What are the opening hours?

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

Cowal Highland Gathering

Home
United Kingdom
Dunoon
Cowal Highland Gathering

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

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/.../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?

16/01/2025

Truth!

15/01/2025

This looks like a fantastic night!

Delighted to be piping at the BBC’s Burns Night 2025 - it’s an honour to be a part of such a talented lineup!

For tickets please visit https://www.bbc.co.uk/showsandtours/shows/burns-night-14jan25

BBC
BBC Scotland
BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra
Alastair Heather
Ricky Ross
Laura Main
Nina Nesbitt
Nathan Evans
Anna Shields
Calum Bowie
Becky Sikasa
Jacob Alon
Elaine C Smith
Chief Commissioner Cameron Miekelson
Jack Doherty
Inveraray & District Pipe Band

14/01/2025

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.

13/01/2025

Make sure you make a date with us for an event like no other.

We'll look forward to seeing you in Dunoon Stadium from 28 - 30 August 2025.

10/01/2025

If you watched Vengeance Most Fowl on Christmas Day then you'll have noticed supervillain Feathers McGraw isn't a fan of bagpipes.

BUT did you know the piper was friend of Cowal Gathering, Lorne MacDougall?

Disclaimer: no bagpiping robots were hurt during the making of Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl. The film lands Christmas Day on BBC in the UK and Netfl...

09/01/2025

We're heading back to 1954 when the VIPs flew into Dunoon Stadium by helicopter. We're not sure we'd get away with that today!

Dunoon, Scotland.GV pan, massed pipe bands in arena. STV crowd in rainwear and umbrellas. SV the junior sword dance in progress. SV Ann Dunn of Glasgow danci...

08/01/2025

For whoever needs to hear this - there are just 232 days to go until this year's Cowal Gathering!

07/01/2025

Will you be joining us this year?

06/01/2025

If you were following our advent calendar you'll have seen our post about the Sophie Macrae Cup.

It was won in 2024 by Cadi Hughes in the 8 years championship - and here she is with it 🤩

This isn't the first time Cadi has been on our page - when she was four she took part in our Town Sign Challenge, part of our 2020 Virtual Cowal Gathering.

02/01/2025

Freya Pickles won the 8years trophies in the Scottish Championships and in the Scottish National Championships in 2024. Will she be back for 2025? We do hope so!

01/01/2025

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

We're officially on the countdown to THIS year's Cowal Gathering. We hope you'll be joining us!

31/12/2024

Today's post is our most popular post of the year, which is very appropriate for Hognamany. It is, of course, the Salute to the Chieftain.

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/

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Cowal Highland Gathering posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Business

Send a message to Cowal Highland Gathering:

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.