The Royal Highland Show is a major agricultural event held annually in June at the Royal Highland Centre near Edinburgh, Scotland. It is organized by the Royal Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland (RHASS) and attracts around 200,000 visitors over the four days it runs. But with ticket prices starting at £26 per adult for a day pass, is the Royal Highland Show really worth the cost? Here are some key factors to consider when deciding if attending the Royal Highland Show is worth the investment.
See Rare Breeds of Livestock
One of the main attractions at the Royal Highland Show is the opportunity to see rare and traditional breeds of livestock up close. Over 6,000 animals attend the show across a range of species including cattle, sheep, goats, pigs, horses, and poultry. Some of the rarer breeds you may spot include White Park cattle, Portland sheep, Bagot goats, and Scots Dumpy chickens. For livestock enthusiasts, seeing these uncommon breeds in person can be a unique and valuable experience. Many of the animals are brought for exhibition purposes only and are not normally seen outside of agricultural shows and specialist breeders’ farms.
Watch Livestock Competitions and Displays
In addition to exhibition, many animals also compete in classes judged against breed standards. There are competitions across all the livestock sections from Heavyweight Horse of the Year to Supreme Champion Cheese. Seeing the best of each breed paraded and judged provides a showcase of quality British agriculture. There are also livestock demonstrations and parades in the main arena where you can see the animals up close and in motion, with many dressed up for the occasion. For equestrian fans, the showing classes and demonstrations such as tent pegging are a highlight of the event.
Sample Quality Regional Produce
The RHASS Food Hall provides an opportunity to taste and buy quality Scottish produce ranging from meats and cheeses to preserves, baked goods, and fresh fruit and vegetables. There are hundreds of stands representing producers from across Scotland and beyond. From Arbroath smokies to Orkney fudge, it’s a chance to sample some iconic regional foods and discover new favourite products. You can also attend cooking demonstrations from top chefs working with Scottish ingredients. The agricultural focus means the ingredients are as fresh and authentic as you can get.
Learn About Agriculture and Rural Life
If you have an interest in agriculture, the Royal Highland Show is a great place to learn more about different agricultural practices, rural skills, and innovations that are shaping the future of farming. There are exhibits demonstrating technologies like robotic milking parlours along with more traditional rural crafts like dry stone walling and thatching. Seminars, workshops, and panel discussions also take place across the four days on topics related to agriculture, food production, and the environment. For those interested in working in agriculture, it provides useful industry insights.
Unique Shopping Opportunities
In addition to food and drink, the trade stands at the show sell a diverse range of products covering country clothing, artisan crafts, agricultural equipment, outdoor furniture, and more. The agricultural focus means you can find unique items you would not find on the high street. These include things like livestock handling equipment, country fashion brands like Joules, and rural-themed homewares. The shopping village creates an interesting place to browse for new discoveries and gifts for family and friends with a country lifestyle.
Family Friendly Activities
The Royal Highland Show has plenty of activities for families to enjoy. There are fairground rides, inflatables, and a petting farm for younger children. Interactive exhibits teach all ages more about agriculture and food production. Craftspeople demonstrate rural skills like dry stone walling, thatching, and blacksmithing which children can get hands-on with and learn about. There are also sporting activities like fly fishing lessons and clay pigeon shooting for older kids. So as a family day out, there’s something to keep everyone entertained.
Key Facts About the Royal Highland Show
Here are some key facts about the Royal Highland Show to give you an idea of what to expect:
- It takes place annually over 4 days in June at the Royal Highland Centre near Edinburgh.
- Around 200,000 visitors attend across the 4 days.
- The show features 6,000 animals across a range of livestock species.
- There are competitions for the best livestock in various breed classes.
- The Food Hall hosts over 1,000 exhibitors selling Scottish food and drink.
- There are shopping stands selling a diverse range of country and agricultural products.
- It offers educational exhibits about agriculture and rural life.
- There are live cooking demonstrations from renowned chefs.
- A range of family activities are available including fairground rides.
- Tickets start at £26 for adults for a weekday pass bought in advance. Gate prices are more expensive.
Having an awareness of these key facts can help you know what to budget for and help decide if it’s an event you would enjoy. The range of things to see and do is vast across the four days.
Pros of Visiting the Royal Highland Show
Here are some of the main advantages of attending the Royal Highland Show:
See Rare Breeds
It provides one of the best opportunities in Scotland to see and get close to rare and minority breeds of farm animals. Where else could you see breeds like White Park cattle, Scots Dumpy chickens and Bagot goats? For livestock enthusiasts, seeing these unusual breeds is a big draw.
Watch Top Quality Livestock
The livestock exhibitions and competitions showcase the very best breeding and rearing in Scottish agriculture. Seeing Champion animals paraded in peak condition is an impressive sight. The showing arena displays also demonstrate the skill involved in handling and preparing the animals.
Learn About Agriculture
From robotic milking to crop genetics, the show provides a unique insight into the future of farming. The seminars and exhibits demonstrate the latest thinking and technology shaping agriculture. It’s an opportunity to expand your agricultural knowledge and sate your curiosity.
