What's on in the area

Bridge of Allan Highland Games

Aug 2009 (annual)

Cost: £6; children & concessions £2

Hours: Gates 9am; Games 11am

The Bridge of Allan, near Stirling, hosts its annual games every August. Clansmen gather to compete in various strength-testing events, known as the "heavy" sports, while the Scottish dancing and piping competitions are more genteel (if still fairly frenetic).

Harking back to the warrior clan days, the popular "heavy" events - the shot putt, hammer throwing and caber tossing - feature large men in tartan sweating profusely as they hurl large objects as far as they can. These Games also feature the weights - heavier than either the shot or the hammer (which weigh in at either 16lbs or 22lbs). The 28lb weight is for throwing the greatest distance, while the 56lb weight is for throwing the highest.

Team events include the tug-of-war, and the Bridge of Allan Games host the Central Scottish tug o' war championship and Scottish national ladies tug o' war championship. There is also the Scottish wrestling championship (13st 7lb) as well as the Scottish cycling grass track championship.

Games Park