Crieff Highland Gathering takes place on Sunday 19th August. A great reason to take a self catering Holiday in rural Perthshrie this summer

The Crieff Highland Games are drawing ever closer, taking place in Crieff next month.

The small Perthshire town of Crieff is a picturesque, Scottish-postcard sort of town. It’s a beautiful getaway if you’re looking for a country break to remember or a self-catering stay and is surrounded by some truly awe-inspiring natural scenery.

This year’s games day takes place on Sunday the 19th August. Every year, traditional games – from the caber toss and shot put to tug o’ war – see contestants pit their strength against one another for pride and prizes. Professional athletes and teams flock from far and wide to take part in the day’s festivities in one of the most prestigious game days of its type.

There is also live music, with pipe bands, individual pipers and harpists taking part in musical competitions, showcasing some of the finest local players in the area today.

One of the biggest draws by far, however, is the annual special attraction, which this year sees Motorcycle Display Team the Bolddog Lings, return to Scotland to wow the Crieff Gathering with their daring aerial displays.

Bolddog Lings Team Director and professional stunt performer, Andy Godbold describes the show as: “More than just freestyle. It’s a non-stop show that will entertain everyone from off–road enthusiasts to the general public. It’s a must see part of any festival and is continually growing in popularity as the awareness of freestyle motocross increases.”

Crieff Highland Gathering Chairman, David Gillies, said; “We are delighted to be able to welcome the Bolddog Lings back to Crieff.  For many people, particularly those with families, the special attraction is one of the highlights of Crieff Highland Gathering, and they don’t come much more spectacular than the Bolddog Lings.”

Ewan McGregor regularly visits Crieff (image by Nico Genin, flickr)

From trekking the globe on the back of a rickety motorbike to swinging lightsabres in a galaxy far, far away, home grown Hollywood star Ewan McGregor sure gets around, but he hasn’t forgotten his Crieff roots.

Brought up in the village before leaving for drama school as a teenager, McGregor’s career has taken him to strange and exciting places, but the actor, best known for his role as Obi-Wan Kenobi in the Star Wars prequels, still visits Crieff in between his busy movie schedule.

In 2001, McGregor even returned to fulfil a childhood ambition by becoming chieftain of the Crieff Highland Games. In an interview with BBC’s One Show last year, McGregor, who still has family in the area, said: ”I go whenever I can because it’s nice to see everyone there.”

This year has already proved to be a busy one for McGregor starring in Lasse Hallström’s (Chocolat and Cider House Rules) critically-acclaimed drama, Salmon Fishing in the Yemen, co-starring Emily Blunt, and recently shared the honour with the cast of Danny Boyle’s 1996 classic, Trainspotting, which was voted the Best British Film of the last 60 years in a special HMV jubilee poll.

McGregor will also be hitting screens later in the year with The Impossible, based on the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, from the makers of hit Spanish thriller The Orphanage and co-starring Naomi Watts.