Events around Scotland this summer - from the Islay-Limpics to the Smokie Seafest

The world’s focus may be on London this summer, but Scotland is awash (although we hope not literally) with a host of events, from the ridiculous to the sublime, over the coming months. From Highland Games to prospecting for gold, here’s a sample of what’s on offer, as previewed by Tom Lappin, Andrew Mackenzie, Robin McKelvie and Jools Stone.

Taste of Edinburgh gives the gourmets a look-in before thespians and comedians take over the capital for the summer. The Meadows will play witness to demonstrations from top chefs including Jeff Bland, Seumas MacInnes and Mary Contini. It’s also a chance to browse stalls groaning with delicacies from Scotland’s artisan producers. Whether you’re in the market for cheese, pies or marshmallows, you can find a gratifyingly organic, gluten-free or designer version here. 6-8 July, Taste of Edinburgh

Cowal Highland Gathering is the biggest (and to many purists still the best) of its kind, attracting over 20,000 spectators to Dunoon. As well as Highland dancing, pipe bands, solo piping, drum majors and traditional Highland sports, there’s ceilidh music, a fun run, and kids’ stuff. You’d need a heart of stone not to be moved by the sight of 3,000 pipers and drummers playing Highland Laddie as the sun sets over Argyll. 23-25 Aug, Cowal Highland Gathering

Visitors to the Scottish Real Ale Festival at the Corn Exchange will be able to see for themselves the prolific growth of micro-breweries and independent producers in Scotland. The beer list is still being finalised but will include such complex delights as Black Gold, Howler, Trade Winds and Witches’ Cauldron. The event should belie those harsh old stereotypes about real ale enthusiasts. These days, real ales are hip and happening, as, it seems, are beards. 28-30 June, Scottish Real Ale Festival

Arbroath Seafest celebrates the town’s maritime heritage, but let’s face it, it’s mostly about the smokie. The haddock dish that put Arbroath on the culinary map deserves regard. Seafest visitors can make a piscine pilgrimage along the Smokie Trail, made up of around 70 stalls lining the harbour, serving up every conceivable variation on a smoked fish theme. It’s a family-friendly affair with music and demos at the front. 4-5 August, Arbroath Seafest

Blair Castle International Horse Trials and Country Fair is Scotland’s leading equestrian event, taking place amidst the bucolic splendour of the surrounding estate and attracting over 40,000 visitors annually. This year, Olympic medallists compete alongside amateurs in the four international event classes. 23-26 August, Blair Horse Trails

The Scottish Alternative Games was first started in 1977 as a Silver Jubilee celebration (and an alternative to the more mainstream Highland Games) when farmer Mungo Bryson found the ideal distraction from clearing out his rusty cattle grid: to revive some of the long forgotten games he’d played when he was but knee-high to a combine harvester. The family fun continues today, with many of the original games surviving, including Tossin’ the Sheaf, Hurlin’ the Curlin’ Stane, snail racing and even Flingin’ the Herd’s Bunnet. To prove that there’s nothing frivolous about these events, competitors from more than 20 countries will be battling to win a ‘gold medal’ haggis, ‘silver’ clootie dumpling or ‘bronze’ Scotch pie. 3 August, Scottish Alternative Games

A key event on the Scottish country calendar, the Scottish Game Fair is set in the lavish surrounds of Scone Palace just outside Perth. On offer is the chance (along with 30,000 other visitors) to hunt for bargains in more than 300 trade stands, find out more about the countryside and witness myriad demonstrations, with everything from fly-fishing displays through to gun dogs and falconry. There are not many places in the world where you can settle in for a spot of sheep racing either. 29 June-1 July, Scottish Game Fair

You may be forgiven for thinking that most traces of Scottish industry have been deftly wiped from the map in recent decades, but you’d be quite wrong. Round Lanarkshire way, they know for a fact that “there be gold in dem dar hills”. Pitch up to the wild frontiers of Wanlockhead for the Scottish and British Goldpanning Championships, pan at the ready, and muck in with some of Britain’s leading prospectors. 2-3 June, Scottish and British Goldpanning Championships

Why bother taking coals to Newcastle when you can save yourself some shoe leather and hoik them round Fife instead? The Scottish Coal Carrying Championship is an arduous test of muscle and mettle – the lads carry a 50kg sack of coal over a 1km course, while the lasses muster a 25kg bag. Last year witnessed a dramatic photo finish when John Sinclair scraped it by diving head first over the finish line. Ready to get your mitts dirty? 30 June, Kelty, Fife, 12pm.

Garlanded with accolades including Best Event in Scotland from the National Outdoor Event Association, the Royal Highland Show remains on a high popularity roll. The sights and sounds and, dare we say it, smells of Ingliston include livestock, the latest farm machinery, fine food and drink, traditional rural skill demos, fashion and shopping arcades to name a few. It’s a riot for all ages. There’ll be animals and people, there’ll be mega machines, there’ll be drink and yes, there will be blood pudding. 21-24 June, Ingliston, Royal Highland Show

The East Neuk Festival combines literary, musical and environmental themes in this beautiful and tight-knit corner of Fife. With participants including Kathleen Jamie, Sara Maitland and Richard Holloway, the 2012 festival promises to be thought-provoking. Part of the festival’s unique appeal is the imaginative use of the region’s scenic splendour, including art on the beach. Take in an open-air concert or follow Richard Mabey’s guided walk along the coast path. 27 June-1 July, East Neuk Festival

Demonstrating you don’t need to be anywhere near the Highlands to host a Highland Games, Burntisland Highland Games claims to be the second oldest in the world. It boasts all the traditional events and sports alongside a fairground and market stalls. It all kicks off with a spectacular procession along the High Street led by the Burntisland Pipe Band, Highland dancers and the Summer Queen. 16 July, Burntisland Highland Games

The headliners at “the only festival with its own monster” this year are testament to how well the relatively young Rockness has established itself on the festival circuit, with the likes of Mumford and Sons and Justice ably supported by other talents such as Busy P, Wretch 32, Errors and The Drums. June 8-10, Rockness

The Ardbeg Islay-Limpics is a day of Herculean drinking and general silliness, courtesy of one of our finest island malts. The whisky distillers promise a day of barrel hurdling, mud wrestling, terrier racing and sheep tossing. They’ve even thoughtfully compiled some high performance training tips to get you limbered up, starting with their “glass-lifting event”. 2 June, Ardbeg Islay-Limpics

A version of this article first appeared in the June isue of The Pulse