World Sheepdog Trials
The sport's ultimate contest held only every three years in the region widely considered the birthplace of the Border Collie, where handlers from across the world gather at Huntington Farm for five extraordinary days.
A genuinely intact Scottish market burgh - single irregular High Street, a masterpiece Restoration kirk, a fairytale castle on its doorstep, a deli, a bakery and a proper pub - that punches well above its size without trying to.
Cottages, B&Bs and hotels near Lauder, Scottish Borders.
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"Twice a year the entire town of Jedburgh divides into Uppies and Doonies to contest a football match with no fixed rules, no referee and no pitch boundaries through the streets and closes of the town, a tradition said to derive from the use of an English soldier's head after a medieval border battle."
Jedburgh Ba' Game
✦ Weird and Wonderful"Cornet and mounted supporters ride the marches to drum and fife, commemorating a 1514 skirmish."
Hawick Common Riding
"Hundreds of riders follow the standard bearer round the burgh boundaries in the oldest of the Borders common ridings."
Selkirk Common Riding
"One of the Scottish Borders' best-loved civic weeks, the Melrose Festival culminates in a horseback rideout through the shadow of the Eildon Hills and the crowning and installation of the Festival Queen on the Thursday."
Melrose Festival
"A week of riding the marches, crowning of the Beltane Queen and pageantry in this Tweed valley town."
Peebles Beltane Festival
"A dawn cavalcade to the Raid Stone commemorates a 1337 victory over English raiders, with Soor Plums handed between sweethearts and a Mixing of the Roses ceremony recalling the marriage of Margaret Tudor to James IV."
Galashiels Braw Lads Gathering
"Massed pipe bands lead the chieftain's parade from the Bridge Hotel to Couper Park in this small fishing village on the far northeast coast."
Helmsdale and District Highland Games
"The last free games in the Highlands, where Games Day on the seaside Links feels like New Year, opened by Lord Cawdor himself."
Nairn Highland Games
"Scotland's premier sheepdog competition over four days at Letham Farm in the Ochil Hills, where the nation's finest handlers qualify for the International and the once-every-three-years World Trial."
Scottish National Sheepdog Trials
"Heavy events, wrestling and a 10K road race come to The Stadium in the genteel Victorian island resort of Rothesay."
Bute Highland Games
"A secluded Perthshire glen games in the hills above Blairgowrie, where the heavy events take place on a field ringed by heather moorland and the highland dancing stage backs onto birch woodland."
Strathardle Highland Games
"The Argyllshire Gathering at Mossfield Stadium in Oban is the premier Games event of the west coast, featuring a ceremonial parade from Station Square and first-class piping and heavy athletics."
Argyllshire Gathering (Oban Highland Games)