The Northern Meeting Park is believed to be the oldest purpose-built Highland Games venue in the world. These pages tell its story — from its origins in post-Culloden Highland society to the vibrant community events of today — drawing on memories and archive materials gathered as part of a community heritage project in 2024–2025, delivered in partnership with the Highland Council and High Life Highland with the support of the National Lottery Heritage Fund.
History of the oldest highland games venue
Discover the story of one of the world's oldest purpose-built Highland Games venues.
History of the Northern Meeting Society
How post-Culloden Highland gentlemen created an annual gathering that shaped Inverness's cultural identity.
How Inverness got its purpose-built Highland Games venue
The story of how the Northern Meeting Park site was acquired and built in 1864.
The Highland Games Golden Era 1860s–1920s
Royalty, regiments and record-breakers — the Northern Meeting Games at the height of their popularity.
Community Events and the People's Park
From the Kilt is Our Delight to the Marymas Fair — the Park belongs to Inverness.
Scouting and rugby history in Inverness
Baden-Powell, 600 scouts, and a famous rugby match that made Highland history in 1976.
Refurbishment and heritage project 2025
A £5.9 million transformation equips the historic Park for the next chapter of its story.
Acknowledgments
Thanks to all the organisations and individuals who helped gather the Park’s stories for this project, share their memories, and provide images.
Particular thanks to the Highland Archive Centre for hosting so many of the project workshops and making available so much fascinating material – including the archives of the Northern Meeting Society. If you are interested in finding out more, please visit the Centre - it is an amazing experience to see at first hand items like letters and minute books written by the people involved in the Northern Meeting as long ago as the 1780s. You can also search for articles in local newspapers which give eyewitness accounts not only of the big events in the Park’s history but also the small details such as the prizewinners’ lists , names of people attending the Northern Meeting Balls, and even what high society visitors were wearing.
High Life Highland’s Am Baile website is also a treasure trove, with historic images of the Park and the wider Highlands along with background information.
This project has uncovered lots of stories about the Park but there are doubtless more to be told!
