Now we are mostly into June, The Royal Highland Show is just round the corner. Here are our top things to remember for surviving the event whether you are just going for one or all four days...here at The SF we have got you covered!
1. Suncream
Being at the end of June, it is not abnormal for the sun to be shining on Ingliston when it potentially overlaps with the two weeks we know as “Scottish Summer”. Better to be safe than sorry and it goes without saying that the factor 50 should maybe accompany you throughout show season. There’s nothing worse than spending the rest of the summer looking like a Drumstick Squashie and having to take cold showers. Get yourself protected!
2. Waterproofs
At the other end of the spectrum it is also very likely that the heavens may open leaving you soaked. With that in mind it’s a good idea to bring your waterproofs or at the very least an umbrella. It might seem a good idea to take refuge in the foodhall or the beer tent during a downpour but you might find many having the same idea and real estate may be hard to come by. Also wringing out your clothes after a day at the show doesn’t really seem that fun so it is highly advisable to bring a raincoat to cover every eventuality.
3. Good shoes
It may seem self-explanatory but the showground is big and you might find yourself easily covering 15,000 to 20,000 steps in a day! On top of the usual practical footwear advice you have to remember you will be traversing both grass and concrete as well as livestock areas. The last thing you want to do is get your new deck shoes stuck in the mud along the sheep lines. Wearing comfortable shoes that gives you some protection in the event of bad weather or at the very least all those steps you inevitably do wouldn’t go amiss.
4. Refillable water bottle
Long sometimes hot days at the show can leave you dehydrated. As the year’s have gone on less and less show stands are offering hospitality to their customers so you can’t always rely on a free cuppy to quench your thirst. There are also lots of water fountains and bottle refill stations that allow you to fill up for free and when the temperatures high it’s a good idea to stay hydrated to survive the day.
5. Portable battery pack
A slightly less obvious piece of advice but something that will probably be useful to many is to bring a portable battery pack with you. I for one know that the days at the show are long and phone batteries can only handle so much time being away from the end of a charging cable. You may not need it but it’s good to have a back-up in case your phone battery dips to red by midday and you end up with no place to charge it.
6. Your show ticket
Since 2021 all show tickets and members tickets need to be booked online beforehand with tickets at the gate no longer available. This of course means you need to make sure you bring your ticket or member’s badge on show day. It might seem silly but it has been known for members to leave their badges at home and for ticket holders to not have their QR codes thus not getting into the show.
Make sure you have your QR code on your phone (fully charged) or printed out so it is ready to scan. Tying your members badge to the breeks you are going to wear or to the bag you are bringing with you can further eliminate any possible mishaps that involve potentially forgetting your ticket!
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