Love them or hate them Bagpipes seem to be associated with Scotland. I say that because I’m well aware that other countries play bagpipes too. I remember feeling just a little bit homesick when visiting the old Roman town of Jerash in Jordan and heard the sound of bagpipe playing from the amphitheatre. Intrigued, I went closer to investigate and found 2 Jordanians were the source of the playing.
This weekend it was the European Pipe Band Championships and they were held in a town 12 miles away. Perhaps, after 28 years away from traditional events like these I was really keen to go. It was certainly an experience- over 100 bands were competing in different categories including juniors.
One of the many pipe bands.
The bands are made up of bagpipe players and drummers.
Every band has a large drum too!
Drummers practising.
Checking out the competition?
Giving her husband support?
And there were plenty of refreshment options for the 20,000 people who attended.
mmmm?
Besides the pipe bands there were competitions for Highland dancing, Drum Majoring and baking the best ‘tattie’ (potato) scones.I read today in the newspaper that this last event was won by a Welshman and one of the winning Pipe Bands was from Ireland so the Scots certainly didn’t have it ‘all sewn up’!
Highland Dancers.
I have a feeling I’ll be searching out a Highland Games to visit next to continue my repatriation to Scotland!!
mudarissa 
Ooh I do love a good pipe band. There’s a webpage on the Visit Scotland website with a listing of all the highland games in Scotland this summer. I hope you can catch some more.
Thanks for that, Christine:)