The Royal Highland Show, Scotland's largest outdoor agricultural event set to welcome over 200,000 people

Scotland’s largest outdoor agricultural event is set to open its gates to over 200,000 people in Edinburgh.

Taking place in Ingliston, The Royal Highland Show will run over four days from Thursday until Sunday and will see the best of Scotland’s rural sector, from farming to forestry to food and drink producers.

Visitors will experience family entertainment as hundreds of businesses fill the grounds, selling everything from agricultural machinery, clothing and motor vehicles to Scottish food and drink products.

We take a look at what to expect from this year’s event.

Family fun

The event, which has been running for over 200 years, will welcome over 4,000 livestock, hundreds of trade exhibitors including those from Scotland’s food and drink sector, and a huge variety of entertainment and music.

Sheepshearing, pole-climbing, axe throwing, mini Land Rovers, pizza building, cheese tasting and sushi rolling are among the visitor attractions for this year.

There are various livestock breeds from miniature Shetland ponies to donkeys, goats to Highland cows being shown in the arena on every day of the show.

Scottish brewer Innis & Gunn will host a Sunday entertainment showcase from 11am at the Members’ Village, while Elephant Sessions will perform at the Royal Highland Hoolie, joining The Whistlin’ Donkeys, Manran, Trail West, Nati Dreddd and the Dangleberries.

Sheep-shearing will be among the activities on show. IAN GEORGESON via Supplied

Brand building

The event is a chance for Scotland’s most prominent brands to promote their goods and services on the world stage and to encourage further growth and investment.

This includes exhibits from a number of UK Government-funded projects, including The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo and Destination Tweed.

Scottish secretary Ian Murray will host a reception with the Scotch Whisky Association to promote the national tipple.

He said: “The Royal Highland Show is a fantastic opportunity to bang the drum for our iconic produce and help turbo-charge sales of Scottish goods and services at home and abroad.”

Political opportunity

First Minister John Swinney is set to attend the Edinburgh event, and he has reaffirmed his government’s commitment to sustainable food production amid “significant change” in the farming sector, ahead of the visit.

Swinney said: “Our ambition is for Scotland to be a global leader in sustainable and regenerative agriculture. To do that we are working in partnership with the sector to transform the support we give to our farmers and crofters.

“The Royal Highland Show is our chance to showcase the absolute best of food produce, farming excellence and all of the industries that support our rural communities.”

John Swinney will be in attendance at the show. STV News

Meanwhile rural affairs secretary Mairi Gougeon used the first day of the event to announce a £14m scheme to provide grants to farmers will open next month.

The programme – opening for applicants on July 14 – will provide capital funding for those new to agriculture, as well as young farmers, those with small operations and tenant farmers.

The Future Farming Investment Scheme will provide cash for green projects and those which will increase efficiency, with up to £20,000 available – potentially as a 100% grant.

The announcement comes as Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Alex Cole-Hamilton called for more support for the sector.

“There is so much uncertainty facing Scottish agriculture amid the family farm tax, trade barriers, falling income and the squeeze placed on farmers by multinational supermarkets,” he said after visiting the Royal Highland Show on Thursday.

He added: “Throughout the Royal Highland Show, Liberal Democrats will be listening to farmers and producers, understanding the challenges they face and working out the best way forward.

“Our farmers are the best in the world. It’s time both our governments recognised their invaluable contributions and backed a thriving future for Scottish agriculture.”

Traffic warning

Edinburgh drivers were warned of significant road delays on Thursday as the Royal Highland Show got under way.

Traffic Scotland and Lothian have issued updates to road and public transport users with considerable tailbacks reported on the A8, M9, M8 and M90 with visitors entering the showground at Ingliston.

Lothian services including the 17, 18, 70 and 71 are all experiencing delays on the A8, the main route to the Royal Highland Centre. A service alert reads: “Due to the Royal Highland Show at Ingliston buses are being delayed on the A8 Glasgow Road.”

A similar alert has also been issued for buses serving the A89 Edinburgh Road including X18 and X19.

Meanwhile Traffic Scotland warned: “Royal Highland Show – Congestion Update. Significant delays of approx. 18 minutes from the #M90 Queensferry Crossing and from the #M8 from Livingston.”