Across Scotland’s moors, 12 August marks a date that has been part of the countryside calendar for generations.

Known as the Glorious Twelfth, it marks the traditional opening of the red grouse shooting season and, for many of Scotland’s rural communities, the culmination of months of work preparing and managing the moors.

From the Highlands to Perthshire, Angus and the Borders, grouse shooting has long been woven into Scotland’s sporting and rural heritage. But the significance of the Twelfth extends well beyond the first day of the season.

Where does the Glorious Twelfth come from?

The origins of the Glorious Twelfth stretch back to the 19th century, when legislation established defined seasons for the shooting of game.

Today, the red grouse season in Scotland traditionally opens on 12 August and runs until 10 December, with the opening day becoming one of the most recognisable dates in the sporting calendar.

The growth of Scotland’s railways during the Victorian era made the country’s remote moors increasingly accessible, helping establish grouse shooting as an important part of Scotland’s sporting culture.

But while 12 August is the date everyone knows, the story of the grouse season begins long before then.

A year on the moor

Red grouse are wild birds, and their numbers naturally rise and fall depending on weather, disease, habitat and breeding success.

Throughout the year, gamekeepers and land managers work across Scotland’s grouse moors, monitoring bird numbers and managing the habitat on which grouse and many other species depend.

Spring and summer counts help estates understand how grouse populations are faring and inform decisions about the season ahead. In years when there isn’t a sustainable surplus, shooting may be reduced or not take place at all.

So, when the Glorious Twelfth finally arrives, it represents far more than the beginning of a shooting season. It is the culmination of year-round work by the people who know and manage these landscapes.

What does the Twelfth mean for rural Scotland?

A day on a Scottish grouse moor involves far more than the shooting party.

There are gamekeepers, beaters, pickers-up, dog handlers, loaders, drivers, caterers and seasonal staff – many of whom live and work within the surrounding rural communities.

Then there is the activity beyond the moor.

Shooting parties need somewhere to stay, somewhere to eat and local businesses to supply everything from food and transport to clothing and equipment. Hotels, inns, pubs, restaurants, shops and suppliers can all benefit from the visitors the season brings.

For some of Scotland’s more remote communities, that seasonal activity can be particularly valuable.

It is one reason why the story of the Glorious Twelfth isn’t simply about sporting tradition. It is also a story about rural employment, tourism, hospitality and the businesses that keep Scotland’s countryside communities thriving.

A changing landscape

The way Scotland’s grouse moors are managed continues to evolve.

The introduction of the Wildlife Management and Muirburn (Scotland) Act 2024 brought significant changes to the regulation of grouse moor management, including a licensing system for the shooting of red grouse and new rules surrounding muirburn and wildlife traps.

Those changes form part of a wider conversation about the future of Scotland’s uplands – balancing sporting interests, conservation, biodiversity, peatland, rural livelihoods and the management of landscapes that are important to people across the country.

The Glorious Twelfth therefore arrives today against a different backdrop from the one experienced by previous generations.

But the people remain central to its story.

Celebrating Scotland’s sporting countryside

At The Scottish Game Fair, we see first-hand the passion that exists for Scotland’s countryside and country sports.

Gundogs, gamekeeping, shooting, fishing and land management are not simply attractions during three days at Scone Palace. They represent skills, livelihoods and traditions that continue throughout the year in rural communities across Scotland.

The Glorious Twelfth is another moment to recognise those people – from the gamekeepers who have spent the year on the hill to the dogs and handlers heading onto the moor, and the rural businesses preparing to welcome visitors during the season.

For generations, 12 August has signalled the beginning of a new chapter in Scotland’s sporting year.

Today, the Glorious Twelfth remains a celebration of the people, places and traditions at the heart of Scotland’s countryside.