. Nowhere else will you see world-class pipers, dancers and athletes competing on such a scale. It’s an unbeatable event for all the family. Just ask the 23,000 visitors who come here every year to soak up the unique, friendly atmosphere and stunning Highland location.

First held in 1894, the event is steeped in history. We celebrate this rich tradition, but we’ve added lots of new elements too. There really is something for everyone, from watching the world championship competitions to running in the 5K fun run. The salute to the Chieftain is one of the highlights. As the sun sets down the Firth of Clyde, the massed pipers and drummers play ‘Highland Laddie’ in unison. It’s an unforgettable experience and a fitting end to this, the most spectacular of Highland games.