Can someone give me a brief explanation of what we're getting ourselves into if we try to attend the Highland Games in September? I know what the games entail, but wondering about the size of the crowd, the traffic, the availability of lodging. In other words, all the mayhem that we may encounter.
Thanks a bunch.

Which Games are you considering?

If you mean the Braemar Games - really large crowds and lots of traffic.

But there are lots of other smaller/less crwoded games. . . .

An added plus, if you care - The Queen and many of the English royal family attend the games as Balmoral Castle-where they are in residence EVERY September is near Braemar. We got to see them ALL, back in the Diana era.

It's the Braemer Games I'm interested in. (Sorry, should have more precise.) I'm concerned about traffic and lodging. For some reason, the group my wife and I are going with (two other couples) have not planned anything as of yet. (I've deliberately taken a back seat in the planning of this trip, for many reasons.) However, I'm becoming concerned from what I'm hearing as to how crowded it will be. We'll be staying in Edinburgh. Certainly the Games in Braemer can't be done as a day trip, can it?
Thanks, all.

Yes - w/ a <u>very</u> early start you could get to Braemar and back in a day - but I definitely would not. You'd be in the car for hours. The drive back will be a loooong one after being outside at the games all day long.

Since there are 6 of you, I'd book something ASAP - you want to stay in or close to Braemar since the traffic will be heavy, Ballater has a lot of hotels and B&amp;Bs. I'd book at least 2 nights. You'll want to arrive at the games in the morning, and not have to drive any distance after they close.

tell you friends to get moving . . . . .