London Midland & Scottish Railway poster. The Highland Games by Christopher Clark R.I. Highland dancing. Text: Mary, Queen of Scots, stood beneath the Hangman's Tree at Inveraray, to watch the very first Highland Games in 1554. Still today they are held every August and September, with stirring rivalry, in hammer throwing, caber tossing, dancing and wrestling. Come to the Cowal Games at Dunoon (with a thousand pipers marching!) to the Northern Meeting at Inverness, on the site of Macbeth's castle, to Oban, Strathpeffer, Nairn or Crieff - to "Gatherings" of romantic splendour amid the purple Scottish heather.