Event: United Kingdom

Atholl Highlanders' Parade, Gathering & Highland Games

When:	24 - 25 May 2008 (annual)
Where:	Blair Castle
Costs:	Sat as admission to castle Sun £5; seniors £3; children £2
Opening Hours:	Sat 2.30pm; Sun 1.15pm

The Atholl Gathering is a two-day festival which marks one of the first Highland Games of the season, as well as the annual Parade of the Atholl Highlanders - Britain's only legitimate private army. The events always take place over the last full weekend of May, the parade on the Saturday and the gathering and games on the Sunday.

First formed in 1778 by the fourth Duke, who intended the 1000 men to fight in the American War of Independence (although they only got to Ireland and were then disbanded), the present regiment of Atholl Highlanders dates from 1839. Three years later they escorted Queen Victoria on her tour of Perthshire. She returned in 1844, when the Highlanders mounted a guard for her while she stayed at Blair Castle.

In recognition of their services, the Queen announced her intention of presenting two colours to the Atholl Highlanders. They were presented on 4 September 1845 by Lady Glenlyon on behalf of the Queen, in the presence of Prince George of Cambridge and Prince Edward of Saxe-Weimar, and those colours are paraded on the Saturday of the last full weekend of May, the day before the Atholl Highland Games.

Highlights of the games include highland dancing, piping, races, competitive feats of strength, tossing the caber and firing of the cannon.