Arran bathed in golden light. PIc credit: John Mcsporran

Arran bathed in golden light. Pic credit: John Mcsporran

Make the most of summer in Scotland by visiting an outdoors festival, or two, or three… We suggest 12 festivals that focus on outdoor activities.

Arran Mountain Film Festival

Isle of Arran, west coast of Scotland

May 13 to 16

Enjoy the adventure of taking a ferry to a Scottish island for this annual festival. The west coast island event includes a great mix of outdoor fun, including a range of walks for all, from wildlife watching strolls on the coast to scrambles on towering granite ridges. There’s also a 10th anniversary ceilidh.

Arran Festival

TweedLove

Scottish Borders

May 14 to 30

Stunning mountain biking trails of Glentress. Pic credit: Addy.

Stunning mountain biking trails of Glentress. Pic credit: Addy.

This popular celebration of all things cycling takes place in and around the town of Peebles. There are lots of events for all types of riders, including off road and on road races, family activities, films, talks and workshops. Glentress, one of Europe’s top mountain biking destinations is at the heart of TweedLove.

The festival includes the Shimano TweedLove International Enduro event and Expo 2016 from May 20 to 22.

Tweedlove

Angus Glens Walking Festival

Angus region

June 2 to 5

Path from Glen Doll to Glen Clova. Pic credit: Dona Robbins

Path from Glen Doll to Glen Clova. Pic credit: Dona Robbins

The Angus Glens Walking Festival offers a programme of guided walks and wildlife watching opportunities. Experienced mountain leaders, many of whom live or work locally, guide walking guests on each walk, with countryside rangers and estate managers enhancing the experience with their knowledge of local history and wildlife.

Angus Glens Walking Festival

UCI Mountain Bike World Cup 2016

Scottish Highlands

June 4 to 6

This year, the popular Fort William Mountain Bike World Cup and BUFF 4X Pro Tour is rebranded with the theme “We Are Legend”. It will be a weekend of “legendary riders, legendary fans and a legendary location” in the Highlands.

Spectators will see action from the world’s top downhill and cross-country riders. There are also plenty of other mountain bike focused things to do in the Tech and Expo arenas.

UCI Mountain Bike World Cup

Edinburgh Festival of Cycling 2016

Edinburgh city

June 9 to 19

Voted as one of the best cycling festivals in the UK, last year the 10-day event had to be extended by five days to accommodate more than 80 individual events at almost 50 different venues. The 2016 programme features rides, races and demonstrations for all types of cyclists, as well as workshops, family activities and cultural events.

Edinburgh Festival of Cycling 

Rock & Road Bike Festival

Scottish Highlands

June 11 and 12

Rock&Road (1)

The glens, off-road trails and winding roads of Tomintoul and Glenlivet are the base for this weekend festival. There are two road sportives and an enduro event to enjoy. There’s also a packed programme of demos, guided rides and workshops for all ages – from trike to bike, as well as music, films and stunts.

Tomintoul & Glenlivet Development Trust

Cream O’ The Croft Bike Festival

Perthshire

June 17 to 19

This festival for families is back for 2016 and is based at the highly accessible at mountain biking trails at Comrie Croft, Perthshire. There will be lots to do including races, such as a Funduro, coaching, a pumptrack challenge and films.

Cream  O’ The Croft Bike Festival

Edinburgh Canal Festival and Raft Race

Edinburgh

June 18

A fun canal festival with stalls, games, music, arts and a competitive home-made raft race to celebrate the city’s waterways.

Edinburgh Canal Festival and Raft Race

Scottish Traditional Boats Festival

North-east Aberdeenshire

June 25 to 26

Boat fest. Pic credit`; Anne Burgess

Annual boat fest. Pic credit: Anne Burgess

The festival combines sailing and rowing with history (maritime and rural), crafts, music and arts. There is a fast-growing trend for building and racing skiff boats, too, and this festival is the place to watch or compete.

Scottish Traditional Boats Festival

Angus Cycling Festival

September 17 to 18

This two-day celebration of mountain biking takes place at Reid Park, Forfar. You can expect activities such as a toddler’s bike balance course, bike skills track, coaching, endure and youth races a stunt airbag, a family ride and a bike jumble.

Angus Cycling Festival

CowalFest

October 7 to 16

A walk starts from Benmore Gardens on the Cowal Peninsula. Pic credit: William Craig

A walk starts from Benmore Gardens on the Cowal Peninsula. Pic credit: William Craig

The walking and outdoors festival promises more than 60 walks to suit a wide range of abilities. Areas of interest include wildlife, photography, art, history, heritage, tai chi, great gardens and folklore.

CowalFest

Fair City Enduro

October 22

This is more than just a cycling event, it’s a chance to ride a six-stage mountain bike enduro dressed up as your favourite superhero, cartoon characters or celebrity. The mountain biking event also features kids races, family activities, bike demos and a trade village.

Fair City Enduro.