The GWCT Scottish Game Fair Celebrates 30 years with a bumper programme. Pic: Sandy Young, www.scottishphotographer.com
The weather looks set to be fantastic for the 30th annual GWCT Scottish Game Fair.
Taking place at Scone Palace Parklands, Perthshire, the gates open this morning for three days of countryside fun.
As ever, there will be competitions and demonstrations for fishing, gun dogs and shooting.
The Main Ring has a packed-programme with highlights including the birds of prey, terrier racing, The Fred Taylor Memorial Trophy for Working Hill Ponies, Clwyd Axemen, a dog ‘n’ duck show, classic Land Rover parade and much more.
Those visitors wanting to try their hand at something new, should look out for the ‘have-a-go’ signs around site. There are opportunities for trying archery, scurry, clays and fly casting – all under the watchful eye of the experts.
Cookery Theatre: Scottish game
A new element at this year's Scottish Game Fair - and one of particular interest to the 5pm Dining blog - is the standalone Cookery Theatre.
Scotland's wild food will be in the spotlight for three days. Scotland’s Natural Larder and the Scottish Venison Partnership have teamed up to show how to make best use of Scotland’s natural local produce.
The full timetable is here but, for today, we like the look of Christopher Trotter's versatile venison session at noon.
Tomorrow is Sausage Saturday. At 12.30pm, Louise Gray, journalist and author of The Ethical Carnivore, will talk about her year of cooking and eating only meat that she killed.
On Glorious Game Sunday, we're up for watching Masterchef Champion Jamie Scott, chef patron of The Newport Restaurant, cook pigeon salad.
Of course, there will also be lots of top notch scoff to hand. The Field Kitchen offers a fantastic range of BBQ and bistro foods along with the Fair’s largest bar and beer garden. As well as the ever-popular Hog Roast, check out the newly added Grill Shack.
Scottish Game Fair: scorchio
Sarah Ballantyne Head of Events GWCT and organiser of the Scottish Game Fair said:
'We are really excited to be putting on this year’s Fair. We have sold the largest number of advance tickets ever. Combined with a very positive weather forecast, it’s shaping up to be our best Fair yet. To mark 30th we are introducing lots of new content for sports men and women, as well as lots of new fun activities for families. We’re really looking forward to opening the gates.'
As we mentioned, the forecast is scorchio. Organisers are advising customers to stay hydrated, use sun screen, cover up and leave your dogs at home!
The Scottish Game Fair runs Friday 29 June to Sunday 1 July. To beat the queues, tickets are available online at www.scottishfair.com