The countryside area at this year’s Royal Highland Show is set to deliver one of its busiest and most varied programmes yet, combining traditional country pursuits with family entertainment, live demonstrations and hands-on rural activities.
Organisers say the expanded programme reflects growing public interest in countryside skills, field sports, nature connection and outdoor learning, while also ensuring there is plenty to keep younger visitors entertained across the four-day event.
Held at Ingliston from June 18 to 21, the countryside section has become one of the show’s biggest attractions outside the livestock rings and machinery lines, drawing families, country sports enthusiasts and rural businesses from across Scotland.
This year’s line-up includes returning favourites such as gundog demonstrations, fly fishing instruction and woodland craft displays, alongside several new attractions aimed at broadening the appeal of the area to younger audiences and first-time visitors.
Among the headline additions for 2026 is hobby horsing, the fast-growing equestrian-inspired activity which has developed a major following among children and teenagers across Europe.
Show organisers said the new activity would offer ‘an adorable and action-packed equestrian craze’ where youngsters can test their jumping skills and imagination in a family-friendly setting.
The countryside arena will also host the Buccleuch Hounds, who will demonstrate how modern drag hunting works under current legislation. Visitors will be able to meet the hounds and learn more about their training, management and role within the countryside.
The Buccleuch Hunt, which celebrates its 200th anniversary in 2027, remains one of the best-known packs in Scotland and is expected to attract significant public interest during its appearances.
Country sports demonstrations remain a major part of the arena programme.
Sealpin Gundogs, based in the Scottish Borders, will return with demonstrations featuring springer spaniels, cocker spaniels and labrador retrievers. Trainer Joe Hipwell will showcase practical training techniques for both working dogs and family pets, with demonstrations designed to appeal to experienced handlers and newcomers alike.
Fly fishing will also feature strongly, with respected casting instructor Andrew Toft returning to demonstrate techniques for river, loch and stillwater anglers.
Widely recognised within the UK fly fishing community, Mr Toft is known for his instructional work and master-level qualifications in fly casting. His sessions are expected to focus on improving casting distance, efficiency and accuracy.
Traditional rural skills and woodland crafts will again form a key part of the countryside offering.
Tree-ditions Woodcraft Camp, an East Lothian-based organisation specialising in reconnecting people with nature, will run live demonstrations throughout the show.
Visitors will have the chance to try traditional pole lathe turning, shaving and wood shaping using shave horses, while charcoal-making demonstrations and canoe paddling sessions on the showground loch are also planned.
The organisers said the attraction was designed to give visitors a better understanding of traditional woodland industries and heritage craft skills that still have relevance in modern rural life.
Historical re-enactment and combat performance will also feature prominently this year.
Combat International and Clanranald will stage a choreographed skirmish involving rival Highland clans, combining live-action combat with theatrical storytelling.
The group specialises in film and television combat choreography and has contributed to productions including Highlander, House of the Dragon, Outlander and The Last Duel.
Organisers believe the display will add a dramatic visual element to the countryside arena programme while also celebrating Scottish history and heritage.
Alongside the countryside arena itself, the wider family and children’s offering at the show has also been expanded significantly.
The popular kids’ zone will once again feature Circus Alba, offering juggling, hula hooping, parkour and circus skills workshops aimed at younger visitors.
Storyteller Kenn Musso will return with interactive storytelling sessions and family activities running throughout the day.
Face painting, glitter tattoos and soft play areas are also expected to remain popular attractions for younger families attending the event.
Animal encounters continue to play a major role in the family programme.
Visitors will be able to meet alpacas from the Alpacas Trekking Centre in Thornhill, with opportunities to feed and learn more about the animals and their behaviour.
The increasingly popular Tractor Ted attraction will also return to the agricultural area, promoting outdoor play, healthy eating and sustainable farming through interactive exhibits and activities aimed at children.
Meanwhile, the motor zone will feature Mini Rovers, allowing children aged four to 10 to drive replica Series II Land Rovers around a specially designed obstacle course.
Show organisers said the attraction was designed to combine entertainment with confidence-building and coordination skills.
The continued expansion of the countryside area reflects wider efforts by the Royal Highland Show to attract broader audiences while maintaining strong links to agriculture, land management and rural traditions.
The Royal Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland has increasingly focused on encouraging urban visitors and younger families to engage with rural life, farming and countryside activities through practical demonstrations and interactive experiences.
Countryside pursuits remain an important economic and cultural part of many rural communities across Scotland, supporting tourism, conservation, sporting estates, rural employment and small businesses.
The countryside area also provides organisations and businesses with an opportunity to engage directly with the public and explain the role country sports, land management and traditional skills continue to play within the rural economy.
As public debate around land use, biodiversity, access and sporting management continues, events such as the Royal Highland Show offer an important platform for discussion and education as well as entertainment.
Attendance at the Royal Highland Show has remained strong in recent years, with organisers continuing to invest heavily in family attractions and experiential activities alongside the core agricultural programme.
The countryside area is expected to remain one of the busiest sections of the showground throughout the four-day event, particularly during weekend sessions when family attendance traditionally peaks.
With everything from fly casting and woodland crafts to circus skills, hobby horsing and Highland clan battles, organisers believe this year’s programme offers one of the most diverse countryside experiences yet staged at Ingliston.
For many visitors, it will provide a chance not only to watch demonstrations, but to take part directly in the traditions, skills and activities that continue to shape rural Scotland.
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