Try Great Scottish Food & Drink
Where else can you find over 1,000 of the best Scottish food and drink producers all in one place? From artisan cheese to smoked salmon, it’s a chance to taste fantastic regional produce and discover new favourites. The food hall has an exceptional range of quality Scottish fare.
Unique Shopping Opportunities
The trade stands offer shopping opportunities you won’t find anywhere else with hundreds of specialist country and agricultural suppliers exhibiting. You can browse and purchase unique rural-themed products from clothing to furnishings for the home and garden.
Great Family Day Out
With fairground rides, inflatables, demonstrations, and petting zoos, there’s entertainment to keep children of all ages occupied. Adults can indulge their interests while kids enjoy hands-on agricultural activities. There’s something fun for the whole family to experience.
Cons of Visiting the Royal Highland Show
There are also some downsides to weigh up when deciding on visiting the Royal Highland Show:
Expense
The ticket prices can make it an expensive day out, especially for bigger families. Adult tickets start at £26 if bought well in advance. Gate prices are £2-£4 more expensive. There are additional costs for things like fairground rides, food, and shopping on top of the entry fee. It can rack up to a costly visit.
Crowds
With around 200,000 visitors across just 4 days, the showground gets very busy. There can be long queues for popular stands in the food hall along with congestion between the trade stands. With crowds it’s harder to get hands-on with some exhibits too. Crowd anxiety can make the experience overwhelming.
Weather Risk
As an outdoor event in Scotland in June, rain showers are highly possible. Mud and dampness underfoot can make traversing the vast showground uncomfortable. Some activities may be cancelled in extremely wet weather too. It’s not guaranteed to be a pleasant sunny day out.
Travel Time
While handy for Edinburgh residents, for most of Scotland the show requires a lengthy drive or train journey to attend. It takes commitment of time and effort to get to the Royal Highland Centre outside the central belt. The travel puts some people off making the trip.
Requires Planning
To make the most of all the activities and attractions, advance preparation is needed. You should research and plan what events, breed shows, seminars and exhibitors you want to priority see. Without a plan, you can miss out by just wandering aimlessly. There’s almost too much to see in one visit.
Tiring Day Out
With over 25 miles of avenues and walkways covering an expansive site, just getting around the showground requires a lot of walking. It’s tiring for kids and older visitors especially. Bringing a wheelchair or mobility scooter helps but there’s still much ground to cover between sections. It can be exhausting.
Is the Royal Highland Show Worth It?
Whether the Royal Highland Show is worth the ticket price and effort to attend will depend on your interests and priorities.
For agricultural enthusiasts who want to see rare breeds, top quality livestock and gain farming insights, the show offers an unparalleled opportunity that justifies the entrance cost. The same applies for committed Scottish food fans eager to indulge in the exceptional regional produce.
Occasional countryside visitors will still find lots to enjoy but may feel less value from the expense given the crowds and logistics. Similarly families will have a fun day out but need to budget carefully for all the additional costs beyond tickets.
If you plan accordingly around the pros and cons, there are ways to maximize the experience. Booking early to get cheaper tickets, picking your must-see priorities in advance and allowing time to rest regularly can all help make it a more satisfying visit.
While not cheap, for the serious agricultural fan or Scottish food connoisseur, the Royal Highland Show offers a special experience like no other to immerse yourself in the best of Scottish farming and cuisine.
Tips for Getting the Most from Your Royal Highland Show Visit
If you do decide the Royal Highland Show is worth attending, here are some tips for making the most of your visit:
Book Tickets Early
Booking as early as possible allows you to take advantage of early bird discounted ticket prices. This saves on the entrance cost.
Get There Early
Arriving early, especially on the busiest days like Saturday, means you can enjoy the parts of the show before the peak crowds arrive. This gives you longer to see exhibits with space.
Pick Priority Activities
Review the schedule in advance and plan which livestock shows, seminars, cooking demos and exhibits are unmissable for you. This stops you wasting time on less useful activities.
Pack Essentials
Bring suitable clothing and footwear for the weather and terrain. Essentials like snacks, water, wet weather gear, sunscreen and a portable phone charger will make your day more comfortable.
Take Breaks
With so much walking around the expansive showground, take regular sitting breaks to rest your legs. Make use of benches in the shopping areas to recover energy between sessions.
Make Repeat Visits
Given how much there is to see, attending multiple days across different years allows you to experience more that the show has to offer compared to trying everything in one visit.
Final Thoughts
The Royal Highland Show offers a unique showcase of Scottish agriculture, food and rural life. For enthusiasts drawn to its key strengths around livestock, produce and rural skills, it provides value despite the expense and logistical challenges. More casual attendees face trickier cost-benefit judgements. Careful planning around tickets, activities and essentials allows you to maximize the experience, especially if able to attend across multiple years. While tiring, for the agricultural fanatic, the Royal Highland Show is a Scottish institution offering an unparalleled flavour of the country’s farming heritage.
