A 2017 Rough Guides Readers’ Poll voted Scotland the world’s most beautiful country. There’s no argument about that. The mighty mountains, forests and lochs are unparalleled. The only problem with Scotland, is there’s no accounting for the weather. Brilliant sunshine can turn to torrential rain, as suddenly as though someone in the heavens were flicking a switch. And drizzle often drags on all day long – as we discovered, when we went to see the Scottish Alternative Games at New Galloway, in Dumfries and Galloway.
The Scottish Alternative Games celebrated their 40th anniversary this year. In 1977 Mungo Bryson was inspired by a rusty old gird ‘n’ cleek* on his farm, and decided to set up these Lowlands Scottish Games to celebrate the Queen’s Silver Jubilee. As the name suggests, they’re an alternative to the more traditional Highland Games.
*Gird ‘n’ Cleek
The gird ‘n’ cleek is the centrepiece of the Scottish Alternative Games. The Games host the annual world championship of the sport. If you’re not familiar with gird ‘n’ cleek, imagine a long metal rod, attached to a hoop. The contestant runs, pushing the hoop along using the rod. There’s a real art to it – you have to crouch slightly, to get the right angle, and if you don’t manage the speed and traction properly, the hoop wobbles and collapses.

This is what gird ‘n’ cleek looks like. Sadly the ground was too wet at this year’s Alternative Games for anyone to safely compete
Catstrand Arts Centre, New Galloway
Since 2001 the Games have been held at the Catstrand in New Galloway. Catstrand General Manager Brian Edgar explained:
“Mungo asked us to host the Games here, as we have a better site. The hill over the playground gives a good viewpoint, and you can sit with a cider to watch the Games. The gird ‘n’ cleek title has only been held outside Scotland once, and it’s often New Galloway people who win the contest. Gird ‘n’ cleek has developed from the games children used to play, beating a hoop along with a stick. It was traditionally played by children here in Scotland, but you also found it in the north of England. I even saw a picture from Japan, of a child playing with a hoop and stick.”
Sadly, I don’t have any pictures of the gird ‘n’ cleek contest from this year’s championship, because – well, because it was rained off. After a morning of torrential downpours, the hill, so useful for creating a vantage point, became a slippery quagmire. When limbering up on a practise run, ruddy-haired young locals would reach one corner in particular, then fall and skid, along a slip-n-slide of mossy grass and churned-up mud. It was just too dangerous to hold the competition.
What you’ll find at the Scottish Alternative Games
But the show went on. Although Brian told me that on sunnier years there would have been double the numbers, the Alternative Games were busy. They opened to rousing bagpipes, played by the Lockerbie Pipe Band. Inside a marquee you could buy tea and scones, as well as ale and cider. On the tombola we won jam, a litre of squash, and a large bottle of gin. The children were captivated by archery sessions and the hook-a-duck, as well as delicious ice cream (from the local Cream o’ Galloway. We might just have gone back for second scoops….)
Brian commentated the day’s proceedings with wit and the understated energy so common in Scots. To a first-timer like me, the absence of the gird ‘n’ cleek didn’t diminish the charm of the afternoon. I tried my hand at tossing the sheaf, which apparently was a popular wind-down for farmers at the end of the day. These days, competitors toss a weighted sack, rather than a sheaf of corn. My favourite of all the festival games was the tractor-pulling. Women and men both competed to drag along a rusty old John Deere, using just a rope and their own brute strength. The contestants were formidable – you’d fear for the state of your elbows if one of them ever challenged you to an arm-wrestle.

Me, tossing the sheaf. Apologies about the rain-spattered picture. It was tipping down by this point.
Festival games indoors
Indoors, there was face-painting, and the Catstrand Ukelele band acted as a jolly warm-up for snail-racing. A referee tipped the snails out of a tupperware box into the centre of what looked like an archery target. Snail trainers smeared beer over the racetrack, and the snails followed this tempting path to the edge of the circle. You could bet on a snail (they all had numbers chalked on their shells), or pay a little more to ‘own’ a snail, which would win you bonus cash if it came in first.
We bought number 17. Sadly, he didn’t win – and we weren’t even allowed to take him home with us. But apart from that, a good day was had by all.
The Scottish Alternative Games take place at the beginning of August at the Catstrand Arts Centre, New Galloway. New Galloway is 14 miles north of Castle Douglas, in south-west Scotland, just off the A713.
You can find out more about the New Galloway Scottish Alternative Games on their Facebook page.
