Luss and the Highland Games – One-Stop Entertainment Extravaganza

Day 14, continued: The town of Luss

Luss was a quiet little town on the much-touristed Loch Lamond.

I stayed at a campground which was just a short walk from the Loch.

In the Trossachs was also where I had my first encounter with the dreaded Highland midges. These little beasties are so persistent and unpleasant that they are credited with giving much of Scotland its wild, unpopulated nature – nobody wants to live around these things.

Here they are on the outside of my tent, just waiting for me.

Day 15: Let the games begin, continue, and then end

The Games took place in a large green and lasted all Saturday.

Of course, the game opening included bagpipes.
The Drakes of Hazard give a demonstration of how border collies can herd some fancy ducks.
Down the slide of death.
Clann An Drumma gave very intense performances all day long.

There were all manner of booths about, including many set up by clans to talk about their history and scour for long-lost members. And, of course food, including the omnipresent fish’n’chips.

Fun and alcohol abounded.

Probably the most iconic part of the games, as with Festivus, are the feats of strength.

My only real regret of the trip was that I didn’t compete. I think I could have held my own, at least in the highland wrestling. And I think I could have won the bike races, easily – for whatever reason, all the riders came with road racing bikes to do these races on wet grass. My hybrid would have destroyed them, I wouldn’t even have had to take my gear off the back. (And there was an obstacle course I think I would have won.