The Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust Scottish Game Fair takes place in a couple of weekends. Now in its 25th year, it’s the go-to event for all sorts of country pursuits from clay pigeon shooting to pony parades via terrier racing. Needless to say, if you have a fondness for ferrets then you will already have plans in place to be at Scone Palace on the weekend beginning Fri 5th July.
Cookery Theatre
As well as some 50 stalls manned by producers, the Food Hall has a packed programme of demonstrations taking place in the Cookery Theatre. From sausage making and roe deer butchery with the Seriously Good Venison company to food and wine matching master classes from Great Grog, there will be oodles of culinary inspiration on display.
Game Chef of the Year
A couple of the events in the Food Hall stand out. On Saturday 6 July at 3.30pm, Game Chef of the Year 2013 Orry Shand and food writer Maxine Clark will be giving tips on how to cook roe deer. On Sunday morning, from 10.30am, the final of The Scotsman’s venison cookery competition will take place.
Moving away from the food-based programme, there’s a 4X4 course on a riverbank which will be begging to be tackled and there will also be the chance to take a five minute helicopter flight over Scone Palace. Fly casting competitions, a vintage vehicle parade and tug-o-war are all part of the entertainment line-up.
Dog & Duck Show
I’ve already booked my seat for the thrills and spills of the dog and duck show although I am curious as to what, exactly, the sheep show will entail. Sheep, obviously. But what will they do? A synchronised dance? Bleat in tune? An ovine version of Hamlet?
The GWCT Scottish Game Fair takes place at Scone Palace, Fri 5th July to Sun 7th.