Read more about things to do in Galloway Forest Park here
I’ve written more about the small town of New Galloway here
For more family fun in this area, visit the CocoaBean Chocolate Factory, where kids can make their own chocolate creations
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28 Comments
Cathy (MummyTravels)
September 8, 2017 at 9:06 amI hadn’t come across these before, but I love it when traditions are continued like this – a shame the highlight was rained off, although it sounds like there was plenty to entertain whatever the weather,
Nell
September 8, 2017 at 10:35 amNo doubt we’ll be back on a year when they weather’s beter, so I’ll report back!
Kel
September 8, 2017 at 1:00 pmWe went to out first Highland Games this year in Nairn, and it was really interesting to watch the traditional (but rarely seen round my neck of the woods) games, but this one sounds like so much fun as an alternative!
Nell
September 11, 2017 at 9:02 pmDo you know, I don’t think I’ve ever been to a traditional Highland Games in Scotland. This is the closest I’ve come to it!
Katy Stern
September 8, 2017 at 7:30 pmDespite the weather, this looks like such an entertaining day! I would’ve loved to see the gird ‘n’ cleek – it sounded interesting, the kids would probably have opted for the face painting and the snail race 🙂 Really enjoyed following your travels Nell x
Nell
September 11, 2017 at 9:30 pmThere was tons there for the whole family, Katy. You’ll have to head up one year! x
susanna
September 9, 2017 at 6:38 amMy husband is from Scotland and we alway joke about the weather. At least you weren’t blown away 🙂
Nell
September 11, 2017 at 9:30 pmTrue. Things could have been worse.
Plutonium Sox
September 10, 2017 at 9:15 amOh this sounds brilliant! I’m sorry the weather wasn’t kind to you but I’m glad you had a fab day anyway, love the snail racing!
Nat.x
Nell
September 12, 2017 at 10:55 amYou’re right – the weather didn’t dampen our spirits!
Ting at MTM
September 10, 2017 at 10:06 amThis sounds so much fun. I love the snail racing, what a great idea! And tossing the sheaf! You look like you got the hang of it in the photo!
Nell
September 12, 2017 at 10:56 amHmmm. My sheaf fell far short. Need to practise for next year!
Sarah Christie
September 10, 2017 at 4:31 pmOh this look so much fun, I really want to explore Scotland a little more its such a wonderful place to visit and this looks like a great family day Nell x
Nell
September 12, 2017 at 10:59 amYou should definitely go again, Sarah. x
Daisy - Dais Like These
September 10, 2017 at 7:34 pmSuch a shame about the weather but what a great traditional event this sounds like!!
Nell
September 12, 2017 at 11:01 amIt was lots of fun, Daisy.
Kaz
September 10, 2017 at 7:57 pmI am sure I have heard of these games before – shame about the weather but I assume Scotland is like Wales where it rains a lot. Kaz
Nell
September 12, 2017 at 11:01 amYep. We came here after visiting Wales, and it was definitely similar!
Lisa (Travel Loving Family) & Trips100 Editor
September 11, 2017 at 10:34 amWhat a fabulous event for kids. Never heard of gird ‘n’ cleek before although my boys spend most of the time in the garden racing snails!
Nell
September 12, 2017 at 11:02 amThe gird ‘n’ cleek was a new one on me, too…
Claire at Tin Box Traveller
September 12, 2017 at 4:34 pmWhat an unusual and interesting day. I think my two would have loved the snail racing. Shame about the weather but is certainly didn’t stop the fun! Thanks for linking up with #MondayEscapes
Nell
September 13, 2017 at 12:07 pmYou’re right – your two would have loved the snails, I’m sure.
Zena's Suitcase
September 13, 2017 at 9:10 amIt is very wet in that part of the world isn’t it. It’s such a shame as it is stunning. I totally get why you went back for more Cream o’galloway ice cream. It’s amazing
Nell
September 13, 2017 at 12:21 pmI guess part of what makes it stunning is the green, lush countryside, and you don’t get that without rain! Mmm yum – I want some Cream o’ Galloway now 🙂
Christine @afamilyday
September 13, 2017 at 5:38 pmWe went to our first traditional Highland Games this summer, which were great although your alternative sounds fun too. Scotland is one of my favourite countries despite the weather – some days we’d be out walking with rain on our backs and sun in our eyes! Good for rainbows though…. #Mondayescapes
Nell
September 14, 2017 at 6:59 pmYes, we saw a few. One double rainbow, too! The one in your post was very pretty.
Elizabeth
September 18, 2017 at 9:14 pmWhat a quirky event! Shame about the weather but perhaps added to the Scottishness of it all. #mondayescapes
Nell
September 19, 2017 at 8:15 pmIt did just that!