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Jousting Tournament

Caerlaverock Castle

Castle in the background with one large round turret and four chimneys on either side. In the foreground are tents - carnival like - with people in period costumes walking around the green grassy lawn.
Caerlaverock Castle and Medieval Village
Three men on horseback in period costumes. The horses are draped in the colors of the knight. The black horse is draped in blue with castle images embroidered in silver. The drape covers the front legs and rear quarters. The white horse is covered in a black drape with brown suede looking edges and pink trim. The gray horse is draped in brown with marron trim. The knights are wearing padded shoulder and neck pieces to resemble armor and their clothes are the same colors as their horses.
Knights Jousting

Our Historic Scotland membership has proven to be invaluable in gaining access to castles and events across Scotland. The Caerlaverock Castle Spectacular Jousting Event was one of our favorites. The castle yard was filled with tents and displays that provided a glimpse into life during the medieval times.

As we neared the area, we were met with the smell of wood fires and cooking which gave it an authentic feel. Then we saw the horses and heard the announcements from the jousting field! Hurrying over, we saw several horses and their knights decked out for jousting. The field had a bright yellow railing dividing the field so one knight would ride towards each other – one from one side and the other from the other side. Brightly colored flags and tents were along the edges. The lances were in a wooden rack at each end and they were painted to correspond to the colors the knights were wearing. At each end, the squires – all in period costumes – were tending to the knights and the weapons.

Lining the field were hay bales for people to sit on and many brought their own lawn chairs. It was a perfect Scottish day -cool, cloudy and damp, but no hard rain.

We were treated to a display of great horsemanship and jousting skills. We saw them use their lances, swords, bows, and axes.

Jousting

Jousting filed area with three people on horseback.
White horse with a squire on it. the horse has a back and white checked drape over the back and front legs.
Knight on the white horse with the black and white checked drape. the knight has an axe raised in one hand.
Two knights with swords in battle on the jousting field. In the background you see the fair maiden dressed in yellow and riding a black horse.
A knight and the fair maiden riding their horses together at the end of the joust.
The squire and the knight - both on white horses. They are saluting the crowd at the end of the joust.
The squire riding the white horse.
Two knights riding their horses at the end of the joust. One knight is clapping towards the crowd.
Jousting with Lances
Jousting with Swords

Medieval Life and Falconry

The kings herald dressed in a yellow and red tunic with a red hat standing between Kay and Kathy. The herald is holding a rolled scroll.
A bowman holding his large bow. He is dressed in a yellow and red tunic with the Scottish lion and unicorn crests.
A kitchen worker sitting at a table filled with medieval type food. There are fruits and vegetables, meat pies, rasberries, green onions, and cheese.
The falconry owl on his perch.
A white bird of prey on a perch.
The falconry display with the stripped tent in the background. Two birds are tethered to their perches with water trays in front of them.
A close up of the large owl. The owl has brown, beige, and yellow colored feathers. He has a small black beak and yellowish brown piercing eye staring at the camera.