Visiting Scotland

If you want to explore more of Scotland, and you also like music, the Tiree Music Festival blends the two.  Visit the most westerly of the Inner Hebrides for this one. Tiree's referred to (by Calmac at least) as the "Hawaii of the North" and is popular for windsurfing.

Another music festival in early-mid July is the Stonehaven Folk Festival.  More specific and smaller than the festival on Tiree, but also more accessible on the mainland between Dundee and Aberdeen (so not a million miles from the wedding).  If you're looking for something a bit more traditional during your stay, this might be it.  Plus, there are some unusual activities for fun such as the World Paper’n’Comb Championships on Saturday and the Aqua Ceilidh in the Open Air swimming pool on the Sunday morning.

The Hebridean Cultural Festival is world renowned, featuring a lot of Gaelic and traditional music, once again on an island - this time, Lewis.

Another chance to mix music and some island hopping, by visiting Iona for their music festival. 

Yet another festival in Edinburgh, this one takes place a little earlier. This festival does what it says on the tin, and is one of the biggest and most highly regarded jazz and blues festivals in Europe.

Glasgow is one of only three cities to host the games twice (it was last here in 2014).  Similar to the Olympics, the Commonwealth Games is a multi-sport tournament which brings together athletes from countries around the world which are a part of the Commonwealth (most of the countries which were at one time held by the British Empire).

Belladrum Tartan Heart Festival is an annual music festival held in Kiltarlity, a beautifully scenic part of Scotland.  It hosts a wide variety of music, and is often chiller and more family friendly than many other music festivals.

This is the main festival out of which the Festival Fringe was born.  Covering theatre, classical music, opera and ballet, the festival hosts world-class companies and artists each year.

Arguably the Festival Fringe is now more famous globally than the Edinburgh International Fringe.  A massive schedule of theatre, dance, music, film, comedy and every other form of entertainment imaginable sprawls across Edinburgh taking up venues such as theatres, conference centres, meeting rooms, and the back rooms of pubs.  You can go see your favourite, world-famous comedian, or see a niche set about typography by some guy you met in the street.  Edinburgh is packed in August for its festivals, filling it with the sense that the whole city is just part of the event. Buy tickets to something you think is interesting, or just show up to a free show based on a leaflet you were handed 10 minutes ago. It really is an experience - and yes, you might see a show you hate or is really, really odd, but you might also see your next favourite artist.

Another of the Edinburgh Festivals, the Tattoo is a 90 minute nightly performance of military bands, lighting shows, highland dancing, display units and pipe bands.

Come visit us in Perth to see old favourites from the 80s, 90s and 00s in the park.  

Yet another of Edinburgh's festivals in August, the book festival covers all things literary.  The schedule is released in June, but if you like books, poetry or writing, there's bound to be something for you.

If you're planning a longer trip to make the most of the travel, the Edinburgh Art Festival is the UK's largest festival of visual art.  Throughout August, there are a wealth of excellent and award winning shows.

Highland Games are a traditional competitive meeting held in most towns across Scotland sometime between May and September.  A few dates around the wedding include:

Inverness - 11th July 2026

Mull - 23rd July 2026

St Andrews - 26th July 2026

Newtonmore - 1st August 2026

Bridge of Allan - 2nd August 2026

Isle of Skye - 5th August 2026

Killin - 5th August 2026

Aberfeldy - 8th August 2026

Brodick - 8th August 2026

Perth - 9th August 2026

Stirling - 15th August 2026

Crieff - 16th August 2026

Pride is another staple of summer, with dates throughout the summer. We'll add local and notable ones as they're announced.

Historic Environment Scotland looks after a wide range of historic sites across Scotland, including many castles.  They also host various events, if you want to combine a historic trip with an event or tour.

The National Trust for Scotland also looks after a wide range of historic sites across Scotland, as well as wonderful natural areas, like the Hermitage in Perthshire.

The Museums Galleries Scotland website can help you find museums and galleries across Scotland, wherever you choose to visit.  Start with three in Perth, or eleven in Dundee.  Whatever type of museum or gallery you're into, that's the place to find it.

This page can point you in the direction of multi-art centres and independent cinemas if you just need some relaxing screen time during your trip.

Perth

Perth Theatre and Concert Hall - https://www.perththeatreandconcerthall.com/

Perthshire

Pitlochry Festival Theatre - https://www.pitlochryfestivaltheatre.com/

Birnam Arts - https://www.birnamarts.com/

Dundee

Dundee Rep Theatre - https://dundeerep.co.uk/

Edinburgh

Edinburgh Playhouse, Usher Hall, Festival Theatre, Merchant's Hall, the Royal Lyceum - https://www.edinburgh-theatre.com/venues/category/theaters

Glasgow

The National Theatre Scotland - https://www.nationaltheatrescotland.com/

King's Theatre, Glasgow Theatre Royal, Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, The Pavilion, the SEC Armadillo, the Trades Hall - https://www.glasgow-theatre.co.uk/venues/category/theaters

Stirling

Macrobert Art Centre - https://www.macrobertartscentre.org/

Aberdeen

His Majesty's Theatre - https://www.aberdeenperformingarts.com/his-majestys-theatre/

Inverness

Eden Court - https://eden-court.co.uk/

Dunfermline

Alhambra Theatre - https://alhambradunfermline.com/

Carnegie Hall - https://www.onfife.com/venues/carnegie-hall/ 

Local

Chris' Gigs (Comrie) - https://www.facebook.com/comriegigs/

National

Gigs in Scotland - https://www.gigsinscotland.com/

Live Music Scotland - https://www.livemusicscotland.co.uk/

Live Music Now - https://livemusicnow.scot/whats-on/

Bands in Town - https://www.bandsintown.com/

Gigantic - https://www.gigantic.com/news/what-s-on-scotland

Visit Scotland - https://www.visitscotland.com/things-to-do/events

See Tickets - https://www.seetickets.com/

ATG Tickets - https://www.atgtickets.com/whats-on/

WhatsOnStage - https://www.whatsonstage.com/shows/scotland-theatre/

Ticketweb - https://www.ticketweb.uk/

Ticketmaster - https://guides.ticketmaster.co.uk/city-guides/scotland/ 

Local

Culture PK - Libraries, museums, galleries - https://www.culturepk.org.uk/

National

National Library of Scotland - https://www.nls.uk/

Scottish Opera - https://www.scottishopera.org.uk/

National Gallery - https://www.nationalgalleries.org

Scottish Ballet - https://scottishballet.co.uk/

Royal Conservatoire of Scotland - https://www.rcs.ac.uk/whats-on/

Royal Scottish National Orchestra - https://www.rsno.org.uk/

Scottish National Jazz Orchestra - https://snjo.co.uk/

National Youth Orchestras of Scotland - https://www.nyos.co.uk/

Scottish Rugby fixtures - https://scottishrugby.org/matches/

Women's Football (Soccer) - https://swpl.uk/

Men's Football (Soccer) - https://spfl.co.uk/

Golf - https://www.visitscotland.com/things-to-do/outdoor-activities/golf/tournaments

Local

Blackford Fiddle Group - https://blackfordfiddlegroup.org.uk/

Féis Thatha - https://www.feisthatha.com/sunday-sessions

Folk Music Sessions at the Bankfoot Inn - https://www.bankfootinn.co.uk/music-sessions

Perth & Kinross Archives - https://www.culturepk.org.uk/archivelfh/

Perth & Kinross Heritage Trust - https://www.pkht.org.uk/

Aquila Ecology - https://www.aquila-cic.org/

National

Sabhal Mor Ostaig - the Gaelic college on the Isle of Skye often delivers short courses in Gaelic language and music over the summer - https://www.smo.uhi.ac.uk/summer-short-courses-26/?lang=en

Gaelic Culture Centre, Inverness - https://cultarlann.scot/en/

Visit Scotland spotlight on trad music - https://www.visitscotland.com/things-to-do/events/music-festivals/traditional-folk

Visit Scotland spotlight on tours - https://www.visitscotland.com/things-to-do/tours

Craft & Textiles History - https://www.visitscotland.com/things-to-do/attractions/arts-culture/crafts-textiles

Foraging & Wild Cooking - https://gallowaywildfoods.com/foraging-events-map/

Kiltmaking - https://www.edinburghkiltmakersacademy.com/ or https://www.scotclans.com/pages/traditional-kilt-making-courses

Tartan weaving - https://radicalweavers.org/ or https://tartanweaver.co.uk/courses-and-workshops/

Weaving - https://www.naturallyuseful.co.uk/courses

Copper Jewellery smithing (and many modern crafts) - https://cssj.co.uk/weekend-workshops/

Willow Basketry (and many modern crafts) - https://scottishcraftschool.com/

Sgian Dubh forging - https://www.glitteringedge.com/sgian-dubh-making-course/ or https://www.featherforge.co.uk/product-page/sgian-dubh-class

Bladesmithing - https://scottishblacksmith.co.uk/ 

Harris Tweed bag making - https://islanderuk.com/pages/islander-workshop-experience

Leatherworking (including making a sporran) - https://www.pictavialeather.co.uk/workshops (Perthshire)

Wood Spirits - https://www.scarecrowwoodcrafts.com/

Woodworking (including porridge bowls and quaichs) - https://woodentom.com/wooden_tom_websitecoursescourses-html/

Woodworking (including whisky tumblers) - https://www.gedwood.co.uk/courses

Green woodworking (including birch craft) - https://www.greenaspirationsscotland.co.uk/workshops

Bushcraft - https://www.backcountrysurvival.co.uk/ (Perthshire) or https://www.folkschool.uk/bushcraft-event-introduction (Perthshire) or https://woodland-ways.co.uk/ (East Lothian) or https://www.doitoutdoors.co.uk/ (Perthshire)